May 16th 2014 will be known as the “water shed moment” in India’s history when the largest electorate in the world shed the politics of division imposed in India since the formation of the state in 1947.
Despite the attempts of the Congress party, which in the past has always engaged in vote bank politics based primarily on religion, to label Narendra Modi as a Hindu nationalist and communal leader and constantly beating the drum of the 2002 Godhra riots, India rose as one, setting aside all considerations of religion, caste and social status.
The country overwhelmingly voted for good governance and prosperity for all, no matter the sectarian affiliation. Muslims voted in large numbers for Modi. Consider the constituency of Leh in Kashmir where over 90% of voters are Muslims. Modi wave swept in Leh and elected a BJP MP. Almost 80% of landmass voted for BJP including areas where the Muslim vote is more than 20% of the total.
Indian Muslims love Modi and it is about time that Indian American Muslims follow their brethren in India and reject the hate narrative they have stuck to for a long time. It is amazing to note that Muslims living in India, who are and would be directly impacted by the Modi administration in Delhi, reject the label of “maut ka saudagar” (merchant of death) for Modi, while Indian American Muslims such as Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) continue to beat that old and tired drum.
It is time to reject the politics of division and hatred and work together for the progress of our mother land, Bharatvarsha.
Indian Americans for Freedom, the sister organization of National Indian American Public Policy Institute (NIAPPI) that took the first high level congressional delegation to visit Modi in March last year, spent a considerable amount of time and effort to contribute to the BJP win.
Shallabh Kumar
(Chairman NIAPPI)
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