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Inside Narendra Modis First 100 Days as PrimeMinister of India

Fast Track To Troubling Times: 100 Days of Narendra Modi !ounter "e#ort

Several 100 day! reports "ave been issued by various media sour#es about t"e ne$ Narendra Modi

re%ime in &ndia' ("ile some tend to be little s"ort of adulatory pane%yri#s for Modi, a fe$ "ave boldly

pointed out %larin% fla$s and raised troublin% )uestions around Modi*s relations"ip to +indu

#"auvinism' +o$ever, even amon% t"e latter, t"e #riti#al tone is balan#ed by an a#)uies#en#e

su%%estin% Modi*s e#onomi# poli#ies are $ell positioned for su##ess' "ese #on#ession-%rantin%

reports in favor of Modi, on t"e %rounds of e#onomi# revival,! do so based on t"e assumption t"atelimination of so#ial demo#rati# infrastru#ture is ne#essarily t"e best poli#y to #lear t"e pat"$ay for

#orporate %ro$t"'

"is report, $"ile bein% #riti#al of Modi*s se#tarian politi#s, assesses t"e e#onomy from a realist

perspe#tive informed by #urrent life indi#ators su#" as. over 40 per#ent of &ndia*s population lives

belo$ t"e international poverty line of /1'2 per day, four #"ildren die every minutefrom preventable

illnesses, ,000 mot"ers die in #"ildbirt" yearly, and one of five #"ildren under a%e five suffer a#ute

malnutrition' "is report t"erefore attempts to assess "o$ Modi*s poli#ies $ill impa#t t"e ma3ority of

&ndia*s people its farmers, auto ri5s"a$ drivers, saltpan $or5ers, tea#"ers, tea stall $or5ers,

livesto#5 rearers, fa#tory $or5ers, fis"er people, $or5in% #lasses, mot"ers, #"ildren, et#' rat"er t"an its

top fe$ rulin% per#ent'

And t"ou%" 100 days is "ardly enou%" time to #ast a full assessment of %overnan#e, it #ertainly

fun#tions as a dia%nosti# espe#ially $"en framed a%ainst Modi*s 12-year tenure as C"ief Minister of

6u3arat, $"i#" is $"ere t"is report #laims its predi#tive li#ense'

&n s"ort, t"is report is our refusal to a##ept t"e una##eptable'

6"adar Allian#e

Note: This report is based fully on publicly accessible sources.

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Table of Contents

Inside Narendra Modis First 100 Days as Prime Minister of India..........................5

7ast ra#5 o roublin% imes. 100 Days of Narendra Modi A Counter Report''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Modi and the Politics of Culture........................................................................................6

&n "is first 100 days8'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''91' (riters and Artists fa#ed :oli#in%, Censors"ip and t"reats of ;iolen#e''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''92' Assaults on 7reedom of Reli%ion intensified''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

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1' Basi# prote#tions to safe%uard t"e environment, t"at $ere not parti#ularly stron% to be%in $it",are bein% $iped out'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''22' nvironmental offi#ials #"an%e pollution measurin% inde and lift previous moratorium onfa#tory pro3e#ts $it"in of &ndia*s most polluted industrial areas'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''2=

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Adivasis''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4=

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Modi and t$e Politics of !ulture

In $is first 100 days%

1& 'riters and rtists faced Policing( !ensors$i# and t$reats of )iolence&

As elaborated in Nobel :ri?e-$inner Dr' Amartya Sen*s boo5 "e Ar%umentative &ndian!, &ndia "as a

ri#" tradition of dis#ussion and dissent, but in Modi*s &ndia t"is tradition is under atta#5' ven in t"e

brief t"ree mont"s sin#e t"e BE:*s vi#tory in May 2014, t"ere "ave been disturbin% instan#es of

#ensors"ip of boo5s and films t"at #"allen%e +indu ma3oritarian nationalism'

&n Eune 2014, Eournalist I 7ilmma5er S"ub"radeep C"a5ravorty*s do#umentary film n Dino

Mu?affarna%ar! $"i#" investi%ates t"e #ommunal violen#e t"at s"oo5 t"e #ity of Mu?affarna%ar Jin t"e

state of ttar :rades"K $as refused #learan#e for s#reenin% by t"e Central Board of 7ilm Certifi#ation'

C"a5ravorty*s subse)uent appeal to t"e 7ilm Certifi#ation Appellate ribunal $as also turned do$n'

Mr' C"a5ravorty*s first film, 6od"ra a5. "e error rail! is an investi%ation of t"e 2002 po%rom in

6u3arat a%ainst t"e Muslim #ommunity, and "is ot"er films also eplore t"e politi#s of +indutva! or

+indu suprema#y'

Also in Eune 2014, publis"er Frient Bla#5S$an announ#ed t"at it $as suspendin% publi#ation of

several titles in response to a le%al letter from t"e LS"i5s"a Ba#"ao Andolan* JCommittee to Save

du#ation!K, an or%ani?ation founded by Dinanat" Batra, a senior member of t"e RSS' Amon% t"e titles

bein% set aside is Communalism and Sexual Violence: Ahmedabad Since 1969, by &ndian a#ademi# and

R"odes S#"olar Me%"a umar $"ose $or5 loo5s at t"e in#iden#e of seual violen#e durin% t"ree

#ommunal #las"es in t"at #ity' &n its letter to "er, Frient Bla#5S$an said. uite apart from t"e le%al

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pro#eedin%s, our #on#ern is t"at our aut"ors, our staff and t"e families of bot", #ould be eposed to t"e

ris5 of violen#e'!

&n its #apitulation, Frient Bla#5S$an $as follo$in% t"e lead of anot"er publis"er, :en%uin &ndia,

$"i#", after a t"ree-year le%al #"allen%e by Batra "ad voluntarily de#ided in April 2014 to $it"dra$#opies of "e +indus. An Alternative +istory!by (endy Doni%er, a professor at t"e niversity of

C"i#a%o' Amon% ot"er reasons, :en%uin #ited duty to prote#t its employees a%ainst t"reats and

"arassment'! &n t"e interim, Batra "as been politi#ally elevated by t"e Modi administration and "e is

no$ an aut"ori?ed tetboo5 aut"or alt"ou%" "is re#ently mandated tets are full of ra#ist and

miso%ynist #ontent'

*& ssaults on Freedom of "eligion intensified&

&n Au%ust 2014, 2 ;almi5is Ja se#tion of t"e Dalit #ommunityK $"o "ad in t"e past #onverted to

C"ristianity under$ent a so-#alled re-#onversion! to +induism in Ali%ar" in t"e state of ttar :rades",under t"e auspi#es of t"e LD"aram Ea%ran ;ivad! JReli%ious A$a5enin% 7orumK'"is $as a 6"ar

;apassi! Jliterally, a return "ome!K #eremony t"rou%" $"i#" t"e San%" :arivar intervenes to #laim

non-+indu members of t"e Dalit and Adivasi #ommunities as +indus'

"e Constitution of &ndia %uarantees freedom of reli%ion, allo$in% for t"e free eer#ise of individual

#"oi#e over matters of fait"' +o$ever, 7reedom of Reli%ion! la$s ena#ted in several states presume

t"at individuals are in#apable of ma5in% t"eir o$n informed de#isions re%ardin% matters of fait",and

#an only be manipulated or #oer#ed into #onversion' "e lan%ua%e of t"e 6u3arat anti-#onversion la$

ena#ted in 200< is tellin% in t"is respe#t' Conversion is vie$ed as an attempt to ma5e one person to

renoun#e one reli%ion and adopt anot"er reli%ion'! "ese la$s empo$er distri#t administrations tooversee and re%ulate reli%ious #onversions, in order to prevent $"at are referred to as #onversions by

fraud! or for#e'! ffe#tively, t"ese la$s tar%et C"ristian and Muslim #ommunities and provide

opportunities for bot" lo#al offi#ials and +indu suprema#ist or%ani?ations to "arass and intimidate

t"em'

&t is $ort" notin% "ere t"at t"e ;almi5i #ommunity lies at t"e bottom of &ndia*s #aste ladder and is

traditionally #onfined to t"e o##upation of manual s#aven%in%' &t is often to es#ape assi%nation into

su#" #onditions of utter de%radation and poverty t"at many so-#alled lo$er-#aste! +indus #"oose to

