Modi shows ‘mirror’ to Farooq Abdullah on secularism

New Delhi: Reacting strongly to Farooq Abdullah’s remark that “those who vote for Modi should drown in the sea”, Narendra Modi tore into the National Conference chief and asked him to look into a mirror before commenting on the secular culture of the country.

“India’s secularism is not because that word has been added in the Constitution. For thousands of years, India has believed in the philosophy of Sarva Path Sambhav [all Dharmas (truths) are equal to or harmonious with each other]. India is the only country which says there is only one truth, seekers express it in different ways,” Modi said in a video released by his office on Monday.

“India is the only country which says Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Nir-Aamayaah, Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu, Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet (May all become happy, may all be free from illness. May all see what is auspicious, may no one suffer). India never says Hindus be happy, India thinks about everybody,” he added.

“India has never attacked any thought, any society in the world, with a sword. Expansionism is not in the blood of India. Neither us nor anybody should teach such a country about secularism. Those people who talked about secularism…I want to ask Farooq sahab…the power of India’s secularism is so strong and it is in our veins. It is not in the Constitution, it is in our views. It is a country which prays to the nature, to water, the society lives with the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The world is my family).”

“And in such society such language is used. Even if a statement comes from someone (apparently referring to Giriraj Singh), is India’s secularism so useless that it will get split by one statement? I want to say to Farooq Abdullah…the biggest injury to the thousands of years of secularism in India has been done in Kashmir and that too because of the politics of your father, because of your politics and because of your son’s politics. In this country, it is only in Kashmir from where Pandits have been thrown out on the basis of religion. The Sufi tradition of Kashmir has been turned into communal for personal political gains by you, your son.”

“And you talk about drowning people who vote for Modi in the sea? Your father, you, your son have done the sin of give communal colour to the politics of Kashmir in the eyes of the world. Kashmir was always all-inclusive society, you tainted that tradition. It doesn’t suit you that you give such statements and if anyone needs to get drowned then look at your face in the mirror; put your father’s face in front of the mirror and then ask this question. With what face can the people who threw out Kashmiri Pandits give discourse on secularism to the country? It doesn’t suit them.”

“We are silent but that doesn’t mean that they can hurt the secular tradition of the country whenever they feel like. Even today, because of our culture, because of our blood and not because of politics, because of patriotism, we say that the path of Sarva Path Sambhav is ideal for India. Politics of development not politics of vote bank is ideal for India.”

“This is our commitment, Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. We will move forward with this mantra. People like Farooq Abdullah sahab cannot derail the vehicle,” Modi said.

“The country will never waver from its lofty ideals,” he added.