The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has intensified its efforts to consolidate its political base by emphasizing Hindu religious and cultural identity among India's 1.4bn people, 80% of whom are Hindus. Critics argue that Modi's ideology, which closely associates Hinduism with the Indian identity, aims to transform India from a secular state to a Hindu-majority nation. This strategy is evident in the BJP's fulfillment of its campaign promise with the ongoing construction of the Ram Mandir, a move that has sparked controversy regarding its timing ahead of the upcoming spring general elections. The West Bengal Government's declaration of a public holiday on Ram Navami, along with plans for a grand celebration by the RSS, further underscores the political significance of these religious events. These developments have led to a debate on whether the state's promotion of Hindu cultural events marks a departure from India's secular constitution.
Supporters and critics of Narendra Modi differ on whether the consecration of a temple at Ayodhya was a moment of national pride. Either way, the state’s promotion of the event seemed to mark a significant break with India’s secular constitution https://t.co/XZiRjDU83s 👇
West Bengal Government declared 17 April, 2024 as a public holiday on the occasion of Ram Navami. https://t.co/JSuyHQEJnM
17th April : Ram Navami🚩 Remember the date PM Modi may again visit Ram Mandir and RSS is planning grand celebration through out country 1St phase may be after Ram Navami 😃😃 https://t.co/1Zf3Ik445s
As India looks ahead to general elections this spring, the shrewdly timed inauguration of Ram Mandir—which is still under construction—has fulfilled one of the BJP’s most ardent campaign promises, Ariel Sophia Bardi writes. https://t.co/waGsZTZOmo
Equating Hinduism and India is one of the main tenets of Narendra Modi’s ideology. Critics fear his party aims to to turn the country of 1.4bn people, 80% of whom are Hindus, from a secular state into a Hindu one https://t.co/3Pasvjt5hy 👇
Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party have consolidated their base by politicizing Hindu religious and cultural identity, Ariel Sophia Bardi writes. https://t.co/waGsZTZOmo