Modi is India’s 'divider in chief', says Time magazine cover

Guwahati, May 10, 2019:

The internationally-renowned Time magazine has called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “India’s divider in chief” on its May 20 issue.

The picture of Modi with the sensational caption was featured on all international issues of the magazine except the United States edition.

The cover story highlighted with the headline: “Can the world’s largest democracy endure another five years of a Modi government?” is written by novelist Aatish Taseer.

The cover photo of the magazine has creation sensation all over the world, with some lauding the magazine's stand whereas others are criticizing the same.

The opening para of the article states that India was the first among great democracies to fall to populism. “Of the great democracies to fall to populism, India was the first.” As per the article, under Prime Minister Modi, “nation’s most basic norms, such as the character of the Indian state, its founding fathers, the place of minorities and its institutions, from universities to corporate houses to the media, were shown to be severely distrusted."

Moreover, Taseer describes Modi’s record on women’s issues as “spotty”. He also criticises the appointment of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue S Gurumurthy to the board of the Reserve Bank of India, and calls Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath a “hate-mongering priest in robes of saffron”.

Further, the writer described the candidature Malegaon blast accused Pragya Singh Thakur, in the Lok Sabha election from Bhopal as an example of “the spectre of extreme nationalism and criminality” becoming inseparable.

The article also mentions, “…Under Modi, minorities of every stripe – from liberals and lower castes to Muslims and Christians – have come under assault.” It also mentions India’s economy during the Modi era saying, “Not only has Modi’s economic miracle failed to materialize, he has also helped create an atmosphere of poisonous religious nationalism in India.”

Back in 2015, the magazine placed Narendra Modi on its cover with the title “Why Modi Matters”.

He was also featured on the magazine cover in 2012, during his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, with a cover story along with headline: ‘Modi means business but can he lead India’.