Rashid Ahmed, 60, an electric rickshaw driver and look-alike of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi - REUTERSpix: Muslim electric-rickshaw driver Rashid Ahmed is fondly called “Our Modi” in his Delhi neighbourhood for his striking resemblance to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, now seeking a third consecutive term in general elections.
Living with his wife, children and grandchildren in a two-room home, Ahmed is a celebrity in the surrounding area, and often interrupted at his daily tasks by visitors who want to meet him or take pictures with him.“I thought, ‘This is Modi’, so why don’t I meet him?” said a self-described fan of the prime minister, Seema, who gave only one name when she sought Ahmed out for a chat in April, after spotting him following a visit to a city hospital.
Religion has also taken centre-stage in the current seven-phase elections with Modi, in his speeches, accusing the main opposition Congress party of being pro-Muslim.Ahmed believes it is not the prime minister but those on his party’s lower rungs “who divide religions”, however. He says he does not accept money for attending BJP rallies, because he considers the task a “social service”, since he likes Modi’s vision.