British media wary of Modi taking over India’s reins

LONDON: From initial wonder at the sheer size of India’s ongoing elections, the dominant theme in the British news media is that Narendra Modi as Prime Minister will not be good at home and abroad, and that “India’s great democracy deserves much better”.

Until a week ago, the elections did not figure prominently in the British media, but with polling underway in various phases, coverage has picked up with correspondents of British newspapers reporting regularly from various parts of India.

Editors and columnists have written extensively about polls, while BBC has increased its election coverage in prime time bulletins.

Critical mention of Modi invariably prompts strong opposition on newspaper websites.

Peter Popham, who was in Gujarat during the 2002 riots, wrote on a column in The Independent: “I can’t suppress a shiver at the thought of Modi taking office”.

The Guardian, known for its left-of-centre leanings, commented editorially: “The best hope of resisting the nationalist BJP, now or in 2019, lies with Congress, the party that has dominated Indian politics for best part of 70 years. To be able to win over the country, however, Congress must first find the strength to modernise itself ”.

Today, The Guardian published a letter from leading Indian-origin writers, academics and others from India, US and the UK, stating that “If Modi is elected, it will bode ill for India’s future”. Signatories included Salman Rushdie, Homi K Bhabha, Deepa Mehta, Anish Kapoor, MK Raina and Saeed Mirza.

Amol Rajan, the Indian-origin editor of The Independent, wrote: “The charge sheet against Narendra Damodardas Modi is familiar and well founded: the stench of Hindu nationalism covers him”.