India, being one of the largest countries of the world, hosts a population of over 1.3 billion people which includes a large number of minorities such as Christians and Muslims, who alone reach a population of 165 million.
At the moment there is a large part of the Indian population living under extreme poverty and, as the international media have regularly been reporting during the last years, under conditions that pose a great danger for their health due to the environmental pollution in the country. Access to education for the majority of the population, especially for minority groups, is still a target which remains to be reached and the progress currently made is not sufficient.
Social development, equal growth for all parts of society and inclusion for the most sensitive groups are all aspirations that have driven the hopes of the Indian people for a better future for all. Mr. Modi and the new Indian leadership are now the bearers of these hopes, the hopes of all Indians, to make them a reality of their everyday lives.
After the general elections that were held in India last May, hailed as the largest by population democratic process on the world, Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was elected prime minister spurring hope and great expectations for development and growth.
What led Modi to victory, according to analysts, is his past record of growth and economic prosperity that followed his tenure as the chief minister of Gujarat. The policies followed by the new prime minister during his tenure in Gujarat have also raised concerns among NGOs and minority groups over the direction that the new government will now adopt in the areas of development, poverty reduction, education and especially the inclusion of minorities in the economic progress of the country.
A deadly incident in Gujrat in 2002 which resulted in over 1,000 members of the Muslim community being killed and recent statements during the electoral campaign with an anti-immigration rhetoric against all non-Hindus, certainly have alerted minorities over the policy framework to be pursued and, according to analysts, if realised could potentially create tensions with neighboring countries, origin of immigrant population, such as Bangladesh.
What is certain is that the new leadership of India will be called to deal with many challenges. The new leadership needs to adopt a constructive dialogue towards resolving the chronic problems of the Indian economy and its social integration.
Europe for years now has been on the side of India in its efforts to achieve progress and development and it will once more be there to support it. For this to be efficient though Europe and India must be prepared to discuss all aspects of the Indian economic and social development, part of which is social peace and inclusion for all minority groups.