#onvert into C"ristianity, &slam, et#' 7urt"er, it is #ru#ial to note t"at #onversion la$s, passed by a

number of states, do not apply to su#" L6"ar ;apassi* #eremonies' "e San%" :arivar "as a sin%ularfo#us on #urbin% any #onversions out of +induism, parti#ularly by Dalits and Adivasis' "e ar%ument,

"o$ever, t"at +induism is some"o$ undermined by su#" #onversions is absurd %iven t"e disparity in

ideolo%i#al, e#onomi# and politi#al po$er bet$een #aste +indus and Dalits or Adivasis professin% non-

+indu fait"s' ("at is bein% undermined is #aste po$er, and t"at is t"e #ore of t"e San%"*s anieties

over #onversions' nsurprisin%ly, and tellin%ly, t"e anti-#onversion la$s ma5e #onversion a more

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serious offense if t"e #onverts are Dalits, Adivasis, $omen or #"ildren' J7or more on #onversion of

C"ristians seeinorities se#tion of t"is report'K

&n April 201< BE: leader ;en5aia" Naidu publi#ly announ#ed "is party*s intention to brin% an anti-

#onversion la$ to ban reli%ious #onversions in t"e #ountry ifit is voted to po$er in 2014 6eneralle#tions'! +i%"li%"tin% t"e primary motivation underlyin% "is party*s aniety over #onversions, "e

$ent on to add. 8"e #ountry $ill be safe and sound only $"en +indus are in a ma3ority'! Modi,

steeped in t"e same RSS ideolo%y t"at inspires Naidu, is t"erefore "i%"ly li5ely to ma5e an effort to

fulfill t"is %oal of +indu ma3oritarian suprema#y'

+& Pro,ects of "e-isionist .istory recei-ed /tate sanction&

Fne of t"e most dama%in% $ays in $"i#" +indu Nationalist %roups see5 to reali?e t"e +indu Ras"tra!

is t"rou%" pro3e#ts of Revisionist +istory' "e BE:*s frontal atta#5 on "istory pro#eeds at t$o levels.

#"an%in% %rade-s#"ool tetboo5s, and se#ondly, by %ainin% #ontrol of &ndia*s top resear#", edu#ationaland #ultural institutions'

"e Modi administration "as already be%un installin% +indutva ideolo%ues into positions of po$er in

a#ademi# spa#es'Fne of t"e early appointments t"at alarmed many is t"at of Dr' Oellapra%ada

Suders"an Rao as t"e "ead of t"e &ndian Coun#il of +istori#al Resear#" J&C+RK' Dr' Rao*s main

resear#" pro3e#t is t"at of provin% t"e "istori#ity of tets of &ndian epi#s su#" as t"e Ma"ab"arata and

t"e Ramayana, a pro3e#t, it seems, t"at $ould involve a revisionist re$ritin% of &ndian "istory as t"at

#entered on a +indu identity'

Rao*s a#ademi# #redentials "ave been des#ribed as )uestionable! by Romila "apar, &ndia*s most

respe#ted "istorian' "apar "as pointed out t"at Rao "as never been publis"ed in any peer-revie$ed

3ournal of "istory, and s"e "as also #ommented on t"e little visibility! of "is resear#"' ("at endears

Rao to t"e BE: is t"e fa#t t"at "e is president of t"e A5"il B"aratiya &ti"as San5alan Oo3ana! JAB&SOK,

an RSS or%ani?ation t"at in fa#t operates out of t"e RSS offi#e in Del"i' Rao*s +indu suprema#ist

vie$s are #learly epressed on "is personal blo%,in#ludin% "is praise for t"e +indu #aste system and

"is defen#e of +indu suprema#ist demands to build a temple at t"e site of t"e Babri Mas3id, destroyed

in 1==2 by mobs led by t"e RSS, BE: and ;+:'

Modi*s referen#e to &ndia*s 1200 years of slavery! durin% "is address to t"e &ndian parliament in Eune

2014 is si%nifi#ant in t"is #ontet' "e Britis" ruled &ndia for 200 yearsP Modi*s referen#e to 1200

years t"erefore in#ludes t"e 900 years or so $"en Muslim dynasties and 5in%s ruled &ndia Jalt"ou%"

Modi*s mat" doesn*t )uite add upQK' Su#" a referen#e positions Muslims as outsiders and violent

intruders t"at need to be #ontained, even as it solidifies t"e status of #iti?ens t"at are +indus as

naturally belon%in% to &ndia'

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Pre-iously( in u,arat%

1& "am#ant censors$i#

Censors"ip of art, film, et#' by t"e State as $ell as t"e tar%etin% and poli#in% of artists, $riters andfilmma5ers by self-styled #ustodians of #ulture is not"in% ne$ to t"ose familiar $it" 6u3arat durin% t"e

Modi years' +ere are some eamples.

("en t"e do#umentary film 6od"ra a5. "e error rail! $as s#reened in 200< in

A"medabad Jt"e #apital #ity of 6u3aratK, t"e members of t"e militant %roup ;is"$a +indu

:aris"ad J;+:K disrupted t"e event and advised t"e filmma5er, Mr' C"a5ravorty, to )uit

filmma5in%'

&n 2004, Ra5es" S"arma*s film, "e 7inal Solution!, $"i#" do#uments "o$ C"ief Minister

Modi*s %overnment $as dire#tly impli#ated in t"e riots! t"at bro5e out in 6u3arat 2002 $"i#"

resulted in t"e massa#re of more t"an 2,000 Muslims, and t"e displa#ement of over 100,000Muslims $as not permitted to be publi#ly s#reened be#ause it "ad t"e potential to 3eopardi?e

stateHnational se#urity!'

S#reenin%s of t"e film :ar?ania! J200K, $"i#" $as inspired by t"e true story of a :arsi family

t"at $as #au%"t in t"e bloods"ed of 2002, $ere unoffi#ially banned even t"ou%" t"e film "ad

#leared t"e Censor Board,for t"e reason t"at it also impli#ated Modi*s %overnment in t"e

violen#e' "eater o$ners reported t"reats of violen#e from +indu ri%"t-$in% Ba3ran% Dal

a#tivists if t"ey e"ibited t"e film'

&n 2009, ar#"ite#t ;';' Dos"i*s art %allery $as atta#5ed by members of ri%"t-$in% or%ani?ations,

and t"e paintin%s of a##laimed artist M'7'+usain J$"o is also MuslimK $ere vandali?ed' S#reenin%s of t"e film 7anaa! J2009K $ere blo#5ed on t"e %rounds t"at a#tor Aamir "an "ad

#riti#i?ed Mr' Modi*s %overnmentfor t"e mis"andlin% of re"abilitation of villa%ers displa#ed by

t"e in#reased "ei%"t of t"e Sardar Sarovar Dam'

Fn May =, 200, Art student C"andramo"an from MS niversity in Baroda $as arrested on t"e

%rounds t"at "is reli%iously- t"emed paintin% offended +indu reli%ious sentiments' 7urt"er, "is

paintin%, bein% e"ibited as part of a student art s"o$, $as vandali?ed by members of +indu

surema#ist %roup Ba3ran% Dal'

&n Au%ust 200=, t"e state %overnment of 6u3arat banned e-BE: politi#ian Eas$ant Sin%"*s boo5

Einna"- &ndia, :artition, &ndependen#e!, for )uestionin% t"e patrioti# spirit! of a popular6u3arati leader, ;allab"b"ai :atel' "e ban $as lifted later by t"e 6u3arat +i%" #ourt in

response to a publi# interest petition by "uman ri%"ts a#tivists Manis"i Eani and :ra5as" N'

S"a"'

&n 2011, $"en Modi $as C"ief Minister of t"e state of 6u3arat, "e banned :ulit?er-pri?e-

$innin% $riter Eosep" >elyveld*s boo5 about Ma"atma 6and"i'

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*& ssaults on Freedom of "eligion

Durin% "is tenure as t"e C"ief Minister of 6u3arat, Modi ena#ted t"e #ontroversial L7reedom of

Reli%ion A#t, 200an5a, Nepal, et#', in

line $it" t"e ri%"t-$in% idea of an A5"and B"arat! a "istori#al fantasy of a %reater &ndia, unified by

t"e pra#ti#e of +indu reli%ion' Mr' Batra also offers more pra#ti#al advi#e for t"e youn% students,

in#ludin% pres#riptions about t"e #elebration of Birt"days $it" #a5e I #andles bein% bad be#ause t"ey

are symbols of $estern #ulture, and about t"e #ontinued appropriateness of t"e use of t"e $ord Ne%ro!

to refer to Afri#an-Ameri#ans'

=

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*& Freedom of "eligion

1' C"ur#" urned into Lemple* after 2 ;almi5is Re#onvert to +induism'! The Times of )ndia'

A##essed September 1, 2014' "ttp.HHtimesofindia'indiatimes'#omHindiaHC"ur#"-turned-into-

temple-after-2-;almi5is-re#onvert-to-+induismHarti#les"o$H4102=4a$ a%ainst Reli%ious Conversions &f ;oted to :o$er* "e +indu'!

