Many Christians and Muslims are not quite confident about their well-being under Modi as the Prime Minister. Even if Modi himself or the top leadership team of the BJP are not communal or may not endorse communal politics, there is the fear that the foot soldiers of the Sangh Parivar would have a free hand in harming the religious minorities by doing un-constitutional and unlawful action. The fear is not without any reason. Even when Vajpayee was the Prime Minister there were instances when the Sangh Parivar tried to disturb communal harmony by doing certain unlawful activities. And if media report is to be trusted, Vajpayee is more secular than Modi. So when things were not quite secular all the time under Vajpayee, under Modi situation could be worse.
During the time when Vajpayee was the Prime Minister, the then Human Resource Development Minister Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi had allowed Sangh Parivar to bring in non-secular ideology to the textbooks; he also filled key positions in academic enterprise with those who are committed to saffronisation of the academia. Again there are secular intellectual figures who have expressed their fear about such thing being repeated in case Modi comes to power.
There is no doubt that Modi would be a better administrator than Manmohan Singh. Modi may also be quite market friendly. However, if members of Sangh Parivar are not reined in, the plus points of Modi will be overshadowed by the ill-effects of the work of the Sangh Parivar. After all what is left of India if the secular nature of the state is undermined. One of the best things that India could give as lesson to the world is its secular character. And no political party or political figure should bring harm to this beautiful political arrangement. If Modi is the man, so be it. But let him defend and demonstrate secularism.
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