PM Modi's party wins landslide victory in India

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won India's parliamentary elections with an absolute majority. Modi, who stands for the majority rule of the Hindus, polarised India during his first term in office. Commentators fear the situation of minorities, in particular Muslims, will further deteriorate during Modi's second term.

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The Guardian (GB) /

India losing its soul

The Guardian can see nothing good about the victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party:

“The BJP is the political wing of Hindu nationalism, a movement that is changing India for the worse. Little wonder, as it stands for the flagrant social dominance of the upper castes of Hindu society, pro-corporate economic growth, cultural conservatism, intensified misogyny, and a firm grip on the instruments of state power. The landslide win for Mr Modi will see India's soul lost to a dark politics - one that views almost all 195 million Indian Muslims as second-class citizens.”

Dagens Nyheter (SE) /

Islamophobia is a dead end

Modi has divided the country and Islamist terror attacks have helped him, writes Dagens Nyheter:

“When Modi now talks about uniting the country it's all the more suspect. Hindu nationalism is a destructive force that is often highly dangerous for ethnic and religious minorities. India's Muslims in particular are threatened, and no civilised country should accept 190 million people being forced to live in fear and terror. If Modi truly wants to be a serious leader during the new legislative period he'll have to curb his populist tendencies. Islamophobia is taking India down a dark one-way street.”

Keskisuomalainen (FI) /

A victory for democracy

Keskisuomalainen is delighted with the unequivocal result of the elections in India:

“The elections are a victory for democracy all over the world. Around 900 million people were entitled to vote, and more than 600 million went to the polls. Turnout was more than 67 percent, setting a new record. ... The hardline Hindu nationalism promoted by Modi has worsened the situation of minorities in India. But the positive side of the election result is that the winner has been given a clear political mandate to address the conflicts in this multicultural state whose economic structure is developing rapidly if unevenly. This was immediately reflected by the record surge in Indian bond prices.”