Modi emphasised that the minorities were made to live in an ‘imaginary fear’ and they have to break this ‘deception’.
Adding yet another slogan – Sabka Vishwas (everyone’s faith and trust) as a suffix to his more popular – “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” (with all, for everyone’s development), Modi spoke with a belief that ‘they (minorities) cannot be handed over to them (opposition), who benefit because we keep quiet’. Using this opportunity when the entire nation was glued to their television sets watching live on a Saturday evening, Modi accused his rivals of exploiting the minorities during elections as part of their vote-bank politics.
After getting a massive mandate with pro-incumbency factor on work, Modi did not mince his words and accused that the poor were deceived all these years, but his government during 2014-19 managed to break through this ‘deception’ and improved their conditions a lot and expected the NDA partner MPs to follow the path of inclusiveness with humility and shun their VIP culture towards Indian citizens. Recalling the 1857 revolt against the British Rule, Modi reminded the citizens of India and senior NDA leaders that all communities had then fought together and called for replicating a similar unifying spirit for good governance now as India readies to celebrate the 75 years of Independence in 2022.
However, all such calls and plea have not augured well with the minority community as there are many questions that remain to be answered. Mere assurance and lip-service will not help wipe out the divide. Right from the independence of India and the rampant communal clashes soon after, there exists too deep a scar that cannot be erased by lip service. It has to be worked upon and confidence can only be instilled once discrimination ends in the name of religion. It is a long and arduous journey that needs to be undertaken by all sections of the society, which can only come through proper education and communal harmony, giving equal respectable space for all Indian citizens.
Issues like lynching of minorities by cow vigilantes who thereafter get political patronage and protection, is one of the major reasons as of now for the ‘fear’ amidst the minority community. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who recently got re-elected from his bastion Hyderabad, on Sunday, slammed Modi’s ‘imaginary fear’ remark on minorities and questioned him on the number of Muslim MPs from BJP elected in the Lok Sabha this year. According to Owaisi, ‘imaginary fear’ remark was hypocritical and contradictory and he accused the BJP of practicing such hypocrisy for the past five years. In his comment he needed assurance from Modi that educational institutions like Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia will be allowed to retain their minority status. All such questions are valid and it needs to be clarified by the new government, which is likely to be installed on May 30.
In the recent past during the election campaigns some parts in India did witness skirmishes, clashes and violence which were political in nature and not communal. However, even such clashes lead to insecurity and the feeling of animosity creeps in amidst different communities, which weakens and dents the entire process of re-building faith. What is now expected of the NDA government is to ensure that community vigilante needs to be under check and law and order is maintained under the secular parameters of the Constitution of India.
