PDP president Mehbooba Mufti criticized the BJP’s doublespeak on minority safety in India. Mufti responded through Twitter to tweets from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman about former US President Barack Obama’s statement on the status of minorities in India.
Mufti took issue with the absurd statements issued by BJP ministers after PM Narendra Modi had reassured the safety of minorities in India during his visit to the US. She accused the BJP of doublespeak and highlighted the irony in their messaging. She pointed out that one BJP minister had mocked Obama’s Muslim surname while issuing veiled threats, while another minister had justified mistreating minorities by invoking the bombing of Muslim countries.
The PDP president’s comments highlight a growing discrepancy between what the ruling party says and what it does. Despite Modi’s assurances, India has witnessed an increase in communal tensions and attacks on minorities in recent years.
Experts say that the BJP’s treatment of minorities is a political strategy to reinforce its Hindu nationalist identity. The party’s rhetoric and policies divide the country along religious lines, creating a climate of fear and distrust.
The BJP’s doublespeak and contradictory messaging on minority safety have been criticized by civil society groups and opposition leaders alike. Their call for more inclusive governance and respect for diversity falls on deaf ears as the ruling party continues to pursue its divisive agenda.
The PDP president’s criticism is a reminder that words have consequences, and the BJP must be held accountable for its actions. The government must take concrete steps to protect all Indians, regardless of their religion or background, and work to heal the rifts that threaten the country’s social fabric.