Abstract:
The 16th Lok Sabha elections in India resulted in Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP), led by Narendra Modi, forming a strong Union government,
thereby putting an end to three decades of coalition governments. This
development resulted in enhanced interest around the world in Modi’s
personality. A massive publicity blitz portraying him as an iron man, who
had risen from a humble background, and a hope for the future of India
helped Modi win the confidence of Indian masses to the extent of even
forgetting his role in Gujarat pogrom where thousands of Muslims lost
their lives under his watch. For others, his rise to power would mean rise
of religious extremism. Pakistan for its part has its own concerns. His
repeated pronouncements during the election campaign that India would
adopt a muscular policy towards Pakistan if he was elected to power did
not present a rosy picture. It is, however, hoped that the realisation that
dialogue is the only way forward would make Modi’s India move in the
right direction vis-à-vis its relations with Pakistan.
