When he spoke of ‘India first’ as his government’s religion and the Indian Constitution as its only religious book, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was moving beyond platitudes on religious freedom, and correctly re-emphasising the constitutional guarantees of India as a secular, democratic republic. Within the space of ten days, Modi went from offering mere reassurances to religious minorities to actually committing his government to the constitutionally conferred rights of all citizens to freely practice a religion of their choice.
In a welcome contrast to the typical stance of Hindutva groups, he upheld the Constitution as the expression of the ethos the country had followed for thousands of years, and chided those making irresponsible statements in the name of religion.
If his speech at an event organised by a Christian group was meant as an assurance to religious minorities, this response in Parliament, in which he insisted that the country could only be run in accordance with the Constitution, seemed directed against Hindutva hardliners who were making the functioning of his government difficult.
Clearly, Modi was seen trying to distance his government from the vituperative hate-mongering of the Hindutva groups, including the RSS. Evidently disconcerted by the criticism of his failure to rein in the extremist elements within the broader Hindutva fold, Modi seemed to be hoping he would be judged on the basis of his own words and deeds, and not of those claiming to be the ideological affiliates of the BJP.
True, the statements of RSS leaders and Hindutva extremists are amplified many times over during the periods the BJP is in power. But if Modi does not want to be answerable for the behaviour of the Hindutva fringe, many of whom are also middle-rung leaders of his own party, he should not then hesitate to reprimand them more often and more openly for their provocative speeches.
Within days of Modi’s speech in Parliament, Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Hansraj Ahir on Mar 2 said the BJP was committed to building a Ram temple in Ayodhya. “The BJP government has not gone back on the Ram temple issue ... Though it is not in our manifesto, it is a matter of honour and dignity,” Ahir said at an event. “Sadhus and mahants are doing their work in this regard. It is decided that whenever it happens, it will be a temple that will be built in Ayodhya and not a ‘masjid’ [mosque],” he told journalists in Ballia in U.P.
BJP member of Parliament Sadhvi Prachi has kicked up another controversy by calling for a boycott of films starring Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan and asking members of right wing Hindu organisationss to tear posters of their films and make a bonfire of them.
Sadhvi also alleged that Christian proselytism was the motive behind Nobel Laureate Mother Teresa’s missionary work in this country. She made the call for the boycott of the Khans while suggesting that their films were spreading a culture of violence and advising youngsters not to idolise them.
The controversial statement came despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to all religious groups to act with restraint and mutual respect and his assertion that his government would not allow any religious group from the majority or minority community to incite hatred against others, covertly or overtly.
Speaking at a programme of Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Dehradun on Mar 1, Sadhvi said once she had been to a programme in Meerut where she asked a young boy what he wanted to become in life. “He said he wanted to become like Hritik Roshan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan. When I asked why, his mother told me because they were good at doing stunts,” she said. Suggesting that the Khans and their films are spreading a culture of violence, she asked the younger generation not to get fascinated by them. But why she spared Hritik Roshan is anybody’s guess!
Calling for a boycott of the Khan triumvirate’s films by right wing Hindu outfits, she said, “I, for one, would ask the Bajrangis to tear the movie posters of Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan and burn them.“ Sadhvi Prachi had earlier said that Hindu women should have four children as Muslims were “trapping our daughters through love jihad.“
Sadhvi Prachi also attacked Mother Teresa during her fiery speech. “Mother Teresa indulged in conversion by luring people over to Christianity under the pretext of service,“ she said.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had also made similar remarks while alleging that Christianity was the main objective behind Mother Teresa’s service to the poor.
Now if Modi fails to openly reprimand these people, the government would be seen as cynically exploiting the work of the fringe for the political ends of the ruling party whenever possible, and tactically retreating where the fringe’s politics become inconvenient. The views of the RSS and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad would continue to make headlines as long as the ruling party leaders and functionaries treat these organisations as part of their extended family.
What is troubling about the public agenda of the Hindutva groups is the impression that the implied aggression against non-Hindus has the tacit sanction of the ruling party. Modi will have to not only continuously speak up categorically against religious extremists of the saffron hue too but also take sincere and serious action against them, if the Hindutva fringe is not to cast a long shadow on his government and undermine its credibility. r (08-03-15)
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