Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done the right thing in distancing himself from minister of state for food processing Niranjan Jyoti’s controversial remark on Muslims. But his refusal to take action against her, despite a unified demand from the opposition for the minister’s resignation, doesn’t go down well with the BJP’s own assertion that its key agenda is the country’s development, not communal polarisation as its critics often say.

Speaking at an election rally in Delhi early this week, Jyoti, a first time MP from Uttar Pradesh, had said voters should elect sons of Ram, and not “illegitimate sons”. She apologised later, and PM Modi, a man known for bold decisions, seems to be satisfied with the apology.

This is not the first time BJP leaders are seen making controversial comments on religious minorities and the party’s critics. Ahead of the recent by-polls in Uttar Pradesh, videos of BJP’s Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath had surfaced in which he exhorted supporters that “if one Hindu girl is converted, we will convert 100 Muslim girls. If one Hindu is killed, we will kill 100 Muslims”. The BJP then made him its campaign leader for the by polls. And he did it again. In an election rally in Noida in September, Adityanath provoked “feelings of enmity” as the Election Commission later noted. Giriraj Singh, another BJP leader, had said in the run up to Parliament polls that those who don’t vote for the BJP should be sent to Pakistan. He was inducted into the government as a Minster of State.

These incidents and the way the BJP leadership has dealt with them show the party is at ease with this Hindutva-development mix. Does Modi also prefer this model? It’s high time Modi turned his “disapproval” into action. Had he asked Jyoti to step down, it would have sent a message that his government is serious about communal harmony. But that assertiveness, central to his brand image, is missing.

Stanly Johny, Assistant Editor

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