Opinion The PM’s promise

Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke an important silence on Tuesday. In his tenure so far, his formidable eloquence has helped him to reach out to varied audiences. But it has also made his moments of wordlessness ring loud. Like in the aftermath of the recent incidents of the targeting of churches in the national capital. Or, before that, when outfits of the Sangh Parivar had mounted a “ghar wapsi” campaign in December last year and Opposition parties had demanded a statement from the PM in Parliament. In a speech at an event held to commemorate the elevation to sainthood of two Indians in the capital on Tuesday, Modi said his government “will ensure that there is complete freedom of faith and that everyone has the undeniable right to retain or adopt the religion of his or her choice… will not allow any religious group, belonging to the majority or minority, to incite hatred against others… Mine will be a government that gives equal respect to all religions”.

The PM’s words are enormously welcome. It is not just that he has said what he chose not to, so far. It is also that by saying it so unambiguously, he has sent out a clear message: his government can now be held accountable if it does not ensure an environment that safeguards the freedom of faith for everyone — and especially for the minorities.

Advertisement

While the PM’s words will resonate among the people, it is necessary that they be heeded by his party and parivar. BJP chief Amit Shah had responded to the furore over the “reconversion” campaign by Sangh outfits, not by denouncing or attempting to rein in the groups that sought to prevent others from exercising their right to adopt a different religion, but by announcing that the Modi government was ready to bring an anti-conversion law and daring “so-called secular” parties to support it. Then, RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat had spoken of “bringing back our brothers who have lost their way” and of “belongings stolen by a thief” in a “Hindu Rashtra”. The BJP and the RSS must now respect the PM’s public assertion and assurance that “we believe that there is truth in every religion”.

When PM Modi made his maiden speech in Parliament in June last year, he had said that “If one organ of the body remains weak, the body cannot be termed as healthy” and that addressing the predicament of minorities cannot be seen as “appeasement”. His speech on Tuesday is perhaps the most significant articulation of his government’s approach on minorities after that. The nation, not just the minorities, will hold him to his words.