A##essed September 1, 2014' "ttp.HH$$$'t"e"indu'#omHne$sH#itiesH;isa5"apatnamHb3p-$ill-

brin%-la$-a%ainst-reli%ious-#onversions-if-voted-to-po$erHarti#le4=11'e#e

a$ &ndian press'! A##essed September 1,

2014' "ttp.HHar#"ive'indianepress'#omHne$sHmodi-de#ides-to-rea#tivate-anti#onversion-

la$-H20119H

' &n &ndia, S"o$in% Se#tarian :ain to yes "at Are Closed!' A##essed September 1, 2014'

"ttp.HH$$$'nytimes'#omH200H02H20HmoviesH20par?'"tml@refTmoviesIrT0

' Anti-C"ristian ;iolen#e o t"e rise in &ndia!' A##essed September 1, 2014'

"ttp.HH$$$'"r$'or%Hne$sH1===H0=H2=Hanti-#"ristian-violen#e-rise-india

+& "e-isionist .istory

1' 1,200 Oears of Servitude. :M Modi Fffers 7ood for "ou%"t 7irstpost'! A##essed September

1, 2014' "ttp.HH$$$'firstpost'#omHpoliti#sH1200-years-of-servitude-pm-modi-offers-food-for-

t"ou%"t-190'"tml

2' Birt"day Ca5es Bad, Lndivided &ndia*. Dinanat" Batra*s (or5s No$ in 6u3 S#"ools

7irstpost'! A##essed September 1, 2014' "ttp.HH$$$'firstpost'#omHlivin%Hdinanant"-batra-to-

saffronise-%u3-syllabus-birt"day-#a5es-are-bad-burma-is-india-19

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' S#ien#e >esson from 6u3arat. Stem Cells in Ma"ab"arata, Cars in ;eda "e &ndian press'!

A##essed September 1, 2014' "ttp.HHindianepress'#omHarti#leHindiaH%u3aratHs#ien#e-lesson-

from-%u3arat-stem-#ells-in-ma"ab"arata-#ars-in-vedaH

9' "e Appointment of a +istorian ("ose (or5 &s nfamiliar to Most +istorians S"o$s S#ant

Re%ard for t"e &mpressive S#"olars"ip "at No$ C"ara#terises t"e Study of &ndian +istory and

"is Disre%ard May Stultify 7uture A#ademi# Resear#" . 6uest Column &ndia oday'!

A##essed September 1, 2014' "ttp.HHindiatoday'intoday'inHstoryHromila-t"apar-smriti-irani-old-

"istory-baiters-of-b3pH1H

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Modi and t$e Politics of De-elo#ment

In $is first 100 days%

1& Mec$anisms of Public Deliberation /u##ressed&

"e Modi model of development is based on a deeply aut"oritarian vision t"at is fo#used almost

e#lusively on e#onomi# %ro$t" $"ile e#ludin% #onsiderations of so#ial in#lusion, e#onomi# e)uality

or environmental sustainability' "is e#lusion manifests itself in Modi*s poli#ies as a #onsistent

"ostility to$ards Demo#rati# pro#esses of informed #onsent and publi# deliberation'

"e follo$in% #"an%es, in various sta%es of implementation, "ave all been proposed sin#e May 2014,

and epose a #lear and #onsistent pattern of attempts to diminis" t"e publi#*s ability to parti#ipate in

de#isions about t"eir o$n development, in#ludin% by see5in% re#ourse in t"e Eudi#iary.

&n Euly 2014, #oal mine pro3e#ts $it" #apa#ity above 19 mtpa $ere eempted from t"e

re)uirement of see5in% #onsentfrom t"e lo#al #ommunities t"at are affe#ted by t"e pro3e#t' "is

is a #ru#ial #"an%e %iven t"at publi# "earin%s are often t"e only o##asion $"en t"e pro3e#t-

affe#ted are #onsulted for #learan#es, and "ave fun#tioned as important spa#es $"ere t"e lo#al

#ommunity #an or%ani?e itself to be "eard by t"e %overnment' "e National Board for (ildlife JNB(>K $as re#onstituted in Euly 2014 by slas"in% t"e

number of independent members from 1 to 3ust t"ree' "is #"an%e is in dire#t violation of t"e

(ildlife :rote#tion A#t of 1=2 and "as been #"allen%ed in Court' "e re#onstituted board met

for t"e first time on Au%ust 12, 2014 and "as already #leared over 100 pro3e#ts'

"e Ministry of nvironment I 7orests JMo7K is plannin% amendments to t"e National 6reen

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ribunal A#t t"at $ill dilute t"e po$ers of t"e bodyby turnin% t"e 3udi#ial tribunal into an

administrative one'"is $ould be unfortunate as t"e N6 "as been $or5in% effe#tively, and on

several o##asions, it "as "auled up environment ministry offi#ials, as $ell as state aut"orities,

for failin% to up"old t"e la$'

"e need for #onsent from %ram sab"as Jvilla%e #oun#ilsK before prospe#tin% for minerals in

forests "as been removed'"e 7orest Ri%"ts A#t J7RAK, a landmar5 le%islation $"i#" $as

desi%ned to prote#t t"e ri%"ts of Adivasi Jindi%enousK #ommunities, and $"i#" made t"eir

#onsent mandatory before any diversion of forest land #ould ta5e pla#e, "as t"us been stripped

of its po$ers' "e po$er of t"e %ram sab"as to #ertify t"at t"eir ri%"ts "ad been settled and t"at

t"ey "ad #onsented to a pro3e#t "as been transferred to t"e distri#t administration instead'J7or

more on 7RA see2n(ironmentandinoritiesse#tions of t"is report'K

*& De-elo#ment agenda remains subser-ient to cor#orate interests&

"e Modi ele#tion #ampai%n made development! its publi# relations #enterpie#e, promisin% to do for

&ndia $"at Modi supposedly a##omplis"ed for 6u3arat' Oet after #omin% to po$er t"e Modi

%overnment "as announ#ed a bud%et t"at pla#es a "i%"er priority on minimi?in% %overnment, t"ereby

aimin% to redu#e investment in publi# $elfare' 6iven t"is furt"er $it"dra$al of t"e state t"ey "ave in

mind, it is #lear t"at $"at t"e administration means by development! more #losely approimates $"at

too5 pla#e over a de#ade in 6u3arat under Modi stron% state support for private #orporate pro3e#ts

$it" little publi# oversi%"t on environmental, so#ial and e#onomi# impa#ts' ("ile it is too early to be

able to measure t"e a#tual so#ial and environmental impa#ts of various development pro3e#ts t"at "ave

been %reenlit in t"e last t"ree mont"s Jor of t"e proposed #"an%es to publi# #onsent mandates and

eemptions to environmental re%ulationsK, $e #an nevert"eless anti#ipate some of t"e effe#ts of Modi*sneoliberal development model based upon "is re#ord in 6u3arat'

(e en%a%e $it" t"is in some detail in t"e :reviously in 6u3arat!se#tion belo$' &n order to %au%e t"e

present %overnment*s approa#" to development at least t$o important observations may be made' Fne,

Modi announ#ed "is intention to dissolve t"e :lannin% Commission, on#e t"e #enterpie#e of &ndia*s

post-#olonial development a%enda' Despite under%oin% a defa#to s"ift to$ards neoliberal poli#ies under

previous :A and NDA %overnments, t"e :lannin% Commission remained an institution t"at #ould still

a##ommodate some popular demands for t"e redistribution of resour#es for so#ial pro%rams' By

announ#in% "is intention to dissolve t"e Commission, Modi is effe#tively denyin% t"e publi# a##ess to

one of t"e most important sites of de#ision-ma5in% re%ardin% t"e allo#ation of publi# resour#es' "is

intention also si%nals Modi*s narro$ understandin% of development, as a pro#ess primarily dire#ted

to$ards t"e %oals of neoliberalism Jprivati?ation, liberali?ation and %lobali?ationK, and only se#ondarily

to$ards t"e so#ial and e#onomi# needs of t"e vast ma3ority of toilin% &ndians' Despite t"e fa#t t"at t"e

re#ently announ#ed bud%et retained :A initiatives li5e t"e NR6A Jalbeit $it" fundin% trends t"at

indi#ate a #ontinued relative diminution of allo#ationsK, it is epe#ted t"at t"e Modi %overnment $ill

