AS India began voting for the General Elections 2024 with no one in doubt about the outcome, there has been a chorus of voices from across the world lauding an ‘unstoppable’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the great heights the country has ascended under his leadership.
The sentiment has been shared by top global leaders as well as multinational forums. They are all unanimous in acknowledging PM Modi’s transformative impact on India and the world.
Encapsulating this perception is the recent Cover Story in venerable global media institution Newsweek acclaiming Indian Prime Minister’s leadership for shaping a New India poised to redefine global dynamics and heralding a renaissance of Indian influence across sectors – technology, finance, poverty alleviation, and space exploration.
Connect with people
While underlining PM Modi’s capacity to connect with millions of Indians as a unifying force, empowering citizens and fostering a sense of inclusion, the journal also acknowledges his ability to garner praise from world leaders, including those who are on the opposite side of the spectrum, like Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin. Among the latest to come up with laudatory remarks about PM Modi were United Nations General Assembly President Dennis Francis, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti and UK Parliamentarian Lord Raminder Ranger.
“Since I have been to India, every time I think of India, I think ‘Incredible India’,” the UNGA chief told an Indian news agency in an interview.
“India is a mature, highly respected member of the United Nations. It is a leader in many ways. And I’m sure that that fact is not lost on the members of the General Assembly.” Francis said.
Prospects under Modi
Eric Garcetti, US Ambassador to India, was more euphoric about the prospects of India under PM Modi: “If you want to see the future, come to India; if you want to feel the future, come to India; if you want to work on the future, come to India,” he said. Veteran British parliamentarian Lord Raminder Ranger echoed this view: “There is no doubt that Narendra Modi-led Government has taken India to great heights. The continuity should be maintained,” he said.
These are not isolated voices of praise for PM Modi’s New India. At the last year’s G20 Summit in New Delhi, heads of the member nations seemed to showcase a parade of world leaders lining up to praise India.
Global institutions such as the WHO, the World Bank and the IMF have acknowledged India’s role in meeting global challenges.
Advantage in polls
PM Modi’s personal chemistry with world leaders, his showpiece foreign visits, stewardship of prominent global institutions, rescue missions to save Indians stranded abroad, and the accolades from prominent foreign personalities and institutions redound to his advantage in elections. As is evident, PM Modi’s victory in the ongoing elections holds immense significance, not only for India, but for the world. Indian thinker S Gurumurthy put it succinctly in an interview with NDTV: the 2024 polls is about electing “a global leader on Indian soil”.
Newsweek
Eric Garcetti US Ambassador to India
Dennis Francis UNGA President
Lord Raminder Ranger Member of UK Parliament