Modi election win ‘good news’ for SA
THE change of government in India augurs well for South Africa, says Krish Gokool, chairman of the 1860 Foundation committee and a member of the local Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He said he expected that the new leadership would lead to stronger ties between India and South Africa.
He was elated by the outcome of the recent Indian elections, said Gokool. After years of dominance by the Congress party, Narendra Modi’s BJP took control of the country. Modi will be sworn in tomorrow.
“With the BJP now in power, I definitely see more interaction between the countries. It can only augur well for our relationship and I think we can expect there will be many things happening.”
Gokool said he was hopeful that the rights of women in India would be reevaluated and a stronger stance taken against those who violated them.
“India has many issues regarding rape, abuse and marriage. I visit India quite often and you can see it among the people — the abuse that females face. I can see much stronger action taken by this government. I think they are going to set a lot of new rules to help to combat the abuse.”
Travel agent Johnson Naidoo is hopeful that the new government will herald a change in India’s safety standards, saying he hopes Modi’s leadership will make travel to India easier and safer.
“Let us hope the new visa system will come to fruition. Let us hope that the airports will not continue to be safe havens for the criminally inclined,” said Naidoo.
“Let us hope that [Modi] will shake up the entire tourism industry. We are all hopeful that, with the new government in place, the new will overshadow the old and corruption will be a thing of the past.”
He said he hoped the abuse of women in India would be made a priority.
“I hope that there will be a stop to the rapes of innocent girls and that we will be able to walk safely in the streets of Delhi, Mumbai and Kalimpong.”