This is with reference to the article “Stinging rebuke to Modi” (Nov. 9) by Siraj Wahab. Undoubtedly, the majority of Indians support secularism. The Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the general election in 2014 for different reasons but failed to read the popular sentiments. The party thought that the Indians would support its communal agenda as well. The Indians proved it wrong and issued their verdict against the communal politics in Delhi and Bihar assemblies’ elections. It is heartening to note that despite media reports of radicalization of South Asia, majority of the subcontinent’s inhabitants despise sectarian and communal politics.

In Sri Lanka, for example, we saw the Lankan voters rejecting former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Among various other reasons, analysts believe that it was Rajapaksa’s last-minute decision of forging an alliance with the extremist group BBS that proved to be the last nail in the coffin and cost his dearly. Contrary to reports we read in the mainstream western media, Pakistanis don’t appear to be very keen on seeing fundamentalist or extremist elements running the show.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have maintained a safe distance from the right-wing RSS, which he failed to do. In addition to that his silence over his party members’ communal rants did not bode well for him and his party. Being the premier of the country, he should have taken some concrete measures to rein in his party members and allies. However, the masses cannot be fooled twice. It has become evident that the Modi-led BJP is all set to meet a similar fate in the upcoming state assembly elections. It is encouraging to note that the Indian voters realized their folly and used their democratic right to stop the rising tide of Hindutva in an otherwise secular country.

S.H. Moulana