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19 Dec, 2014

India’s Modi orders party to rein in pro-Hindu agenda – Reuters

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned his lawmakers for the first time to stop promoting controversial issues such as religious conversions and to focus on economic reforms as he struggles to pass legislation needed to kickstart the economy.

A right wing Hindu group called off a plan to convert thousands of Muslims to Hinduism this Christmas, which had threatened to stir fresh religious discord, after Modi’s intervention.

But opposition politicians continued to disrupt Parliament on Wednesday, saying they were not convinced the ruling group had given up its partisan agenda.

Modi, who was elected in May with a mandate to provide jobs and economic growth, has already seen his reform agenda stymied by inflammatory statements by members of his Hindu nationalist party. With a week left before the session of Parliament ends, he risks ending the year without passing a single major reform.

Read the rest: India’s Modi orders party to rein in pro-Hindu agenda | Reuters.