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#ome under intense pressure from its #orporate supporters to drasti#ally redu#e spendin% onpopular

initiatives t"at benefit t"e poor'

+& nti#eo#le amendments to 2and c3uisition la4s #ro#osed&

Fn Eune 2, 2014, barely a mont" after Modi $as s$orn into offi#e, t"e Minister of Rural

Development, Nitin 6ad5ari, proposed a full list of amendments to t"e3i'ht to air Compensation

and Transparency in 4and Ac5uisition+ 3ehabilitation and 3esettlement Act+ or R7C>ARR $"i#" $as

ena#ted in September, 201< by t"e previous administration'

"e 1= amendments proposed by t"e Modi administration, it is important to note, respond to #riti)ues

made by t"e #orporate lobby $"en t"e la$ $as first passed in 201

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its mandates t"at land #annot be a#)uired unless 0G of t"e residents #onsent to t"e a#)uisition'

7armers, pastoralists and a%ri#ultural $or5ers in 6u3arat are opposin% t"e state %overnment*s attempts

to a#)uire a%ri#ultural land for industrial use t"rou%" formations su#" as EAA6 JEameen Ad"i5aar

Andolan 6u3arat T >and Ri%"ts Movement, 6u3aratK and A;S JA?ad ;i5as San%at"an T Fpen

Development CoalitionK' +o$ever, t"e %roups are findin% t"at t"eir ri%"t to protest and t"eir ability to

#ommuni#ate t"eir opposition to t"e $ider publi# and to t"e media are bein% #urtailed by t"e

%overnment, as seen in t"e follo$in% eamples.

EAA6 "ad sou%"t permission to "old a publi# meetin% in Au%ust and F#tober of 201

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mu#"-#elebrated ;ibrant 6u3arat! #onferen#es is )uestionable, and t"at t"e fantasti#al sums of

money t"at $ere promised in investments didn*t a#tually #ome t"rou%"' 7ar from bein% t"e

favorite destination for 7D& in &ndia, 6u3arat, spe#ifi#ally, is $ay do$n belo$ Ma"aras"tra,

Ne$ Del"i and arnata5a and "as re#eived less t"an 1H9t" t"e 7D& re#eived by Ma"aras"tra,

and less t"an 1H

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"i%"er t"an t"e all-&ndia avera%e' "ese %ro$t" rates are based, in part, on 6u3arat*s s"are in

manufa#turin% at t"e national level $"i#" $ent from 19'2=G in 1=0-1 to an impressive

2'1G by 2000-2001, 3ust prior to Modi be#ame CM'

7urt"er, $ell before Modi, 6u3arat a##ounted for 4G of &ndia*s petroleum produ#ts, rou%"ly

1G of t"e #ountry*s #ar%o "andlin%, 2

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"ead more%

1& Mec$anisms of Public Deliberation /u##ressed

1' Arvind e3ri$al 7lays Narendra Modi, Says L;i5as :urus"* 6ave A$ay Crores to 7avoured&ndustrialists &ndian press'! A##essed September 1, 2014'

"ttp.HHar#"ive'indianepress'#omHne$sHarvind-5e3ri$al-flays-narendra-modi-says-vi5as-purus"-

%ave-a$ay-#rores-to-favoured-industrialistsH1040

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4' +i%" farmer sui#ides in 6u3arat J,000 in less t"an 10 yearsK A##essed September 1, 2014

"ttp.HH$$$'t"enation'#omHarti#leH1==2Hnarenda-modis-transformation-international-paria"-

indias-prime-minister

' "e 6u3arat Muddle A##essed September 1, 2014 "ttp.HH$$$'t"e"indu'#omHopinionHop-

edHt"e-%u3arat-muddleHarti#le=9=='e#e

9' "e 6u3arat Middle A##essed September 1, 2014 "ttp.HH$$$'t"e"indu'#omHopinionHop-

edHt"e-%u3arat-middleHarti#le==

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20'"e 6u3arat Model of Development. ("at $ould it do to t"e &ndian #onomy@ #onomi# and

:oliti#al (ee5ly ;ol V>&V No' 11, Mar#" 1, 2014 Ro"ini +ensman

21'Mirror, Mirror on t"e (all, ("i#" &s t"e Most Dynami# State of "em All@! A##essed

September 1, 2014' "ttp.HHideasforindia'inHarti#le'asp@arti#leidT20

+& mending 2and c3uisition la4s to ser-e cor#orate interests

1' All &s Not (ell $it" t"e 6u3arat >and A#)uisition Model Business oday'! A##essed

September 1, 2014' "ttp.HHbusinesstoday'intoday'inHstoryHall-is-not-$ell-$it"-t"e-%u3arat-land-

a#)uisition-modelH1H20901'"tml

2' D"olera Spe#ial &nvestment Re%ion :rotests. 1 Arrested "e imes of &ndia'! A##essed

September 1, 2014' "ttp.HHtimesofindia'indiatimes'#omH#ityHra35otHD"olera-spe#ial-investment-

re%ion-protests-1-arrestedHarti#les"o$Hand Bill &ndia*s 7irst Ne$s:ortal on :ro3e#ts'! A##essed

September 1, 2014' "ttp.HH$$$'pro3e#tsmonitor'#omHpm-spe#ialsHinfrastru#tureHindustry-

disappointed-over-ne$-land-billH

=' Nitin 6ad5ari +ints at Amendments to >and A#)uisition A#t >ivemint'! A##essed September

1, 2014' "ttp.HH$$$'livemint'#omH:oliti#sH>u"pr+fbD4>m+%yHNitin-6ad5ari-

"ints-at-ret"in5-of->and-A#)uisition-A#t'"tml 10':reparin% to :rotest >and A#)uisition for Maruti Su?u5i, Mald"aris of Mandal-Be#"ara3i S&R

>at"i#"ar%ed'! A##essed September 1, 2014' "ttp.HH$$$'#ountervie$'netH2014H01Hpreparin%-

to-protest-land-a#)uisition'"tml

11'"e LNe$* &mperialism. A##umulation by Dispossession

"ttps.HH3ps'library'utoronto'#aHinde'p"pHsrvHarti#leHvie$7ileH11H20

22

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12' &n Narendra Modi*s 6u3arat, farmers rene$ a%itation a%ainst Maruti Su?u5i land allotment!'

A##essed September 1, 2014' "ttp.HH$$$'finan#ialepress'#omHne$sHin-narendra-modis-

%u3arat-farmers-rene$-a%itation-a%ainst-maruti-su?u5i-land-allotmentH121=4

1

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Modi and economic #olicy

In $is first 100 days%

1& Public s#ending under assault to benefit t$e ric$&

Despite r"etori#al #ampai%n promises of impendin% prosperity under a Modi administration, t"e past

100 days establis" #learly t"at t"e 5ey differen#e in e#onomi# poli#y from t"e pre#edin% nited

:ro%ressive Allian#e J:AK %overnment is one of de%ree and not of 5ind' "is is evident in t"e bud%et

$"i#" si%nals a furt"er $it"dra$al of t"e state from so#ial investment, in#reasin% privati?ation, andpla#in% #orporate interests at t"e #enter of all e#onomi# poli#ies' Simultaneouslyne%le#t of t"e

a%rarian e#onomy persists$"ile rural &ndia reels under t"e impa#ts of t$o de#ades of neoliberal

poli#ies t"at "ave resulted in mass dispossession, immiseri?ation and a $ave of farmer sui#ides'

"e Modi administration "as announ#ed its intentions to slas" ependiturest"at benefit t"e vast

ma3ority of t"e poor Jin t"e name of fis#al responsibilityK even $"ile it does its best to transfer massive

amounts of publi# funds to t"e ri#" Jin t"e name of stimulatin% %ro$t"K, easin% t"e #orporate

a#)uisition of landeven as millions fa#e t"reats of evi#tion and dispossession as a result' Fverall, t"e

e#onomi# outloo5 is %rim for t"e vast ma3ority of &ndians $"o fa#e deprivation and mar%inali?ation

