#dnaEdit: Modi’s catch-22

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has broken his silence over attacks on the churches in Delhi. He has also broken his silence on the reconversion of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism in the name of ‘ghar wapsi’ (return to home). Speaking at the national celebration of the elevation to sainthood of Kuriakose Elias and Mother Ephrasia in New Delhi on Tuesday, he said, “We cannot accept violence against any religion on any pretext and I strongly condemn such violence. My government will act strongly in this regard.” 

The political context of the Prime Minister’s statement cannot be ignored. It comes after the resounding defeat of the BJP in the Delhi assembly elections and in the context of the rising criticism that the BJP government is not acting firmly against the lunatic fringe elements of the right-wing Hindu groups. It may even appear that the Prime Minister’s assurance comes a little too late in the day. It would have carried greater conviction if he had spoken out before the Delhi election outcome. The landslide victory of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) may not have much to do with the attacks on the churches in the national capital, but there has been rising anxiety among Christians and other religious minorities that their safety cannot be taken for granted. Whatever the political motive, the Prime Minister’s statement should be assuring to the agitated minorities.

The BJP has always maintained that it does not have anything to do with the Hindu fanatical groups, though the critics of the party take this statement with more than the proverbial pinch of salt. Because whenever the BJP is in power, the fringe groups tend to run amok. And the statements of BJP leaders that they do not associate with these fanatics have failed to impress. Even the liberal Atal Bihari Vajpayee could not bring himself to rise above the fray when it came to the determined delinquency of the Hindu zealots. The challenge before Modi is greater than that Vajpayee ever faced. Many people, rightly or wrongly, think that the Prime Minister is the political face of Hindutva. Though Modi has scrupulously avoided saying or doing anything smacking of Hindutva, his unwillingness to speak out against the fanatical elements has only strengthened the misgivings of his critics about his secular credentials. His speech at the Roman Catholic Christian gathering on Tuesday is an attempt to convince all concerned that he and his government do believe in the Indian traditions of religious pluralism, enshrined in the Constitution as well. 

It can be argued that Modi and the BJP have a stake in religious harmony and secularism, if not for ideological reasons then, at least, for the sake of political expediency. The PM may have to go beyond mere statements to make sure that the attacks on minorities are checked and the Hindu zealots reined in if he wants to implement his policy of good governance. There cannot be economic progress if there is social disharmony. Modi’s die-hard critics will never give credence to his professions of secularism. Perhaps, the PM is clearly aware of it and that is why he probably does not go out of his way to clear the air by making commitments to secularism.  He is in a catch-22 situation. When he professes secularism, critics won’t believe him. And when he does not speak, he will be flayed for his silence. The only way out for the Prime Minister is to put in action his words that the government will not tolerate violence in the name of religion.