Anti-Muslim remarks setback for Modi

Reported anti-Muslim remarks by two right-wing Hindu nationalist leaders have thrown a spanner into the hitherto smooth progress of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign in the Indian General Election.

The President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Pravin Togadia, reportedly demanded that a Muslim businessman leave his property in a predominately Hindu area of Bhavnagar, in Gujarat and that Togadia’s followers should go against Muslims with “stones, tyres and tomatoes”.

And in Bihar a BJP candidate, Giriraj Singh, reportedly said that those who opposed the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, “should leave India and go to Pakistan” – a clear reference to Muslims, the majority of whom are vehemently opposed to the BJP.

Togadia has since denied making the comments, while Singh appears to have gone to ground and is not answering calls. However, the Indian Electoral Commission has launched an investigation into both incidents.

Modi himself went into damage control, saying he did not support either statement.

“My government will be of the people – for those who voted for me, for those who did not vote for me and even for those who did not vote at all,” he said.

“Petty statement by those claiming to be BJP’s well-wishers are deviating the campaign from the issues of development and good governance.”

The last thing Modi needs at this stage of the election are references to the BJP’s roots in Hindu nationalism. While there are few votes to be had among the Muslim population, incidents such as these may alienate moderate Hindus who might be wavering in their support of the ruling Congress Party-led coalition.  

Almost half of the electorate have already voted, but there are some important contests still to come, particularly in Varanasi, where Modi himself is standing, which does not go to the polls until the last day of the election on May 12. indu area of Bhavnagar, GujaratHh