Narendra Modi : India's Putin ?

Then, Manmohan Singh a Yeltsin and Arvind Kejriwal, "Pussy riot" 

Varanasi, May 22. Narendra Modi, " our man in Parliament " is being compared with almost every world leader , contemporary or from earlier generation. Political commentator from Washington to Beijing are busy in  deciphering  Narendra Modi phenomenon in the context of contemporary history. His personality, ideology and life history are being evaluated in reference to Ronald Reagan , Nixon (United States), Shinzo Abe (Japan), Erdogan (Turkey) , Margret Thatcher (United Kingdom) and Vladimir Putin (Russia).

                                                        Political developments in two time tested friends, India and Russia appear to be similar if we take into accounts happenings of last two decades. And it bring us to speculate that Modi is much like a Putin who transformed Russia from disaster to crowning glory . He inherited a Russia , bankrupt and crumbled but with in a short period of time  he restored Russia's world stature, political as well as economic. His predecessor  Yeltsin left a Russia in  very bad shape that can very well  be compared with Manmohan Singh's India. In fact, Manmohan was worse than Yeltsin as the latter can at least  be credited for choosing a worthy successor in Putin. In India it is left to  800 million  voters to find a redeemer for the nation and they acted, as ever, wisely  in electing  Narendra Modi, who inherits a country   low in  self confidence and with  shattered institutions.

                                                     Putin as a young KGB agent saw  the collapse of Soviet Union and national shame experienced by  proud people. He knew first hand the evil designs of western countries and their well knit network put in work  to capitulate independent and sovereign countries. Once at the helm he slowly rebuilt the Russia , brick by brick, to restore its global influence and glory.

                                                   Narendra Modi has a modest background lacking a wider world view and knowledge of mudus operandi of hostile powers. After being installed as a Chief Minister of Gujarat and subsequent developments including Godhra Train burning and rioting , Modi went through an Agnipariksha, and come out of it like purified gold. Putin was at least fortunate that in early years of his presidency he was a darling of western media, Modi , on the other hand , faced the wrath of western countries their Indian retainers the very next year of his tenure and  it remained continued for full 12 years . By sheer luck or divine prudence he escaped a jail term in India or in any other country, he was accused of massacres , genocide, pogrom of innocent Muslims in Gujarat. Finally India voters destroyed the Gujarat Riot Industry infrastructure, once for all . The ordeal suffered by Modi must have made him as wiser as Putin.

                                                 Today Putin is being portrayed in western media as a Hitler ; Modi just before May 16 was being portrayed in the similar manner. Today Barack Obama is showing an olive branch to Modi by inviting him to Washington for working together to strengthen strategic partnership. The US officials are announcing from rooftop that an A1 visa would be granted to Modi. But what about normal visa.? One wonders that even today if Modi wants to visit United States as a private citizen would he be allowed to visit "land of mammon"" ( term used by Mahatma Gandhi).

                  One hopes that Modi would like to  identify India with BRICS countries, Russia, China, Brazil and South Africa.

                                                 Modi yet to spell out his world view and foreign policy priorities ; but during electioneering especially in Varanasi he  spoke of World teacher ( Vishwa Guru ) role for India. And as Russian ideologue Alexander Dugin has said , if Russia has a vision of Eurasia then India should strive for Greater India. Modi's alma mater RSS always believes in Greater India and as a Prime Minster countrymen expect from him to work for realizing this civilizational role. Of course, as India has never been an expansionist,  politically or militarily, this Greater India project  is all about soft diplomacy . 

                                              So, if Modi is a Putin then Manmohan Singh is all but Yeltsin. And what about Broom Messiah, Arvind Kejriwal ? Lodged in Tihar Jail he appears to be Pussy Riot, entertaining  people on roads and courts.