US media discovers in Narendra Modi a ‘new fashion icon’.

published on June 7, 2014

WASHINGTON: From a persona non grata to a new fashion icon — that’s how a stunning election victory has transformed Narendra Modi in the eyes of the American media as Washington prepares to welcome India’s new Prime Minister, possibly in September.

As if on cue, three major US publications — Time, New York Times and the Washington Post — have all written about his trademark ‘Modi Kurta’ as they try to “decode India’s new leader” ahead of his September summit with President Barack Obama.

“India’s New Prime Minister Is the Country’s Latest Fashion Icon,” says Time suggesting “With his shortened tunic, or ‘Modi Kurta,’ Narendra Modi is becoming as celebrated for his style sense as he is notorious for his controversial political past.”

Paired “with Bvlgari shades and a Movado watch (he’s got penchants for them both),” Modi’s “ensemble is about as mixed as his record as a political leader, really,” it said.

“While his leadership of the state of Gujarat ushered in some of the most impressive economic growth the country has ever seen, questions remain over his role in a string of riots in the state in 2002 that left more than 1,000 people dead,” Time said.

But then it hastened to note parenthetically “He has been officially cleared of any wrongdoing.

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