World as seen from Reutersville

MSNBC has “this story”:http://www.sulekha.com/redirectnh.asp?cid=316521 on Sharon’s visit to India. One of the paragraphs reads
bq. Sharon, the guest of the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will be in India on September 11, a highly symbolic anniversary for both countries which see themselves, alongside the United States, as victims of terrorism.
Factual mistakes
* India is ruled by National Democratic Alliance and not BJP. BJP is one of the members of NDA. The other parties that form NDA are Janata Dal (Samata); Shiv Sena in Maharashtra; Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) in Tamil Nadu; Biju Janata Dal in Orissa; Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab; Janata Dal (United) in Bihar; Rashtriya Lok Dal in Uttar Pradesh; and Jammu & Kashmir National Conference.
* Sharon is the guest of the Government of India. The article gives an impression that it is a personal visit.

The story is reported by Myra MacDonald of Reuters, who displays her lack of knowledge on the subject and enthusiasm for sensationalism.
Update And Myra should “read this piece of news”:http://www.sulekha.com/redirectnh.asp?cid=316529 as well
bq. Arunachal Pradesh is the only state ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) where not a single legislator is a Hindu by faith.
bq. “Arunachal Pradesh is today a perfect example of the BJP’s assertion that it is not a party only for the Hindus,” Khiren Rijuju, general secretary of the state BJP, told IANS.

4 thoughts on “World as seen from Reutersville

  1. Is MSNBC AP on drugs?
    Look at the title of the article and the content – how do they match? Muslims for bombing” href=”http://www.msnbc.com/news/956879.asp”>India blames Muslims for bombing BOMBAY, India, Aug. 26 – India’s government blamed Muslim militants Tuesday fo…

  2. JK – you don’t really expect the BJP to be known as anything other than a party with *primarily* Hindu leanings do you? It might have adjusted to the political situation in India at present, but it is, everything said and done, a party based on Hindu nationalism. Take a look at the 2 core values on the BJP website – “Integral Humanism” and “Hindutva” [http://www.bjp.org/philo.htm] Now we could argue about the fact that “Hindutva” is not a hindu concept and it is a way of life and yada yada…but that’s mostly theoretical bole. I don’t see why the BJP starts objecting when people call it a Hindu nationalist party when it’s chiefs go around proclaiming the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya as one of their cornerstones?

  3. Jivha, It is ok to call BJP as Hindu Nationalist Party so long as each and every party is also called by such an adjective. For example, Congress and Muslim League together rule Kerala, but Congress is considered a “secular” party.

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