After Outrage in the Islamic World, the Modi Government Could Be at Point of No Return

L’AFFAIRE NUPUR SHARMA caused a serious reverse blow not only from the government of many Islamic countries but also the people. It captured the Modi government fully careless for various reasons.

First, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cynically stirred an anti-Muslim quality since the re-election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 and fled with him internationally. Grumbling limited to the Western world, mostly consisting of pro forma criticism in the annual report or from individual party members, namely from the US Democratic liberal wing.

Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar responded to most opportunities with smart jokes, which were less severe. Like people who have just converted with any faith, his hindutva evangelism is to get good intentions in the Sangh family. Recently, reacting to criticism of India in the annual report of the US State Department of Freedom of Faith, he called him the “Politics of the Bank Bank”. Thus the government calculates that even sharpened Hindutva activism will not increase hackles abroad, beyond managed limits.

Second, the government assumes that the Islamic world is disturbed by many of their reciprocal differences to deal with large nations. Their silence in the oppression of Ugyhur in China showed that economic interests defeated religious affinity. Prime Minister Modi also succeeded in seducing the ruler of de facto in Saudi Arabia, which usually gives instructions to the anxiety of the Islamic world, and is diplomatically united Arab Emirates (UAE). Both are also traditionally close to Pakistan. In fact, the Islamic Cooperation Organization (OIC) in recent years has been less enthusiastic in the Anti-Indian statement about Kashmir or Muslim medicine in India.

SMUGNESS won at BJP and the government, but the new comment from Rashriya Swayamsevak Sange (RSS) Head of Mohan Bhagwat, about the need for moderation in interfaith relations also showed concern in Sangh. Some recognition is aware that the post-gyanvapi mosque controversy, the red line for their followers needs to be re-drawing.

But so far, a BJP spokesman in television studios every night continues to lure their Muslim voters to polarize voters before the vital state elections, especially in the Prime Minister’s own country, Gujarat. Most television channels, pursuing higher viewers and good government intentions, compiling guest panels and problems for maximum confrontation and verbal duel.

Over the years, this writer has warned that domestic and foreign policies cannot be passed down to the Silo that separates. But four years former US President Donald Trump, who discarded liberal climate and democracy changes as a problem that traditionally relevant to US diplomacy, encouraged the Indian government to believe that diplomacy was not affected by the BJP Hindutva project. This step was accelerated after the re -election of Narendra Modi 2019 to move India from constitutionalism and liberal democracy, as imagined by the founders of India, to the majority and reconstructive Hindu rashtra.

Calculus rests on Modi after successfully dividing larger Islamic countries and involving the West, especially the US under Trump, which left the defense of liberalism and democracy. However, Joe Biden’s victory, after Modi’s unwise and subtle support for Trump, gave rise to a concern that the state of domestic game in India could invite US attention. The unwise Jaisankar from Pramila Jayapal, a member of the Indian-Origin Democrats from the US Congress during the Trump presidency, was also a reason to worry. But China, climate change and now Ukraine has made US doubts carry out the commitment of the Modi government to liberal democracy.

However, a sharp defense of the extreme ideological position, on the left or right, can get out of the hand. Echelon which is higher than BJP is polarized by public opinion by telling subtle stories, satire and subliminal rhetoric, including historical narratives that are distorted, etc. After the victory of the Uttar Pradesh election and the success of the RAM temple, and as a recognition of places of worship (special provisions), 1991 that protect the status quo of religious places, BJP should leave a minority bait. Instead, it survives, raising new issues of identity and religion. Spokesperson in accordance with their narrative with communal poison. What is now declared “suburbs” is an accredited spokesperson who defends the BJP government every night.

This problem arises whether the domestic politics of any country can be separated from diplomacy. Salman Rushdie’s novel, The Satanic Verses, published in 1988, pitted British sheep on the streets in the Islamic world. By emphasizing the freedom of the author’s expression, the British defended their core values ​​without compromising, despite the popular protests in many Islamic countries and the issuance of open death orders by Iran. Also in 1988, Pakistan’s hordes invaded the US Embassy in Islamabad at the rumors that the US had bombed a major mosque in Mecca to free him from Mahdi’s own followers. In fact, the French special forces and not the US have helped free the sacred place for Muslims.

Thus it is known that Muslims – the global community of believers in Islam – react with spontaneous anger if the Prophet or the word revealed in the Koran is prepared. Nupur Sharma ignored the truth in the heat of that moment and presented with satisfaction by the assumption of their approval that holds a high position in the Union government. The result is a nightmare for Indian diplomacy. For Qatar to call the Indian Ambassador to protest while Indian Vice President is in an official visit to the country that has never happened before. Usually countries wait until high people leave.

Qatar has a serious difference with Saudi Arabia and UAE for the encouragement of Muslim Brotherhood and other extreme right-wing Islamic groups. With the first coming from the block in the nupur controversy, it exposed the greater side of the strength – such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and Indonesia – which claimed the leadership of the Islamic world. Once the public’s anger spinning on social media, they do not have the leeway to ignore it. Therefore, what started as ripples turned into a tsunami.

Will BJP learn from this and reduce the majority of the Hindu Rashtra agenda? Maybe not, even though they will re -evaluate their tactics to design an approach that distinguishes between targeting Indian Muslims and vilifying Islam per SE and especially the Prophet and his family. Damage to Indian reputation in the Islamic world can be worn even though it cannot be reversed, unless PM Modi decides to imitate Vajpayee, and explore the middle way between Hindutva and Classical Hindu, as honored by philosophers and saints for thousands of years. The Modi government can be at a turning point or the point does not return. India holds breath when the world is watching.