Even as the Centre views with satisfaction the just-concluded three-day visit of United States President Barack Obama, Premier Narendra Modi came under withering fire from Congress general secretary and former Chief Minister of State Digvijay Singh who alleged that New Delhi was diverting its agenda to communalism as the regime’s programmes and policies were proving ‘ineffective’.
Singh while addressing mediapersons here on Tuesday said, “I feel Modi lacks the courage to rein in the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarasanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat. Obama mentioned that every person has the right to profess, practice and propagate his or her religion. I hope Modi draws a lesson.”
The VHP is undertaking a countrywide campaign vis-a-vis conversion, Singh also the Rajya Sabha Member said, adding that love jihad is no issue. “A Hindu man marrying a Muslim is not construed as love jihad but in a vice-versa case the viewpoint is diametrically opposite,” he alleged while strongly condemning the Owaisi brothers’ statements.
In this State’s Mandsaur District, a Saraswati Shishu Mandir is being constructed on a Muslim graveyard, Singh said, adding that either the state government or ruling BJP leaders should instead provide land for the academic institution. Conveying the sentiment ‘advance with extreme caution’, Singh said an official statement was yet to be received from the Centre regarding the “breakthrough understanding” vis-a-vis the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement during the just-concluded visit of United States President Barack Obama.
“It is surprising that the Bharatiya Janata Party which protested against the deal while it was in the Opposition now claims that the agreement is in the nation’s favour. The BJP alters statements and opinions on crucial issues. There have been U-turns in other cases as well,” Singh said. When Rajiv Gandhi was premier, he had a vision of a nuclear weapon-free world and expressed it in the late eighties, Singh claimed, adding that it was a matter of pride for the Congress that a US President echoed the words during his India visit.
The former chief minister also said he hoped Modi would take lesson from US President’s advice about religious freedom seriously and rein in the VHP and RSS. “Under Article 25 of Indian Constitution, every Indian has the right to profess and propagate his religion. The PM should ask RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to stop the ghar wapasi and the conversion row,” he added.