PM Modi’s ‘potion’ in the interest of the Muslims

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently gave an advice to the Muslim community and asked them to ‘introspect’ during his interview to a television channel. Never before in the post-independence history of the nation has any leader at the supreme position given such explicit advice to Muslims. Until now, no powerful leader nor chief minister of any state has ever communicated in such an explicit manner.

During the second round of Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized some of the promises made in Congress’s manifesto and also discussed how the party’s Muslim appeasement tactics can be harmful not only to the Muslim community but to also the nation. Naturally, Prime Minister’s remark on the mention about Muslims made in Congress manifesto was expected to spark debate in the media and political circles. Another reason for this heightened discourse was the fact that PM Modi had never, until now, expressed any opposition to any particular religion in the last ten years. Against this backdrop, it is important to also take a look at how some mullahs-maulavis issued ‘fatwas’ urging Muslims to vote against the BJP.

PM Modi’s remarks must be viewed in the light of the divide that has developed between Hindus and Muslims in the years following independence due to various reasons. No matter how hard we may deny, but we cannot ignore the fact that there have been rifts in the relationship between Hindus and Muslims in the country. It is only after examining this extensive past 75 years’ worth has Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the educated Muslims ‘to introspect’.

“We are not against Islam. We are not against Muslims. I ask the educated members of the Muslim community to introspect and consider what lies ahead for their future generations. If you keep thinking that you’ll decide who will be in power and who will be dethroned, you will spoil the future of your children. I don’t want any community to live like bonded labourers just because somebody is always fearmongering,” PM Modi said during the interview.

Upon examining the strained relations between Hindus and Muslims over the past 75 years, one will realize that Prime Minister Modi effectively addressed the most delicate issue. “The country is progressing fast, competing with other developed nations. Don’t you think you need to find out the reasons why your community is lagging behind? This probably could have been my first time to appeal to the Muslim community in this manner,” saying this PM also questioned, “weren’t you benefitted from the numerous initiatives introduced by my government?” I am sure such harsh and explicit remarks of PM Modi will not go unanswered neither by the so-called ‘thekedaars’ of this religion nor by those who have been using Muslims as a vote bank, or the founders of different political parties, like the Congress, that came to power solely on the basis of Muslim support.

 

Muslims need to compare and evaluate the kind of development they experienced during Congress’s tenure vis-à-vis the numerous advantages the poor, underprivileged and exploited people received under the Modi administration. People need to understand who their true savior is. The religious thekedaars only took advantage of these people for their benefit. Even their knowledgeable members never questioned why they did not make the expected progress in 75 years. They always lived in constant fear of a small group of fanatics. Prime Minister appealed to their learned members and urged them to consider their children’s future because progress cannot be made while living in fear. This shows PM Modi’s earnest and sincere efforts for their betterment.

In 1986, after the Supreme Court ordered alimony to Shah Bano, some Muslim orthodoxy and fanatics, outraged with the decision, pressurized the then Rajiv Gandhi government forcing a constitutional amendment that overturned the court’s decision. It was Modi administration that put an end to the practice of Triple Talaq which was incredibly unjust to Muslim women. The extremist’s stance on matters such as Ram Janmabhoomi was responsible to affect the religious harmony in the country. Another factor contributing to the tension in Hindu-Muslim relations over the last 25-30 years has been Pakistan’s conspiracy to destabilize India with aid from terrorists’ groups and support it garnered from some sections of our own nation. Also, the general disregard for this community’s youth, who were being encouraged to wage jihad against their own country by majority of the political parties, was another factor contributing to the negative perception.

Against this broad background, Prime Minister Modi’s appeal to the community’s educated members to oppose their fundamentalists is significant in a number of aspects. PM Modi posed a serious question – do you want to ignore everything that transpired in the nation during Congress’ longest regime and cast your votes by believing the promises they made in their manifesto? Numerous Muslim women have been benefitted from the various schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the Mudra Yojana that offers opportunities for self-employment and the construction of toilets by Modi administration. A few months ago, PM Modi visited Kashmir and interacted with the beneficiaries. At that time Muslim youth, both men and women spoke extensively about the advantages they had received under his governance. It was during this interaction that PM Modi appealed to those present to go around and try to dispel any misunderstandings and inhibitions about the Bharatiya Janata Party. He also urged them to meet and interact with BJP workers, as ‘nobody will sideline them’. He reassured, ‘that it isn’t BJP’s domain to harass anybody because of their religion and there is no need to be afraid of anyone.

I sincerely hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘potion’ forces intellectuals of this community to ‘introspect’ while serving as a ‘sharp potion to their fundamentalists.

 

(Article Pre-Published in Times of India -13 May  2024)

Keshav Upadhye, Chief Spokesperson