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Modi and religious freedom
By Dr Denzil Fernandes SJ | 24 Feb, 2015,
My 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 without coercion or undue influence. My government will not allow any
religious group, belonging to the majority or the minority, to incite hatred
against others, overtly or covertly. Mine will be a government that gives equal
respect to all religions.” These are the words uttered by Prime Minister,
Narendra Modi, on February 17, 2015, at Vigyan Bhawan at a function called
“National Celebration of the Elevation to Sainthood of Kuriakose Elias Chavara
and Mother Euphrasia”.
The Prime Minister’s statement is a matter-of-fact for most Indians. However,
the very fact that Narendra Modi uttered it has made it news that captured the
headlines in almost all print and electronic media. When the controversy of
“ghar wapsi” and conversions were going on during the winter session of
Parliament in December 2014, the PM chose to remain silent. Similarly, when
five churches were vandalized and desecrated, he did not utter a word.
President Obama’s reference to religious freedom during his visit to India as
well as during the national prayer breakfast in the White House on February 5,
found greater resonance in India.
The results of the Delhi election appear to have shaken the BJP to the core.
The overwhelming victory of the newly formed Aam Aadmi Party over the
formidable BJP, probably forced a re-think in the ruling party about the image
of the central government with regard to religious freedom. The arson and theft
at Holy Child Auxilium School in Vasant Kunj saw the PM immediately summoning
the Delhi police commissioner and directing the Home Ministry to bring the
culprits to book at the earliest. The statement on religious freedom by the PM
at a function organized by Christian groups may be interpreted as a
damage-control exercise after several months of silence over controversial
actions and statements by Hindu radical fringe elements.
Narendra Modi’s speech at a function organized by “Christian missionaries”
(Syro-Malabar Diocese of Faridabad, CMI and CMC congregations) is politically
significant in many ways. First of all, he took a risky gamble of addressing a
constituency, who has viewed him with suspicion, and who has been targeted by
his ideological fraternity in the Sangh Parivar. Secondly, his pitch for
religious freedom is contrary to his dubious record as Gujarat chief minister,
where he failed to protect minorities in the 2002 riots and brought about a
draconian anti-conversion law that denies religious freedom. Finally, his
reaching out to Christians is a U-turn from his ‘minorities-do-not-matter”
approach, which made him deny Christians any representation in the Union
Cabinet and declare Christmas day as ‘Good Governance Day’.
The question in the minds of a Christian today is whether the Prime Minister
has undergone a genuine conversion after Delhi election results or whether this
is a well thought out photo-op strategy to prevent further attacks by
Opposition parties on an area where Modi is most vulnerable. Either way, it
will depend whether the religious freedom rhetoric is matched with concrete
efforts to provide security of minorities and stern action against radical
fringe elements of his own Sangh Parivar inciting violence against minorities.
(Dr Denzil Fernandes SJ, Indian Social Institute, New Delhi.)
