Rather than rebuild the social fabric of his country during the coronavirus-driven economic slump, Narendra Modi has chosen to play identity politics<\/p>\n
Last month Narendra Modi, India\u2019s strongman prime minister, performed the religious rites to consecrate the building of a Hindu temple on the site of a mosque whose destruction two decades ago sparked deadly nationwide riots. The ceremony saw Mr Modi appropriate the role traditionally performed by Hindu kings. \u201cThe entire nation is under Ram\u2019s spell today,\u201d the prime minister told his audience<\/a>. \u201cBy God\u2019s grace, a golden chapter is being written by India.\u201d The message that a bright future is to be divinely blessed has not reached the heavens.<\/p>\n India used to boast of having the world\u2019s fastest-growing major economy. It now has the fastest-growing coronavirus crisis, with almost 100,000 new infections<\/a> reported each day. Its GDP has contracted<\/a> by almost a quarter. The country makes up one third of the world\u2019s new Covid cases and appears to have underestimated<\/a> the disease\u2019s prevalence. India\u2019s youthful demographics<\/a> help keep its Covid mortality rate low. However, in absolute numbers the country\u2019s coronavirus death toll is only surpassed by Brazil and the United States.<\/p>\n