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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: INDIA MODI HINDU NATIONALISM
HEADLINE: Analysts: Modi Victory Looks Certain with Leveraging of Hindu Nationalism
TEASER: Meanwhile, Hindu nationalists have called into question the continued existence of mosques allegedly built on Hindu sites
PUBLISHED AT: 1/30/24
BYLINE: Henry Wilkins
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Ayodhya, India
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Wilkins
VIDEO EDITOR: Henry Wilkins
ASSIGNING EDITOR: David Jones
SCRIPT EDITORS: caw, MAS, SV approved for balance
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 3:16
VID APPROVED BY: sb
TYPE: TVR
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the opening of a new Hindu temple earlier in January, analysts called it the unofficial start of his reelection campaign. With India due to go to the polls as soon as April, surveys say Modi is the most popular elected leader in the world, while commentators agree his reelection is all but certain. Henry Wilkins reports from Ayodhya on how Modi has taken advantage of Hindu nationalism to gain such support.]]
((VIDEO-VOA: DANCERS - various, IMAGES OF MODI - various (AP), AYODYAH - various, PRACHARAK - various))
((NARRATOR))
The atmosphere was festive in Ayodhya on a recent Monday, with chants of “Jai Sri Ram,” an ancient Indian greeting more recently adopted by Hindu nationalist politicians, echoing across the city.
((Pause to hear dancers shout “Jai Sri Ram”))
Hindus, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, came from all over the country to celebrate the opening of a new temple at what they believe is the birthplace of the Hindu deity Ram.
One organizer of the festivities told VOA...
((For radio: Bolen Rashtri Sarjosan Pracharak is a local community leader and festival organizer. He says that there have been many conflicts over the Ram Temple, but today, after many years of waiting, the temple belongs to Ram again.))
((Bolen Rashtri Sarjosan Pracharak, Local Community Leader (in Hindi, ?? secs))
“For this Ram temple, where Lord Ram was born, there have been many conflicts. Today, after many years of waiting, the temple belongs to Lord Ram again...”
((VIDEO-VOA: PRACHARAK - various, AYODHYA - various))
((NARRATOR))
… adding that he’s happy Modi attended.
Analysts have said Modi’s attachment to the ceremony was designed to win favor with Hindu voters and mark the unofficial start of his re-election campaign. With India due to go to the polls in April or May, commentators agree his and his Bharatiya Janata Party's reelection is all but certain.
((For radio: Chietigj Bajpaee is with the UK-based research group Chatham House.))
((MANDATORY COURTESY: ZOOM))
((Chietigj Bajpaee, Chatham House (in English, ?? secs)))
“I think the party’s strength really comes down to four key factors. The first is the BJP’s Hindutva or Hindu nationalist ideology. The second is its welfare and development-driven agenda. The third is hyper-nationalism and the fourth is the Modi brand.”
((VIDEO-VOA: AYODHYA - various))
((NARRATOR))
Others point to Modi’s record on development…
((For radio: Praveen Rai from the Delhi-based Centre for the Study of Developing Societies…))
((MANDATORY COURTESY: ZOOM))
((Praveen Rai, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (in English, ?? secs)))
“The last 10 years of Modi has seen a very fast economic development. He started targeting the bottom section of society and giving them benefits raising their lives.”
((VIDEO-VOA: AYODHYA TEMPLE - various, AYODHYA MOSQUES - various, ASHRAFI - various))
((NARRATOR))
Opposition parties and critics say Modi’s Hindu nationalism is dividing the country’s Hindu majority and Muslim minority.
The Ram temple in Ayodhya was built on the site of a mosque destroyed by a Hindu nationalist mob in 1992, sparking violent riots throughout India.
The new temple opened amid tight security at mosques.
((For radio: At another mosque 700 meters from the new temple, the mosque's manager, Mohammad Neeyum Ashrafi, said he was here in 1991 and was here when the destruction of the mosque happened. Ashrafi says he was here before that and is still here today. He says he has witnessed all circumstances and doesn’t have a problem or any fear.))
((Mohammad Neeyum Ashrafi, Begampura Mosque Manager (in Hindi, ?? secs)))
“I was here in 1991. I was here when [the destruction of the mosque] happened. I have been here before that as well, and I am here today too. I have witnessed all the circumstances… I don't have any problem, and I don't have any fear.
((VIDEO-VOA: AYODHYA - various))
((NARRATOR))
Days after the opening in Ayodhya, the Archaeological Survey of India, an Indian government agency, announced it had found evidence a mosque in nearby Varanasi was built on the site of a Hindu temple. This led Hindu nationalist groups to question whether it and other mosques built on Hindu sites should be considered mosques at all and called on the judiciary to decide.
Rai told VOA he thinks a repeat of past violence between Hindus and Muslims is unlikely…
((MANDATORY COURTESY: ZOOM))
((Praveen Rai, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (in English, ?? secs)))
“In fact, what happened was very, very badly politically managed.”
((VIDEO-VOA: NEW TRAIN STATION - various))
((NARRATOR))
Human Rights Watch says attacks against Muslims in India have increased in recent years. The rights group in a 2022 noted an increase in “summary and abusive punishments” against Muslims considered to have broken the law.
According to the Reuters news agency, India has the world's third-largest Muslim population, since independence from British rule in 1947.
((Henry Wilkins, VOA News, Ayodhya, India))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJanuary 30, 2024 11:09 EST
BylineHenry Wilkins
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English, US Agency for Global Media
