Modi on Muslims
Modi has not said anything new. He has only reasserted a truth.
Commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on the patriotism of Indian Muslims during his interview with Fareed Zakaria on CNN, the editor of Inquilab, Shakeel Shamsi, in his signed column on September 20, writes: “This statement of Narendra Modi has come in an environment where the chief of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, had, in a video, made an announcement about setting up his unholy presence in India (naapaak qadam jamaane ka azm). But the way in which Indian Muslims have expressed their opposition to al-Qaeda and condemned terrorism gives a clear idea of the extent to which Muslims hate organisations like al-Qaeda, Taliban and Isis. Modi has not said anything new. He has only reasserted a truth. But it must be said that his articulation of this truth in the present atmosphere is laudable and should be welcomed.”
Sahafat, in a commentary on September 22, writes: “It is possible that Modi wants the support of Muslims out of fear after the recent defeats of BJP… It is also possible that this is motivated by his visit to the US, which had banned his entry and to which he wants to prove he has sympathy for Muslims. But this was the PM’s first interview where he has tried to give a positive message to Muslims. We should look at this statement in his capacity as PM from a positive point of view, irrespective of the Gujarat riots, which are still an issue and for which he remains culpable even after becoming prime minister.”
The editor of Jadeed Khabar, in his column on September 21, writes: “The question is, if Prime Minister Narendra Modi considers the patriotism of Indian Muslims beyond any doubt or suspicion, why does he not rein in those BJP leaders who are consistently involved in anti-Muslim activities and link Muslims with terrorism day-in and day-out?”
XI VISIT
Rashtriya Sahara, in an editorial on September 21, writes: “The visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to India was quite important. The two countries signed three trade agreements on the Chinese president’s visit to Gujarat. PM Modi has also got a commitment from the Chinese president that China would provide all facilities to Indians investing in that country. This is certainly indicative of a good future… But some significant questions have also arisen. For example, there was great tension on the India-China Line of Actual Control… A large number of Chinese soldiers intruded into Indian territory even during his presence in the country. The prime minister drew the attention of the Chinese leader to this situation. But the latter reportedly did not take it seriously and said that such issues can be settled on the border itself. It has also not been clear if there were any concrete talks with regard to India’s stand on Arunachal Pradesh and the issue of stapled visas for Indian nationals of Arunachal and Jammu and Kashmir.”
Hamara Samaj, in its editorial on September 21, writes: “On the one hand the Chinese president promised friendly initiatives… for resolving controversies, on the other hand, his statements clearly indicate that he has his sight fixed only on promoting trade with India and is not interested in any serious initiatives resolving the longstanding border disputes…”
BYPOLL MESSAGE
Analysing the results of by-elections to 33 assembly and three parliamentary seats, Inquilab, on September 17, writes: “The BJP should understand without any delay that there is a vast difference between conditions in the 1990s and the 2010s. In those days, it was easy to create an atmosphere of hate and derive political benefit. Now are the days of rapid development and even if a so-called wave rises, it would soon subside. The traditional media and social media have brought about this change. There is a vast difference between the results of the Lok Sabha elections and the by-elections now in UP. It would not be wrong to conclude that the people trusted the slogans of development. But when, instead of development, steps started being taken towards communalism… the people who had given great support to a party earlier, ignored it within just three and a half months.”
Roznama Khabrein, in its editorial on September 17, writes: “The by-elections were also called a mini-election that were an indication of whether the Modi wave will persist or if the balloon has burst. The people in these elections have rejected the BJP. This will have an effect on elections in Haryana and Maharashtra as well…” The paper adds: “Mayawati’s BSP was not in the field (in UP), and the Congress failed to make the contest three-cornered. The BJP tried to encash on Hindutva after a long time, thinking Hindu voters would queue up to vote for it. But it did not happen. And, in the absence of the BSP, the secular and minority voters did not face any dilemma with regard to their choice. This helped the SP. The question now is if the BJP would learn any lesson from this and feel the difference between Modi’s Hindutva laced with the sweetener of development and Yogi’s intense Hindutva.”
Compiled by Seema Chishti
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