$"ile t"e ri#" "ave many reasons to #elebrate'

*& /tate assets tagged for firesale&

"e Modi bud%et uses t"e mu#" #riti#i?ed neoliberal formula of privati?ation to %enerate revenues'

"is bud%et see5s to raise /1< billion from sellin% state assets ,$"i#" is more t"an four times $"at t"e

previous nited :ro%ressive Allian#e J:AK %overnment $as able to raise in t"e prior bud%et year'

24

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("ile Modi*s #ampai%n #laimed t"at its poli#ies $ould be #ompletely different from t"ose of t"e :A

%overnment, a##ordin% to several #ommentators, most of Modi*s bud%et $as a re"as" of t"e out%oin%

%overnment*s bud%et' ("ile see5in% to #urb spendin%, t"e Modi bud%et "ad no problem dis#overin%

t$obillion rupees to build t"e $orld*s lar%est statue$"ile allo#atin% only t"ree billion rupees for

pro%rams for (omen*s Ri%"ts and Safety' ("ile #riti)ues t"at "i%"li%"t t"e problems of privati?ation

and of t"e insidiously named :ubli# :rivate :artners"ips! are %ainin% #urren#y in t"e 6lobal Nort",

t"e Modi administration "as %iven t"e %reen li%"t for 4=G 7orei%n Dire#t &nvestment J7D&K in defense

and up to 100G for "i%"-speed rail, in t"e latter #ase, if it is implemented as a publi#-private

partners"ip' "e Modi %overnment "as also publi#ly announ#ed its intentions to abolis" t"e :lannin%

Commission, t"us effe#tively #on#entratin% po$er in t"e 7inan#e ministry and t"e :rime Minister*s

Fffi#e'

+& !or#orate subsidies s#ared 4$ile #ublic subsidies slas$ed&

("ile numerous dis#ussions of #uttin% subsidies littered t"e #ampai%n trail, only t"ose subsidies t"at

flo$ to t"e 0G of &ndians $"o live on less t"an /2Hday "ave been #ut, unevenly impa#tin% t"ose

already #onsiderably disenfran#"ised' Corporate subsidies and ta #redits for t"e $ealt"y, on t"e ot"er

"and, "ave not eperien#ed #uts' ("ile t"e ele#tion manifesto of Modi*s B"aratiya Eanata :arty JBE:K

dis#ussed #urbin% #orruption, t"e Modi bud%et did not introdu#e #on#rete steps to #ombat bla#5 money'

"e bud%et mentions plans for settin% up of Real state &nvestment rusts JR&*sK and &nfrastru#ture

&nvestment rusts, bot" of $"i#" are instruments desi%ned primarily to attra#t forei%n investment in

land and infrastru#ture' Alon%side t"e %overnment*s intentions to ease land a#)uisition in favor of

industries, su#" initiatives $ill furt"er ea#erbate t"e t"reats of for#ible evi#tion and la#5 of

#ompensation fa#ed by millions of ordinary $or5in% &ndians' Moreover, sin#e R&*s primaryfun#tion as a tool of ta redu#tion is a#5no$led%ed by even t"e most fervent supporters of

neoliberalism,R&S $ill furt"er en#oura%e spe#ulation $"ile de#reasin% ta revenues' "e Modi

bud%et is rife $it" ta #redits for #orporations and t"e $ealt"y, in#ludin% 10-year ta-"olidays for

po$er %eneration and distribution, and #ontinuin% forei%n dividend taation at 1G #on#essional rates'

By t"e bud%et*s o$n admission, Net ffe#t of t"e dire#t ta proposals to result in revenue loss of Rs'

22,200 #rore!'

Pre-iously( in u,arat%

1& 2o4 4ages( e9treme income dis#arity and gro4ing #ublic debt

(a%es in 6u3arat $ere lo$er t"an t"e avera%e rates t"rou%"out &ndia' And t"ou%" 6u3arat*s per #apita

in#ome is 20G "i%"er t"an t"at of t"e rest of t"e #ountry, rural $a%es are 20G lo$er and urban $a%es

are 1G lo$er, eviden#e of pervasive ine)uality' 7urt"ermore, #ompared to ot"er states in &ndia,

$a%es of male #asual labour in 6u3arat are at t"e bottom of t"e s#ale in terms of t"e real in#omes t"ey

2

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%enerate' ("at often %oes unmentioned about t"e 6u3arat model is t"at re#orded %ro$t" "as been

#ontin%ent on %ro$in% debt' "e state*s debt in#reased from Rs 4,

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September 1, 2014' "ttp.HH$$$'t"e"indubusinessline'#omHopinionH#olumnsH#-p-

#"andrase5"arH"ave-$or5ers-in-%u3arat-benefited-from-developmentHarti#leobbyin% Company Ap#o (orld$ide Mar5ets Narendra Modi to t"e (orld

#onomi# imes'! A##essed September 1, 2014'

"ttp.HHarti#les'e#onomi#times'indiatimes'#omH2012-12-0=Hne$sH

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Modi and t$e n-ironment

In $is first 100 days%

1& ;asic #rotections to safeguard t$e en-ironment( t$at 4ere not #articularly strongto begin 4it$( are being 4i#ed out&

&n t"e name of e#onomi# pro%ress, t"e rules and re%ulations t"at safe%uard &ndia*s environment,$ildlife, forests, and indi%enous ri%"ts are under atta#5' Defense pro3e#ts are bein% prioriti?ed, t"e

raisin% of t"e Narmada dam "ei%"t "as been approved Janot"er 1 metersK and t"e 7orest Ri%"ts and

7orest Conservation A#ts "ave been diluted to )ui#5en e#onomi# development in $"at "ave been

identified as Naal-affe#ted! states $"i#" #omprise t"e ri#"est forest lands in"abited by t"e %reatest

number of Adivasis Jindi%enous #ommunitiesK' J7or more on 7orest Ri%"ts A#t and raisin% of Narmada

Dam "ei%"t see-e(elopment andinorities se#tions of t"is report'K7urt"er,environmental #learan#es

"ave been fast-tra#5ed for +industan Copper >td'to epand minin% in pla#es su#" as E"ar5"and and

Malan35"and alon% $it" unpre#edented #learan#es for Fil I Natural 6as #ompany' &t is estimated t"at

environmental dama%e #osts for rus"in% t"ese pro3e#ts $ill #ost &ndia approimately

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affe#ted forest #ommunities before diversion of forests lands for non-forest uses ta5es pla#e'

A spe#ial #ommittee "as been put in pla#e to su%%est #"an%es! to environmental la$s $"i#" $ill be

t"e primary me#"anism t"rou%" $"i#" 5ey provisions in eistin% la$s $ill be $ea5ened'&n 3ust t"ree

mont"s, a##ordin% to t"e 6overnment of &ndia*sinistry of 2n(ironment+ orests and Climate Chan'e,t"e Modi administration "as %iven #learan#es to. J1K seven different entities in t"e #oal se#tor in#ludin%

t"e epansion of open #ast pro3e#ts, J2K siteen different entities in t"e industrial se#tor J

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refused to attend t"e nited Nations Spe#ial Summit on Climate C"an%e, ma5in% it even more unli5ely

t"at t"e S, C"ina, and &ndia Jt"e < bi%%est #limate pollutersK, $ill for%e a %lobal a%reement' "e Modi

bud%et is filled $it" a %ro$t" a%enda t"at appears to be #ommitted to pollute even more and ma5e t"e

%reen a%enda subservient to t"e #orporate a%enda all buried under t"e r"etori# of sustainability' ("ile

t"ere is mu#" tal5 about supplyin% potable $ater infrastru#ture, t"ere is no dis#ussion about ris5

miti%ation for t"es"rin5in% of +imalayan %la#iers t"at supply $ater to rivers in Nort" &ndia' "is is not

3ust a t"reat to t"e $ater supply but also to ener%y, $"i#" is supplied by "ydroele#tri# pro3e#ts'

Pre-iously( in u,arat%

1& Protecting #ri-ate cor#orations at t$e #eo#les e9#ense

Multiple arti#les, reports andresear#" briefin%s "ave do#umented t"e"avo# $rea5ed on t"e

environment by t"e Adani %roup espe#ially in t"e Mundra Spe#ial #onomi# Uone JSUK, $"ere

