NEW DELHI: In keeping with a new resolve to clean up his image, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi denounced communalism on Friday and said his government’s religion is ‘India First’ and its Holy Book is the Indian Constitution.

“My government’s only religion is ‘India first’, my government’s only religious book is ‘Indian Constitution’, our only devotion is ‘Bharat Bhakti’ and our only prayer is ‘welfare of all’,” he said in Lok Sabha while replying to a debate on President’s Address.

It was his ‘responsibility’ not to allow “anaap shanap (ridiculous) comments in the name of religion, Mr Modi said following criticism over his silence on the increased incidents of attacks against minority Christians and the controversial remarks from some of his party leaders.

He said: “Nobody has the right to discriminate on the basis of religion… No one has the right to take law into his hands.”

Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the presidential address, Mr Modi said: “Communalism for political reasons has destroyed the country. Hearts have been broken… we want all religions to prosper.”

Earlier this month, at an event organised by Catholics in Delhi, Mr Modi had said: “No religious group can incite violence… my government will ensure there is complete freedom of faith.”

“This nation is full of diversity. We are for unity in diversity, not disunity. All religions should flourish. It is the uniqueness of India because of its Constitution,” he said.

The PM also said the government is ready to make changes in the controversial land acquisition act, against which the opposition and rights activists have been protesting. They say it is anti-farmer. “If the bill has anything against farmers, we are ready to change it,” Mr Modi said.

Seeking the opposition’s cooperation for taking it forward, he said: “If despite all the benefits that the new reforms will bring, you feel there is any provision that is anti-farmer, I am willing to make changes to the proposal. Let us work together.”

He, however, took a dig at the opposition Congress. “If your (land) law was so good, why was the Congress wiped out in a series of elections?,” he asked.

The government, under fire from the opposition and the rights groups which have alleged that the bill in its present form would hurt the farmers’ interests, was reluctant to make any changes to the act saying that tougher clauses would be a hurdle for the industries and it would hamper the investment atmosphere.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2015

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