PM Modi responds to Time magazine's #DividerInChief cover story
What's the story
The Time magazine recently described PM Narendra Modi as India's "Divider in Chief" in a controversial cover story. The Prime Minister on Friday responded to being labeled as the country's "Divider In Chief" and said that Time magazine is a foreign publication and added that the writer of the story is from a Pakistani political family while commenting on his credibility. Here's more.
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The writer is a Pakistani: PM Modi's response
"Time magazine is foreign, the writer has also said he comes from a Pakistani political family. That is enough for his credibility," PM Modi said. The article, written by novelist Aatish Taseer, also wondered whether the country can endure another five-year term of his government.
The article
'World's biggest democracy is more divided than ever,' writes Taseer
Taseer wrote, "The world's biggest democracy is more divided than ever," referring to mob lynchings, Yogi Adityanath's appointment as Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister, and BJP's decision to field Pragya Singh Thakur, accused in the Malegaon blasts case, from Bhopal. The article, however, also criticized the Opposition, saying the Congress had "little to offer than the dynastic principle" calling Rahul Gandhi as "an unteachable mediocrity".
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Another article on PM Modi in the same magazine issue
Notably, in the same May 20 issue, which featured the controversial "Divider in Chief" cover story, the Time magazine also featured another article on PM Modi which was titled "Modi Is India's Best Hope for Economic Reform."
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Article was an attempt to malign PM Modi's image: BJP
Earlier, the ruling BJP had also said that the Time cover story was an attempt to "malign" PM Modi's image, accusing Taseer of pursuing the Pakistani agenda. Saying that the author is a Pakistani, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "Nothing better can be expected from Pakistan." Taseer is the son of late Pakistani politician and businessman, Salmaan Taseer, and journalist Tavleen Singh.