PM Modi's South Africa visit: Diaspora may not be a play in Lok Sabha polls

Domestic controversies and effective outreach by BJP's political rivals have led to rising disillusionment with Modi

South Africa has a sizeable Indian diaspora, nearly 1.5 million strong comprising three per cent of that country’s population. But unlike his previous visit there in 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be addressing the Indian community when he visits South Africa from July 25-27. 

Modi will be in Johannesburg for three days to attend the BRICS Summit, but not even one event has been planned where he addresses the Indian community. New Delhi fears a repeat in Johannesburg of the PM’s London visit in April that was marred by vociferous protests by sections of the Indian diaspora. 

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