'Rock Star' and 'Hindu Nationalist' Modi Makes it to Forbes Power List

NEW DELHI: Forbes is out with its ‘most powerful’ list and for the second consecutive year that Russian President Vladimir Putin “carries the crown.” US President Barack Obama, now clearly in a minority at home, remains at second place.

China’s Xi Jinping is in the third most powerful slot, with others like Pope Francis, german Chancellor Angela Merkel, Fed chief Janet Yellen, google’s Larry Page and of course Bill Gates in the top ten.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes it to the list as well with a 15 ranking, being one of 12 new entrants. However, while he gets some good words he might not be too happy with the Forbes description of him as “a Hindu nationalist allegedly responsible for encouraging and allowing communal violence and sectarianism in the Gujarat riots and on a US no-entry list since 2005 to 2014, Modi is credited with massive reconstruction projects in his home state of Gujarat.”

Forbes begins the short introduction with “India’s newest rock star doesnt hail from Bollywood”, goes on to speak of his promise for “economic rejuvenation” and ends by saying “the world is as impressed as the citizens of India.”

PM Modi is one of the new entrants into Forbes list this year. He rubs shoulders with Egypt President Abdel el-Sisi, Alibaba founder—and China’s richest man — Jack Ma and the Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The list of 72 most powerful people in the world also included the names of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani at 36 , ArcelorMittal Chairman and CEO Lakshmi Mittal at 57 and Microsoft's Indian-born CEO Satya Nadella at a ranking of 64.

A notable omission from the list was Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi, who was the highest ranked Indian last year at 21 but is no longer in the list. Forbes said Ambani has business ventures in petrochemicals, manufacturing, oil and gas production, and now wireless sectors, "the sum of which have landed him as the richest person in India for eight years running."

It noted Reliance's $655 million acquisition of media outfit Network18.

In October, PM Modi inaugurated Ambani's Reliance Foundation's new hospital in Mumbai, "ending rumours about Ambani's waning clout in New Delhi," the magazine reported.