&ndia*s lar%est private port is operated by Adani :orts and Spe#ial #onomi# Uone >td'

Alt"ou%" t"e Adani %roup "as#learly violated environmental rules and #learan#es, t"ey are yet

to be "eld a##ountable' Modi*s relations"ip $it" t"e Adani #on%lomerate#ontinues to be

ubi)uitous sin#e "is ele#tion'

6u3arat, one of &ndia*s most "i%"ly industriali?ed states "as paved t"e $ay for Spe#ial

#onomi# Uones advan#in% its development vision under t"e banner of e#onomi# revival t"at

"as $idely #ir#ulated as ;ibrant 6u3arat'! "is development trend "as utili?ed innumerable

SU*s Jover-privile%in% free-mar5et prin#iples of in#reased trade and investmentK to ta5eover

e#olo%i#ally-distressed #oastlines in 6u3arat, seriously impa#tin% already mar%inali?ed

#ommunities in#ludin% farmers, fis"er people, saltpan $or5ers and %ra?ers'

"e ma3ority of &ndustries operatin% in 6u3arat do so $it"out environmental #learan#es or

#ontinue to $or5 ille%ally' Fne of Modi*s senior ministers in 6u3arat,Babub"ai Bo5"iria$as

senten#ed to t"ree years of 3ail by a #ourt in :orbandar for ille%al limestone minin% in Eune

201

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:ollution Control Board announ#ed t"ree 6u3arat rivers to be t"e most polluted in &ndia'

Sin#e 200=, t"e;api and An5les"$ar industrial areas in 6u3arat "ave #onsistently topped t"e

C:& s#ores in t"e #riti#ally polluted area list, i'e' $it" C:& s#ores over 0' Due to t"ese

serious pollution levels, t"e Ministry of nvironment and 7orests banned all 6u3arat ne$

pro3e#ts and epansion pro3e#ts in 2010 in t"e industrial #luster of ;api in Sout"ern 6u3arat' &n

2011, t"e ban $as lifted after t"e 6u3arat :ollution Control Board promised to implement

a#tionable plans to improve air )uality, but no a#tion $as ta5enand in 201< t"e pollution inde

$as only redu#ed mar%inally J'

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' 6reenpea#e'Adani act Sheet' A##essed September 1, 2014'

"ttp.HH$$$'%reenpea#e'or%HindiaH6lobalHindiaHreportHAdani-fa#t-s"eet'pdf

=' '3esearch &riefin': Adanis 3ecord of 2n(ironmental -estruction and Non

,Compliance !ith 3e'ulations, Mar#" 10, 2014'

"ttp.HHm'%reenpea#e'or%HaustraliaH6lobalHaustraliaHvolunteerHAdaniG2sG20re#ord'pdf

10'+aldar, Soumya, Subir umar Mandal, R' B' "orat, San%ita 6oel, rus"na5ant D' Bai,

Navalsan% :' :armer, ;ipul :atel, S' Bas"a, and ' +' Mody' (ater :ollution of Sabarmati

Rivera +arbin%er to :otential Disaster'!2n(ironmental onitorin' and Assessment19, no'

4 JApril 2014K. 22u?arat ri(ate 4imited on 6th @ th

-ecember 717., 2010'"ttp.HH$$$'moef'ni#'inHdo$nloadsHpubli#-informationHsite-visit-

Mundra-F:6'pdf

1

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Modi and 4omen( se9ual minorities

In $is first 100 days%

1&"$etoric -ersus "eality

Contrary to t"e :rime Minister*s $omen-friendly publi# r"etori#, "is %overnment "as failed to allo#ate

any si%nifi#ant portion of t"e bud%et to #"an%e livin% and $or5in% #onditions for $omen' Modi*s

spee#" on Au%ust 1t", t"e anniversary of &ndia*s &ndependen#e Day, #ontained many referen#es to

$omen' +e referred to &ndia*s disturbin% se ratio and said families s"ould stop 5illin% %irls in t"e$omb'! +e also #alled for t"e need for %irls and $omen to "ave a##ess to safe toilets, and #onne#ted it

to violen#e %irls and $omen fa#e additionally due to t"e la#5 of sanitary fa#ilities' +o$ever, so far t"e

pro%ress on $omen*s ri%"ts "as been slo$' &n t"is year*s bud%et, $omen*s safety pro%rams merited a

measly Rs' 200 #roresJabout /

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*&72o-e >i$ad8 t$e Demoni5ation of Muslim communities in t$e name of4omens 7$onor8

(it" an eye on t"e J3ust #on#ludedK by-ele#tions, Modi and some ministers in "is #abinet "ave sto5ed

#ommunal tensions in t"e stateof ttar :rades" J':'K t"rou%" inflammatory r"etori# a##usin% Muslimmen of sedu#in% and rapin% +indu $omen' BE: politi#ians a##use Muslim men of love 3i"ad,! a term

t"ey "ave #oined to des#ribe $"at t"ey #laim is a strate%y on t"e part of Muslim men to in#rease t"e

Muslim population in &ndia' Many non-BE: ministers are a%ainst t"is ta#ti# for fear of in#itin% violen#e

in t"e state but t"eir fears "ave been disre%arded' Oo%i Adityanat", a BE: Minister from ':' announ#ed

at a #ampai%n rallyt"at for#ed #onversion of +indu %irls to &slam #an be prevented only by a BE:-led

%overnment in t"e state' Not only does t"is in#ite &slamop"obia, but su#" ta#ti#s also reinfor#e

patriar#"al and re%ressive vie$s of $omen$"ere $omen*s bodies, understood to be property, are used

by men and #ommunities to aven%e ea#" ot"er' Su#" a##usations of love 3i"ad! "ave "o$ever proved

to be an utter failure as borne out by t"e results of t"e by-ele#tions $"i#" spell not"in% s"ort of a ma3or

defeat of t"e BE:*s #ommunal politi#s in ':' and Ra3ast"an'

"e idea of love 3i"ad! basi#ally reinfor#es t"e idea t"at $omen "ave no #aste or reli%ious identities of

t"eir o$n an upper #aste $oman loses "er #aste status! $"en s"e marries outside "er reli%ion or

#aste' Su#" dan%erous frames furt"er posit $omen as bearers of #ulture and #ommunities and san#tion

moral poli#in% of $omen and t"e need to infli#t violen#e a%ainst $omen if t"ey trans%ress! i'e' marry

outside t"eir #ommunity, drin5, smo5e et#' &n 201

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Court de#ision, several "uman ri%"ts or%ani?ations in#ludin% t"e Alternative >a$ 7orum, a#tivists,

pro%ressive a#ademi#s and parents of %ay yout" spo5e out about t"e re%ressiveness of t"e de#ision, and

t"e ba#5las" it #ould unleas", but to little avail' Modi*s politi#al and #ultural p"ilosop"y is rooted in

+indutva, a "ardline form of +indu nationalism, and it remains to be seen $"at "e $ill do to propel or

re%ress >6B ri%"ts' 7ollo$in% t"e Supreme Court de#ision in De#ember 201

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ri%"ts %roups in#ludin% +uman Ri%"ts (at#"and Amnesty &nternational' 6ruesome a##ounts of

"orrifi# brutalities infli#ted upon pre%nant Muslim $omen*s bodies $ere do#umented and reported in

t"e media' Amnesty &nternational*s 200 report on t"e state of $omen vi#tims of t"e 6u3arat riots

do#uments t"ats#ores of $omen $"o $ere brutally raped#ontinue to fi%"t for 3usti#e and in 5ey #ases,

t"e a##used "ave been a#)uitted' An estimated=,000 people lost t"eir "omes durin% t"e riotsstill

a$ait #ompensation andHor re"abilitation, more t"an a de#ade later'

&ndia*s National +uman Ri%"ts Commission, a %overnment a%en#y, found t"at Modi*s administration

failed to #ontrol t"e persistent violation of t"e ri%"ts to life, liberty, e)uality and di%nity of t"e people

of t"e State'!Modi $as a##used of bein% un$illin% to proa#tively prose#ute t"e rapists in t"e years

follo$in% t"e violen#e' &n 201

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$rote-letter-to-save-narendra-modi-#laims-ias-offi#er-44==10@siteT#lassi# '

' "e Myt" of >ove Ei"ad "e &ndian press'! A##essed September 1, 2014'

