Letters: PM and minority affairs

This refers to the report "Indian Muslims will live and die for the country : Modi (September 21). In his interview with Fareed Zakaria, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reported to have expressed his confidence in the patriotism of India's Muslim community. Modi has given expression to the same feeling on several occasions in the past. But the actions of some of his trusted followers and partymen have constantly been to the contrary. This started within a few days of him assuming power when MLAs of his allied party teased Muslim employees, observing fast during Ramzan, at the Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi, by pushing food into their mouths. The climax was reached when the partymen indulged freely in polarisation, delivering hate speeches and talking of "love jihad", particularly during the UP by-polls. Modi, far from admonishing these men or explaining their conduct, has remained silent. This has left the people confused about his policy towards the Muslim minority. And, his silence is being compared with that of his predecessor, with whom he differs in every other respect.

R C Mody New Delhi

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