indiaUpdated: May 30, 2020 06:44 ISTIdeological MilestonesThe 2019 mandate was interpreted by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as an endorsement of its long-held ideological beliefs. This was aimed at fast-tracking the grant of Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities — Hindus, Christians, Parsis, Jains, Sikhs and Jews — from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan. There was one other significant milestone — which aligned with the BJP’s long-held agenda but where the government did not have a role. All of this established a new trend in Indian politics — of voters carefully distinguishing between national polls and state polls, national leaders and state leaders, and national issues and state issues. As the disease travelled to India and cases increased, PM Modi first announced a one-day people’s curfew and then a three-week national lockdown.

Source: Hindustan Times May 30, 2020 01:13 UTC