Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged India yesterday to reject religious violence, after a series of attacks against minorities sparked debate about whether a surge of Hindu nationalism is undermining the country’s secular ideals.
In a speech from the ramparts of Delhi’s Red Fort marking the 70th anniversary of India’s independence, Modi also listed his government’s achievements, including a fight against corruption.
The speech was light on foreign policy, making no mention of Pakistan or of China.
India has for nearly two months stationed hundreds of troops along its northern border with China because of a territorial dispute.
Modi has spoken out against attacks by rightwing Hindus, many of whom back his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), against minority Muslims and lower-caste Hindus accused of killing cows, considered holy by the majority Hindus.
But the setting of his denunciation of violence yesterday was significant.
“We will not tolerate violence in the name of faith,” Modi said before a teeming crowd at the fort and a huge television audience.
Modi made much of the progress India has made since independence from British rule in 1947.
But he also expressed pain over the death of at least 60 children in a state-run hospital last week in Uttar Pradesh amid shortages of supplies – a reminder much remains to be done on India’s journey to development.
Since coming to power in 2014, Modi has found it difficult to balance the competing demands of groups from his nationalist Hindu power base and those striving to build a modern, secular country befitting its growing economic influence.
Manoj Joshi, a fellow at the Observer Research Foundation think-tank, said Modi was playing “good cop, bad cop” by condemning communal violence but doing little to rein in elements of his ruling party.
“There is an obvious gap between slogan and implementation. It’s a deliberate gap and it’s just for the record,” he said.
Modi also spoke at length about delivering a “new India” by 2022, underlining his confidence of winning the next general election, due by 2019.
Strong growth and economic reforms have bolstered Modi’s popularity and helped his party sweep state elections in recent years, leaving the opposition severely weakened.
Still, to keep up with the demands of India’s 1.3bn people, the government needs to create millions more jobs a year, which it is struggling to do.
“A certain level of triumphalism brought Modi to power,” analyst Ajai Shukla told NDTV.
“Now he realises people are expecting answers. He felt the need to convey an aura of progress.”
Modi was conciliatory towards Jammu and Kashmir, where violent protests against Indian rule have erupted over the past year, saying neither “name-calling nor bullets” would be enough to pacify the region.
What was needed, he said, were “hugs” for Kashmiris.
He also said India was strong enough to defend its borders against any threat.
“Security is our top priority,” Modi said. “Be it the sea or the borders, cyber or space – in all spheres, India is capable and we are strong enough to overcome those who try to act against our country.”
Modi, who said he spoke with US President Donald Trump on the eve of the speech, said: “The concern for national security is a natural one in an independent India.
“Our security forces have always shown their capabilities whenever on duty. Whether it is terrorism or infiltrators, our security personnel have always been ready for sacrifice.”
India carried out what it called “surgical strikes” in Pakistan in September last year after insurgents attacked an army base in Kashmir, killing 18 soldiers.
“When the surgical strike was carried out, the world came to know about the power that India possesses,” Modi said in his speech.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets school children after addressing the nation from the historic Red Fort during Independence Day celebrations in Delhi yesterday.
