For a good part of the last decade, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has been surrounded in controversy over the post-Godhra riots in 2002. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court ruled that a lower court in Gujarat will now decide whether he should be investigated in a riots case, following which Mr Modi announced a three-day fast to promote "communal harmony” in the state.
Through this photo feature, we take a look at the life of a politician who is seen by many as a future Prime Minister of India.
Born on September 17, 1960 in a middle-class family in Vadnagar, Narendra Modi was active in politics from a very young age. He has been a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) since childhood.
Narendra Modi became a part of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), after making a mark in its student wing - the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
Narendra Modi started climbing the political ranks quickly once the BJP came to power in Gujarat in 1995. Within the next six years, Mr Modi went on from being the national secretary to the general secretary, and finally in 2001, he was entrusted by his party to take charge as the Chief Minister of Gujarat
Mr Modi's promotion came at a time when the BJP had tasted defeat in the by-elections, resulting in Keshubhai Patel, his predecessor, resigning from office.
Taking over as chief minister could not have come at a tougher time for Mr Modi. Gujarat had witnessed a devastating earthquake earlier that year, and growth was almost non-existent in the state. However, Mr Modi's unique ideas and administrative skills soon got Gujarat back on the road to recovery and progress.
Trouble began for Mr Modi in 2002 after a fire engulfed a train carrying members of a Hindu nationalist organization, killing 59 people on board. Many Hindus blamed Muslims for the fire and began rampaging through Muslim neighborhoods. For weeks, spasmodic and brutal violence continued between Muslims and Hindus. Mr. Modi's critics have blamed him for doing too little to stop violence against Muslims, and in some cases, they allege, even abetting the violence.
Following the riots, opposition parties stalled Parliament and there were calls for Narendra Modi to resign. Mr Modi did resign, but took charge of office once again, shortly after the BJP won the state re-elections, being led by none other than Mr Modi himself.
In 2006, Zakia Jafri, widow of former Congress MP Ehsaan Jafri, who was killed in the Gulbarg Society riot in Ahmedabad, registered her complaint against Mr Modi and 61 others. She accused Mr Modi of colluding to ensure that no help was given to those being attacked in the riots.
In 2008, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Centre and Gujarat government on Ms Jafri's plea and an amicus curiae was appointed to assist the Court. It then appointed a four-member Special Investigating Team (SIT) headed by former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director R K Raghavan to conduct investigation in these cases.
The Supreme Court, earlier this month, ruled that it will no longer monitor the case against Mr Modi for the communal riots at Gulbarag Society. The Supreme Court's verdict asks a Gujarat court to decide whether Mr Modi's role in the riots needs to be investigated.
Another controversy that has surrounded Mr Modi is the Ishrat Jehan fake encounter case. In June 2004, Ishrat Jehan, and her boyfriend, Javed were killed by the Gujarat Police. Also shot were Isan Johar and Amjad Ali. The police claimed the four were on their way to assassinate Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
In 2009, metropolitan magistrate SP Tamang who conducted a judicial inquiry into the incident described the death of Ishrat and the others as 'cold-blooded murder'. Mr Tamang's indictment of the Narendra Modi government was severe; he also said senior policemen conspired for "selfish motives."
In 2007, Mr Modi won the elections again, and began his third term as Gujarat's chief minister.
He also holds the record for the longest serving chief minister of the state.
Inspite of the controversies that surround him, Narendra Modi has time and again been recognised as the best Chief Minister in India by many publications. He has single-handedly elevated Gujarat to be known as the most industry-friendly state and a delight for investors. His successful run as chief minister, and now with the Supreme Court ruling that it will not investigate Mr Modi's role in the Gulbarg Society case, he is being seen by many as the frontrunner for the BJP's prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 elections.
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Modi is fittest candidate for PM and he will do the justice to post,but is he allowed to do so??
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