Narendra Modi campaigns in Assam
An American commentator's comparison of
Narendra Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, with America's 40th president Ronald Reagan in an online publication has had social media abuzz for some days now as India conducts the world's largest election ever.
The author, David B Cohen, has now written an oped article published today by leading newspaper the Hindu also titled,
'Is India about to elect its Reagan?'.
Mr Cohen, who served in the administration of another US president George Bush, confesses to be "a great admirer of President Reagan."
(Read full article here)He draws several parallels - between their humble origins, their careers and as "unabashed proponents of free market economics: The term "Modinomics" is of course a nod to "Reaganomics.'"
And he says that the two leaders have drawn similar detractors, people he calls the "cultural elite" who, "look down their noses at Mr. Modi, cringing at the thought of being led by a common chai wallah...The American elites believed that Mr. Reagan was an unsophisticated simpleton who was too extreme to be President."
Mr Cohen writes that his article dated April 14 in online publication
The Daily Caller, "clearly struck a nerve: Indian readers were amazed to see a western media perspective on Mr. Modi that was not reflexively negative."
Earlier this month, an article in the Economist had controversially described Mr Modi as a divisive man and had "recommended" to Indians a Rahul Gandhi-led government as an uninspiring but "less disturbing" option.
The article, titled "India Deserves Better than Modi," said, "Mr Gandhi's coalition is tainted by corruption. By comparison Mr Modi is clean. So there is much to admire. Despite that, this newspaper cannot bring itself to back Mr Modi for India's highest office."
The Economist ascribed its reservations about Mr Modi to the 2002 riots in Gujarat, the state Mr Modi has ruled since 2001. It disputed a clean chit given to him by a Supreme Court inquiry that has said there is no evidence of his role, which was upheld by a trial court last year. (
'India deserves better than Modi', says The Economist; BJP furious)
David Cohen notes that Mr Modi's critics call him a "communalist", like Mr Reagan was called "racist", and says "the charge lacks merit and is stoked by political opponents seeking to sow fear (and hence cement support) in minority communities."
"That's a term they use for anyone who believes that a robust and growing market economy, rather than massive government bureaucracy, is the best way to promote upward mobility for the poor and the minorities," Mr Cohen writes.