Inside Story

Will India change under Narendra Modi?

Hindu nationlist Narendra Modi will be India’s new Prime Minister after his party’s victory.

It was the largest exercise in democracy the world has ever seen, with 551 million Indians casting their vote over a five week period. And the clear winner is Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP.
 
Modi – who was the chief minister of Gujarat – campaigned on an economic platform that promised to deliver development after years of corruption under the Congress-led coalition government. Known to be pro-business, Modi has promised to facilitate further investments in power and other projects.
 
For many, Narendra Modi is India’s saviour, while others see him as a divisive figure. He still stands accused of not doing enough, or nothing at all, during sectarian riots in Gujarat back in 2002. More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in that wave religious violence.
 
In neighbouring Pakistan, Modi’s win is being watched closely. He has made it clear that he would not tolerate cross-border attacks. But many in Islamabad say, they hope Modi’s victory would improve ties between the two countries.
 
So, what does Narendra Modi’s success at the polls mean for the world’s largest democracy and the region?
 
Presenter: Mike Hanna
 
Guests:
 
Shruti Kapila: Fellow and Director of Studies in History at Corpus Christi College at the University of Cambridge. She teaches Indian Political History.
 
K.C. SINGH: former Indian Diplomat and a Strategic Affairs Analyst.
 
Bharat Bhushan: Journalist and Senior Academic Consultant to the Indian Council for Social Science Research.