New Delhi, Mar 14: Narendra Modi, fast emerging as the BJP's choice for the post of Prime Minister, has reignited the fierce debate over the meaning of ‘secularism' in India with his latest take on what, according to him, is the definition of secularism.
“My definition of secularism is simple: India First. Whatever you do, wherever you work, India should be the top priority for all its citizens,” Modi said while addressing Indian-American community in US through video conferencing.
The statement seems to have ruffled the feathers of all his opponents. The Congress party reacted sharply by asking Modi to first “demonstrate” in Gujarat that he was secular before talking about the rest of the country. Secondly, the CPI-M leader Prakash Karat said, Modi's Gujarat model was not acceptable to the rest of India.
But where is the disconnect that has given rise to this counter attack? Instead of reacting negatively to what Modi said, will it not be better if everybody first tries to understand the essence of his statement?
What is wrong in saying that each and every citizen of this country should start putting the country first before everything else? The nation should always come first before caste, creed and religion of an individual. It applies to both majority as well as minority community. And once the country becomes the rallying point, all other differences will automatically be put on the back burner.