"ttp.HHindianepress'#omHarti#leHopinionH#olumnsHt"e-myt"-of-love-3i"adH

=' ("at &ndian (omen "in5 of Narendra Modi uart?'! A##essed September 1, 2014'

"ttp.HH)?'#omH20

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Modis .uman "ig$ts Problem

In $is first 100 days%

1& Free /#eec$ and #olitical e9#ression under attack&

"ree $ee5s after Mr' Modi I "is ri%"t-$in% +indu nationalist party, t"e B"aratiya Eanata :arty JBE:K,

$on t"e ele#tions in May 2014, a #olle%e prin#ipal in unnam5ulam, erala, $as arrested follo$in% a

#omplaint by a member of t"e BE:' "e prin#ipal, $it" some of "is students, "ad featured Modi*s

pi#ture in t"e #olle%e ma%a?ine under a list of ne%ative fa#es! alon% $it" t"at of Fsama bin >aden,

Adolf +itler, 6eor%e (' Bus", et#' "e :oli#e sei?ed t"e printin% press and #omputers used to desi%n

t"e ma%a?ine, alon% $it" "undreds of #opies' "ose arrested $ere later released on bail but fa#e

#"ar%es of defamation and #riminal #onspira#y' Convi#tion #ould brin% stiff fines as $ell as prisonterms'

&n t"e $ee5s follo$in% t"e ele#tions of May 2014, t"ere $ereseveral instan#es of su#" #riminali?ation

of dissent.

&n B"at5al, arnata5a, an MBA student, Syed ;a)as, $as arrested alon% $it" four of "is friends

for sendin% a messa%e t"at #ari#atured an ele#tion slo%an of t"e BE:'

Also in May 2014, poli#e in Ban%alore arrested a man for sendin% a p"oto%rap" on "is p"one

depi#tin% :rime Minister Narendra Modi on a funeral pyre'

&n 6oa, Devu C"odan5ar, a

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:rominent #iti?ens and a#tivists "ave #alled on Mr' Modi,in t"e name of #onstitutionally %uaranteed

ri%"ts to 7ree Spee#" and pression, to stop t"e use of repressive le%islation and "ave demanded t"e

deletion of su#" le%islation' +o$ever, t"ere are no reports to date of any response by Mr' Modi on t"e

sub3e#t'

*& /tate security a##aratus and ,udicial system de#loyed to target ri-al #oliticians(,ournalists( ,udges and acti-ists&

Modi*s as#ension to po$er in May 2014 "as delivered a 3olt to #ivil liberties'Arvind e3ri$al, t"e

founder of t"e Aam Aadmi :arty, and a politi#al rival to Mr' Modi $as arrested on May 21, 2014, under

#"ar%es of #riminal defamation for eposin% alle%ed #orruption in land deals by Nitin 6ad5ari, former

president of t"e BE:' A%ain, on Euly 1, t"e BE:served Mr' e3ri$al a defamation noti#edemandin%

Rs' 10 million Jover /190,000K as dama%es for "is #laim t"at t"e BE: $as "orse- tradin%!

parliamentarians to form a ne$ state %overnment in Del"i' JAs of September 2014, Mr' e3ri$al "as

produ#ed a video t"rou%" a stin% operation $"ere Del"i BE: vi#e-president S"er Sin%" Da%ar and "is

aide Ra%"ubir Da"iya are seen offerin% a bribeto a member of :arliament from t"e AA: partyK'

Anot"er #ase t"at raises #on#erns about t"e Modi %overnment*s assault on 3udi#ial independen#eis t"at

of 6opal Subramanium, a former soli#itor %eneral of &ndia' Subramanium en3oyed an impe##able

reputation and $as spe#ially invited by t"e C"ief Eusti#e in Eune 2014 to be#ome a 3ud%e of t"e

Supreme CourtP t"e ot"er 3ud%es in t"e #olle%ium $ere unanimous in t"eir #"oi#e of Subramanium'

+o$ever, follo$in% a #ampai%n of innuendoes by t"e CB& J&ndia*s foremost investi%atin% poli#e

a%en#yK and t"e &ntelli%en#e Bureau J&ndia*s internal intelli%en#e a%en#yK a%ainst "im, in#ludin%

mali#ious lea5s to t"e media, Subramanium voluntarily $it"dre$ "is #andidature' But "e also $ent

publi# $it" "is #laims of a #"ara#ter assassination by t"e Modi %overnment, #"ar%in% t"at t"e CB& "ad

been as5ed to di% up dirt! about "im for "is display of independen#e and inte%rity!' Subramanium

#laimed t"at "e $as bein% tar%eted in retaliation for "is role as amicus curiaein t"e trial of t"e

So"rabuddin #ase $"ere Mr' Amit S"a", a #lose aide of Mr'Modi, is one of t"e a##used in t"e

etra3udi#ial 5illin% of So"rabuddin, a Muslim yout" from 6u3arat' JAmit S"a" $as Mr' Modi*s "ome

minister in 6u3arat, and sin#e "as been promoted to t"e influential position of t"e party president of t"e

BE:K' Mr' Subramanium*s #laims $ere supported by Eusti#e R'M' >od"a,t"e C"ief Eusti#e of &ndia,

$"en "e de#lared publi#ly t"at t"e de#ision to drop Mr' Subramanium from #onsideration $as made

unilaterally by t"e %overnment $it"out "is o$n 5no$led%e and #onsent!'

"es"o#5in% #odato t"e 6opal Subramanium story is t"at in Euly 2014, Mr' Amit S"a"*s la$yer, day

>alit, $as elevated to t"e position of a Supreme Court 3ud%e' "ese #"ain of events "ave been

des#ribed by t"e media as t"e 6u3arati?ation of t"e "i%"est 3udi#iary,! a referen#e to t"e use of

politi#al po$er by t"e ee#utive durin% Mr' Modi*s tenure in 6u3arat, and t"e subse)uent erosion of

publi# #onfiden#e in t"e 3udi#iary su#" t"at t"e Supreme Court "as transferred several 5ey and #riti#al

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#ases out of t"e state'

Pre-iously( in u,arat%

1& /u##ression of dissent

6u3arat "as earned a sordid reputation for t"e violent suppression of all forms of dissent, in#ludin% t"at

of $or5ers, reli%ious minorities Jparti#ularly MuslimsK and ot"er eploited and oppressed se#tions of

so#iety' Dissenters $"o "ave #"allen%ed t"e Modi %overnment, in#ludin% former BE: minister +aren

:andya and Ri%"t to &nformation a#tivist Amit Eet"$a, "ave been mysteriously 5illed'(it"only G of

&ndia*s population, 22G of t"e murders and 20G of t"e assaults of R& a#tivists in re#ent years "ave

o##urred in 6u3arat, $"i#" "as only t$o R& JRi%"t to &nformationK Commissioners #ompared to ei%"t

in Ma"aras"tra and nine in amil Nadu'

*& .arassment of t$ose defending -ictims of .indu c$au-inism

A#tivists li5e S"abnam +as"mi from t"e %roup AN+AD JA#t No$ for +armony and Demo#ra#yK $"o

are involved in or%ani?in% a%ainst +indu #"auvinism "ave been repeatedly tar%eted and "arassed' &n

Eanuary 2012, +as"mi $as detained by t"e 6u3arat poli#e $"en s"e $as on "er $ay to a publi# meetin%

in 6od"ra $"ere s"e $as to address a %at"erin%' A%ain, in April 2014, +as"mi $as atta#5ed in t"e #ity

of Rae Bareli by BE: $or5ers' S"e $as t"reatened and man"andled$"ile s"e and "er asso#iates $ere

distributin% leaflets about Modi*s development re#ord in 6u3arat' "e BE: party $or5ers also %rabbed

t"e leaflets but no a#tion $as ta5en a%ainst t"em alt"ou%" t"e $"ole in#ident too5 pla#e barely 100

metres a$ay from t"e 6ada%an3 poli#e stationQ

+uman ri%"ts defenders su#" as eesta Setalvad and Eaved Anand, $it" t"e or%ani?ation Citi?ens for

Eusti#e and :ea#e JCE:K $"i#" "as been at t"e forefront of t"e stru%%le to se#ure 3usti#e for t"e vi#tims

of t"e 2002 6u3arat po%rom, "ave been "arassed and intimidated by la$ enfor#ement $it" trumped up

#"ar%es'

