National Unity Cannot Be Celebrated Merely As a Wartime Gimmick

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said unity is our greatest strength in the fight against terrorism. Addressing the nation after the confrontation between India and Pakistan, Modi said “I bow to the resolve and pledge of the unity of our people”.

Who will have any quarrel with this noble sentiment? But unity and harmony cannot be used merely as weapons, or a shield, against terrorism. Unity is our greatest strength all the time – whether we are in war or in peace. Such cardinal principles cannot swing between the vicious and the virtuous depending upon political exigencies and national situations.

The prime minister claimed that the abhorrent designs of the terrorists to break social harmony in India caused him deep personal anguish and pointed out that every citizen, every section of society and every political party had risen in unity against the attackers. “When the country is united, strong decisions can be taken,” he stressed.

Is unity just war-time rhetoric? The prime minister, the whole establishment and the ideological mentor of the ruling party – the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) – need to seriously introspect.

Democracy rests on the single pillar of equality. Equality is both a constitutional right and a social rite. Does the prime minister understand where the greatest threat to the principle of equality comes from? It comes obviously from the lack of faith in this sacred constitutional principle of equality.

Is equality an integral element of the Sangh parivar’s political imagination? Has the prime minister himself demonstrated an unflinching commitment to the principle of equality in his exceptionally successful political career? Have the prime minister, his cabinet colleagues, chief ministers and top BJP leaders ever looked worried about the undeniable fact that the Muslim community is constantly feeling oppressed and humiliated?

Has there been any campaign to forge solidarity, to emphasise the constitutional necessities of non-discrimination and to promote the reality of multicultural heterogeneity? Or does the prime minister think a cosmetic unity and harmony at the time of external conflict will suffice?

The nation, including the BJP’s supporters, erupted in joy when the imagery of Colonel Sophiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh was portrayed as symbolism signifying India’s secular credentials. Should this unity be a war gimmick or an eternal reality?

Has the prime minister ever looked worried about the undeniable fact that the Muslim community is constantly feeling oppressed and humiliated? Photo: Video screengrab from Modi's national address on May 12.

The prime minister who vilifies Muslims as “ghuspaithiya” and “jyada bachha paida karne waale” and the chief ministers who explain the political contest as a fight between “Ali and Bajrangbali” need to clarify whether this language facilitates unity.

Is digging up past grievances to weaponise emotions for political gains an attempt to forge unity? Does the erasure of Muslim history and Islamic symbols create an ambiance of harmony? Are misguided youth shouting toxic slogans in front of mosques acting as a catalyst for social amity? Does Ramdev, patronised by the ruling elite, repeatedly demonising a rival business house because of its owner’s religious identity, send out a message of unity?

Another protagonist of the Hindu rashtra rising under the RSS-BJP’s patronage, Dhirendra Shastri, declares the construction of a colony where Muslims won’t be allowed. Goons in localities across the country are openly issuing appeals for boycotting Muslim hawkers and vendors. State governments are aligning with Hindu festivals while ignoring disturbances created during the festivals of minorities.

Are these desirable on humanitarian and constitutional grounds?

The prime minister said he was aghast that the terrorists asked for their victims’ religion before spraying them with bullets. Is the prime minister aware that ordinary citizens and not just terrorists are also asking for innocent Muslims’ religion before threating, assaulting and lynching them? Does the prime minister feel similar pain here? Has home minister Amit Shah ever addressed these concerns?

If these alarming issues are not addressed sincerely, unity will be artificial and fragile, and terrorists will return sooner or later with another attempt to divide India.

History tells us that one surgical strike or even a war doesn’t end terror. Palestine has shown to the world the futility of mindless violence. The Taliban is back in Afghanistan. Pakistan continued its sinister operations despite getting divided and several defeats in wars. India will need unity to forge ahead and compete with China instead of getting bogged down with Pakistan.

We have to realise that the trajectory of our political transformation in the last decade is detached from secularism. It is deeply worrying that the foundational values of the Indian nation-state are in peril 75 years after independence.

What’s worse, this project doesn’t carry any democratic consensus or political legitimacy. During his visits abroad, Modi himself frequently delegitimises this project by reiterating India’s commitment to secularism. Even within the country, Modi occasionally disowns this project by stressing unity and expressing his respect for Mahatma Gandhi. He may be doing it out of compulsion, but that shows that the project to discard secular democracy lacks legitimacy.

Even the RSS bows to Gandhi nowadays. What is Gandhi? He symbolises secularism and peaceful coexistence. He means equality and justice.

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The denial of security and dignity to Muslims is the negation of Gandhian tolerance. Modi will have to talk about the state of affairs in the country. His conversations – full of muscle-flexing, ridicule and hollow boasts – will not solve this critical problem.

It is indisputable that being moderate and secular is seen by a section of Indians as anti-national radicalism. A huge troll army has been raised to abuse and threaten anyone who talks of equality and secularism. The new, cheap concoction of nationalism equates blind, unquestioning loyalty to Modi with patriotism. This doesn’t only defy India’s liberal democratic tradition, but also sows seeds of fascism.

Political discourse can’t revolve around Pakistan. India will have to freely discuss its own drift and future goals.

Modi is required to lead the nation in answering some vital questions. Can today’s India dream collectively? Or will Hindus dream of their total dominance and minorities continue to worry about their security?

What’s the collective cultural and moral identity the RSS-BJP wants for an Indian? Tolerant, secular and compassionate? Or intolerant, communal and violent?

Do we want a citizen who believes in the constitutional principles of equality, fraternity and justice, or we are itching to create a citizen who hates Muslims and intends to destroy their rights?

Can an Indian’s cultural pride rest on hatred against minorities? Is Modi ready to declare that anybody who practices discrimination on the basis of caste, religion, region or language is a deficient and bad citizen?

Modi often says India is the mother of democracy. That is an irrelevant cliche. What the nation wants to know is whether he is determined to protect democracy or not.

How decent and democratic a society is will be decided by how it treats its minorities. A society having the characteristic feature of hate and discrimination is an evil society. When will the RSS-BJP understand that discrimination is a bigger crime than appeasement? A terrorist asking someone to recite the “kalima” before spraying them with bullets upon their failure to do so is horrendous. So is harassment, assault and lynching if Muslims don’t chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

The prime minister and the home minister will have to unambiguously declare that discrimination is not a virtue. Have they ever told their supporters what Aurangzeb did 300 years ago is not relevant to solving present-day crises? Have they ever reprimanded the media for behaving differently when Asifa is the victim and Aftab is the assassin?

The answers to these questions will explain why the RSS-BJP needs to alter their philosophy and politics. And till then, unity will remain artificial and ephemeral.

Sanjay K. Jha is a political commentator.

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