I do not normally write on religion as being an army veteran, all religions are equal in my eyes. I have been to every religion’s place of worship and felt the same serenity and peace in each. However, comments by some so-called secularists have compelled me to pen my thoughts. I am also not affiliated to any political party or religious organisation.

Since the commencement of electioneering for 2019, a lot had been written that if Narendra Modi came to power for a second time, Hindutva would raise its head pushing religious tolerance and secularism to the background. It has been propagated that Modi may seek to support Hindutva movements for enhancing his party’s electoral base in the country. Nothing could be further from the truth. Hindus are known through history to be tolerant and accommodating to all religions.

Invaders who ruled India at different points of time sought to push their religion on majority Hindus but succeeded only partially. The Mughals, British and Portuguese attempts are well documented. Jews, Zoroastrians, Armenians and Syrians amongst others, persecuted across the globe in different times, found solace on Indian soil and continue to flourish in the country. It is a nation with religious diversity.

Some of the oldest places of worship of most religions exist in India. In no other nation are minority members considered as valuable vote banks and given special attention by political parties banking on breaking Indian unity on religious lines. The selection of candidates by many political parties, except the BJP, for the recently concluded elections was based on the religious and caste divide of the electorate.

There was strong belief that Indians vote on religion and caste grounds, ignoring personal beliefs. This failed in elections 2019 as the results indicated that the Indian voter cast his choice for ‘India first’ and national development, proving that the nation stands taller than religion, caste or creed. The Indian armed forces, representing the true Indian spirit, has soldiers from all religions, communities and classes operating side by side, trusting one another with their lives. In army institutions, officers follow the religion of their men, with little regard to their own.

The Sarv Dharam Sthal, existing in every military institution, does not propagate one religion but all; soldiers irrespective of religion and belief, worship together seeking blessings for all members. Compare this scenario to that witnessed across the globe. In Pakistan, minorities are persecuted with vengeance. Forcible conversions, including of underage girls, are defended legally and the blasphemy law is misused at every instance.

Militants target Shias and Ahmadis at will and none from the state even bothers to offer condolences. The Pakistan army employs Hindus only in menial tasks; advertisements for such posts state ‘only for Hindus’, and are insulting, to say the least. The Hindu population in Pakistan is now almost negligible. Minorities are treated in a similar manner in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bangladesh and most other Muslim nations. The targeting of Hindus in Bangladesh has drastically reduced their presence.

In Saudi Arabia, the Shias, considered minorities are targeted openly by the state, ignoring international criticism. The Sunnis are reversely targeted in Iran. In the US, Afro-Americans are considered as second- class citizens. In India, one incident of targeting a member of the minority community makes headlines and the government is forced to respond. Targeting of majority community by minorities or from the same community is rarely commented upon.

This is because we either treat all our minorities equally or even better. When 51 Muslims were killed in the attack on a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) organized a special session to criticise Islamophobia. When many more minorities in number are targeted in a single strike by terrorists in Pakistan, the same OIC maintains silence. They criticise India for a single incident but maintain silence when such incidents happen in their own nations.

In India, many say that the BJP is polarising India on religious grounds. They fail to notice that the BJP’s success in the recent elections cannot be due to polarisation but the belief of the populace that continuity would be better for the nation. It has broken the shackles of religion and caste and proved that the Indian voter is no longer guided by these factors alone.

Critics should understand that tolerance and secularism is far more developed in India than in most nations across the globe. More important is the belief that nationalism, national security and development would continue being major considering factors for future elections and not caste, creed and religion.

Let there be no doubt, India will grow as a nation and carry all religions and communities together. Let us not take isolated incidents and blow them out of proportion.

(The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army)