Mr' Modi*star%etin% of $"istleblo$er #opssu#" as &ndian :oli#e Servi#e J&:SK Fffi#er San3iv B"att

and e-D6: R' B' Sree5umar, and "uman ri%"ts a#tivists su#" as 7r' Cedri# :ra5as", "ave been $ell-

do#umented and are furt"er eamples of attempts to derail t"e efforts to deliver 3usti#e to t"e vi#tims of

6u3arat 2002'

+& "e4arding mass murderers

Fne of t"e $orst episodes of mass 5illin% and brutality durin% t"e 2002 anti-Muslim po%roms

#ondu#ted by t"e RSS and its affiliates $it" t"e support of Modi*s state administration $as in Naroda

:atiya, A"medabad' "e individual $"o led t"is #arna%e $"i#" resulted in not less t"an =0 dead men,

$omen and #"ildren, a BE: politi#ian #lose to Modi #alled Maya odnani in#ited t"e mob to rape

40

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$omen and murder men and #"ildren, reportedly e%%in% t"em on by distributin% s$ords' nperturbed

by t"e enormity of "er involvement in t"e brutalities, Modi appointed "er Minister for (omen and

C"ild Developmentin 200' &t $as only after a painsta5in% investi%ation supportin% t"e brave stru%%le

of "uman ri%"ts a#tivists on be"alf of vi#tims and survivors brou%"t #"ar%es a%ainst odnani t"at s"e

$as subse)uently imprisoned, fa#in% first a deat" senten#e, $"i#" $as t"en #ommuted to a life

senten#e' (it" t"e as#ent of Modi at t"e #enter, odnani $as %ranted bail for reasons of ill "ealt"!by

t"e 6u3arat +i%" Court' Similarly,Babu Ba3ran%i, $"o %loated on #amera about en3oyin% t"e brutal

murder of Muslim men, $omen and #"ildren,$as senten#ed to life in prison and after Modi*s ele#tion

%ranted temporary bail ostensibly for "ealt" reasons' As if t"ese t$o #ases of mass murderers bein%

re$arded $eren*t enou%", yet anot"er individual #lose to Modi $as also %ranted bail in t"e mont"s

follo$in% Modi*s ele#tion' S$ami Aseemanand, one of t"e most "i%" profile RSS leaders under

investi%ation for a series of terrorism #"ar%es involvin% bombin% trains, mar5etpla#es, s"rines in

multiple sites a#ross &ndia'+e "ad ori%inally be#ome a "i%"ly respe#ted RSS leader as a result of "is

efforts mobili?in% RSS mobs to #arry out anti-C"ristian po%roms in t"e Dan%s distri#t of 6u3arat in t"elate 1==0s'

"ead more%

1& Free /#eec$ and #olitical e9#ression

1' Amnesty &nternational &ndia :ress Release')ndia: 4e'al 3eform Crucial to rotect 3i'ht to

ree Speech, Eune 29, 2014'

"ttp.HH$$$'amnesty'or%HfrHlibraryHassetHASA20H024H2014HenHf9fe202-fe#-4a=-b1f=-

b0abda#bf#Hasa200242014en'pdf

2' Ar3un Set"i' "e S 6overnment Can Brand Oou a errorist Based on a 7a#eboo5 :ost' (e

Can*t >et "em Ma5e up t"e Rules "e 6uardian'! A##essed September 1, 2014'

"ttp.HH$$$'t"e%uardian'#omH#ommentisfreeH2014Hau%H

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1, 2014' "ttp.HHtimesofindia'indiatimes'#omHindiaHFnline-posts-a%ainst-Narendra-Modi-spell-

troubleHarti#les"o$H

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"ttp.HHsout"asia'forei%npoli#y'#omHpostsH2014H0H2a$yer day >alit, ("o Represented Amit S"a", Eayalalit"aa, Re#ommended for Supreme

Court'! A##essed September 1, 2014' "ttp.HH$$$'ndtv'#omHarti#leHindiaHla$yer-uday-lalit-

$"o-represented-amit-s"a"-3ayalalit"aa-re#ommended-for-supreme-#ourt-91

1o(ernment: -o Not

Criminalise -issent, Euly 2014' "ttp.HH$$$'pu#l'or%HbulletinsH2014H:C>3ul2014'pdf

14'R& A#tivist Amit Eet"$a*s Murder. CB& Arrests BE: M:'! A##essed September 1, 2014'

"ttp.HH$$$'outloo5india'#omHne$sHarti#leHR&-A#tivist-Amit-Eet"$as-Murder-CB&-Arrests-

BE:-M:H191

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Modi and t$e Media

In $is first 100 days%

1& Prominent ,ournalists 4ere #ressured to a-oid critici5ing t$e go-ernment&

ven durin% t"e run-up to t"e ele#tions t"ere $ere several instan#es of senior 3ournalists bein% #oer#ed

by media o$ners to restrain t"eir #riti#al reportin% on Modi, resultin% in multiple firin%s and

resi%nations' Sidd"art" ;aradara3an resi%ned from "is senior editin% position at The $indu after

refusin% to submit to demands by paper o$ners to pla#e t"en prime minister #andidate Modi on t"e

front #over in F#tober 201

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Modi' &n Euly 2014, t"e ne$spaper DNA removed an arti#le from its $ebsite by Rana Ayyubbe#ause it

$as #riti#al of Modi*s appointment of Amit S"a" to lead t"e B"aratiya Eanata :arty, spe#ifyin% murder

#"ar%es and ot"er #rimes for $"i#" S"a" is still on trial' J7or more on Amit S"a" see$uman 3i'hts

se#tion of t"is report'K 7urt"er reports of 3ournalists bein% as5ed to muffle anti-Modi stories on t"e one

"and, and #uttin% to live Modi spee#"es are be#omin% #ommon pla#e'

*& Media denied access by Modi&

As a #andidate, Modi spared fe$ opportunities to appear on television in an unpre#edented re-brandin%

effort to re#ast "imself as a man of t"e people'! +o$ever, sin#e "is ele#tion Modi "as been far more

sele#tive in "is intera#tions $it" t"e media, insulatin% "imself and "is administration in#reasin%ly from

media s#rutiny, aided in no small part by an in#reasin%ly pliant #orporate media t"at is fore#losin%

#riti)ue of t"e Modi administration' &n an unpre#edented move Modi de#lined employin% a media

advisor and instead "as appointed an aide as a :ubli# Relations offi#er' &n addition, Modi "as ordered

"is ministers to avoid spea5in% dire#tly to t"e media unless re)uired to amplify an offi#ial position

epressed by t"e :rime Minister J:MKP be"ind #losed doors "is aut"oritarian styleof %overnan#e is

bein% reported to ruffle feat"ers' &n a s"arp brea5 from #onventions %overnin% diplomati# trips, Modi

de#lined to invite 3ournalists to a##ompany "im to t"e BR&CS JBra?il, Russia, &ndia, C"ina, Sout"

Afri#aK summit in Euly, overturnin% a lon%-standin% pra#ti#e follo$ed by previous prime ministers'

Su#" #"an%es do not bode $ell for &ndia as t"ey insulate t"e :M and "is #abinet from t"e sort of media

a##ess and s#rutiny re)uired in any "ealt"y demo#ra#y'

Pre-iously( in u,arat%

1& Targeting ,ournalists

nder Modi*s tenure in 6u3arat,3ournalists $ere tar%eted $it" sedition #"ar%es, as $ell as

"arassment and denial of entry into t"e state Assembly'

&n 2009, Modi*s administration brou%"t sedition #"ar%es a%ainst 6u3arati-lan%ua%e daily editor,

Mano3 S"inde, for "is #riti#ism of Modi*s mis"andlin% of a flood'

Sedition and treason #"ar%es $ere also brou%"t a%ainst Times of )ndia editor, B"arat Desai and

#rime reporter :ras"ant Dayal alon% $it" p"oto%rap"er 6autam Me"ta at >u?arat Samachar

due to an investi%ative series #rime )uestionin% "i%"-ran5in% poli#e offi#ers'

*& !urbing media

&n late 2002, respondin% to a reporter*s )uestion re%ardin% t"e inse#urity eperien#ed by

Muslims in t"e state, Modi lambasted t"e media for its #overa%e, publi#ly t"reatenin% t"e

reporter $it". :eople li5e you s"ould apolo%ise to t"e #rore J0 millionK 6u3aratis for as5in%

4