PM Modi has been trying really hard to shun his perceived anti-Muslim image. An image that was cunningly created by the left leaning media, NGOs, opposition parties and 5 star activists in the aftershock of 2002 riots. The latest image shunning episode was witnessed in his Kozhikode speech. Modi made a powerful pitch to project BJP as a pro-Dalit, pro-poor party devoted to the cause of social justice.
He took a dig at the prevalent definition of secularism in India and called it a Vikrit Paribhasha (Twisted Definition). It was also the occasion of the flagging off of the birth centenary celebrations of former Jan Sangh president and ideologue, Deendayal Upadhyaya, so it was only fitting that Modi invoked Deendayal Upadhyaya.
“Musalmanon ko na puraskrit karna chahiye, na tiraskrit karna chahiye, unko vote ki mandi ka saaman nahin samajhna chahiye, unko apna samajhna chahiye (Muslims should neither be rewarded nor chastised without any reasons; neither should they be considered a vote bank, they should be considered our own),” PM Modi said, quoting Deendayal Upadhyaya.
I totally agree with PM Modi that people should be treated as people and not as vote banks. Treating Muslims as vote bank is ethically and morally wrong. But I have a strong counter here.
What is the reason behind Muslims being treated as vote banks?
Muslims, themselves.
They allow themselves to be denigrated to the levels of a Plus 1 to the tally in elections. And there is a cartel that indoctrinates them and scares them into voting for any party that can defeat the BJP. A cartel that comprises of not just the opposition parties and the media but Muslims clerics, madrassa teachers, University Professors, Rich and well settled Muslims, Waqf Boards, Hindi Press and Urdu Press as well.
In the run up to Bihar Elections, An editorial in Urdu Daily Roznama Sangam warned Muslims with this amazing note: ‘Bihar’s politics is passing through a very sensitive period at this time. The people of the state’s secular, moderate and minority groups have a big responsibility to defeat BJP at every cost. For this, they will have to offer every kind of sacrifice”
PM Modi needs to understand that Muslims, apart from feeding their families have an important duty to perform, which is defeating BJP at all costs.
Also, PM Modi needs to understand that Muslims will readily forget any political party for their evildoings but not the BJP.
The apathy of Samajwadi Party for the Muzzafarnagar victims didn’t dent Mulayam Singh’s trust ratings among the Muslims. And the hundreds of riots that took place in Congress’s regime stay comfortably forgotten.
But it is safe to assume that 2002 Gujarat Riots will keep echoing forever and the clamor to Punish Modi will keep swelling manifolds during the election times.
PM Modi can keep announcing welfare programs for Muslims but it is a fact that socio-economic growth has never been a concern for them. The socio-economic status of Muslims in India has been the slowest as compared to other minorities. Sachar Committee report paints a very gloomy picture about the condition of the second religious majority of India. From health to education, the condition of Muslims has been appalling. But that never deterred them from voting for Congress in hordes every five years and unless the cartel is broken, they will continue to do so. And I do not see the well-funded cartel breaking anytime soon.
Muslims have methodically been converted into vote bank through years of relentless programming and fearmongering. The Programming cartel is comprised of people who are not just powerful but are present in every strata of the society. PM Modi cannot match their reach and influence and even if he does, there is no guarantee of an electoral success. In all, this in all probabilities will be an exercise in futility.
What PM Modi needs to do is work towards the betterment of people who voted him to power and that in no way means disregarding Muslims or other minorities. They should be treated well with no intention to malign them BUT without the hope of getting their votes.
In my humble opinion, making a strong pitch for a minority group on a Public dais is a passive-appeasement exercise and Modi’s loyal supporters are intelligent enough to figure that out. The nation is agitated after the dastardly Uri Attack, and most of the citizens have been livid at the government’s response. It’s time Modi shuns the image shunning exercise and gets real.
