PM holds aloft India's diversity but makes reference to Islam and gun

Narendra Modi walks with his British counterpart David Cameron and his
sari-clad wife Samantha backstage at Wembley Stadium in London. (AFP)

Amit Roy in London bureau, TT, Nov. 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today upheld before London and the rest of the world India's diversity as its "strength and pride" but appeared to link Islam with the cult of violence.

" Aaj vishwa mein jo aatankwad ke naam pe jo cheezen chal rahi hain, kabhi mujhe lagta hai agar Sufi parampara balwaan hui hoti, Islam mein hi is Sufi parampara ka agar prabhav badha hota aur jisne Sufi parampara ko samjha hota woh kabhi haath mein bandook lene ka vichar nahi karta (The things happening in the name of terrorism in the world today, sometimes I feel that had the Sufi tradition gained strength, had its influence in Islam grown, whoever understood the tradition would never have thought of picking up the gun)," Modi told a cheering crowd of 60,000 at Wembley Stadium in London.

The Prime Minister had begun his speech on a glorious note against the backdrop of the intolerance debate in India and open letters by many authors and academics in Britain asking Prime Minister David Cameron to raise the issue with the guest from New Delhi.

"India is full of diversity. This diversity is our pride and it is our strength. Diversity is the speciality of India," Modi said, adding that despite the country being home to diverse religions, over 100 languages and 1,500 dialects, Indians have demonstrated how to live together. The whole world is amazed, how 125 crore people with so much diversity live peacefully with love and affection, Modi added.

At various points, the Indian Prime Minister spoke of "Kabir and Rahim" and "Imran Khan of Alwar", who "made 50 apps to help students. My India resides in people like Imran Khan."

After referring to Kabir and Rahim as "our inspirations", Modi said: "The Sufi tradition is the best antidote to terrorism."

It was then that Modi made the comment about Islam, Sufism and the gun.

Terrorism was first raised by Cameron, who spoke before Modi did, but the British Prime Minister did not make any reference to any religion. Cameron said terrorism was a threat to the very existence of the two countries and they stood shoulder to shoulder to tackle it, reminding the gathering about the Mumbai and London attacks.

Modi's speech highlights tweeted by external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup mentioned the first sentence - "Sufi tradition is the "best antidote to terrorism" - but did not refer to the observation about Islam and the gun.

After the "antidote" tweet, Swarup posted, quoting the Indian Prime Minister: "The two main challenges facing the world today are terrorism and global warming."

Modi did include a swipe at newspapers and television, which have given him a hard time over perceived intolerance. The Indian Prime Minister, who had declared last week back home that the goal of economic reforms was not "better headlines in the pink papers (business dailies)", today took the theme to other newspapers.

"India is not only that much what is seen in newspapers. India is much bigger. India with its 125 crore people is much bigger and better with a pre-eminent position beyond the screen of television," he said, going on to cite the example of Imran of Alwar.

The Prime Minister did not mention it but one headline in The Guardian newspaper today was "India is being ruled by a Hindu Taliban". 

Referring to his meeting with leaders of the Sikh community yesterday, Modi appeared to be making an indirect reference to the 1984 riots when he said: "We shared our thoughts on various subjects. I understand their sorrow and pain on some issues as well."

Modi did not make any reference to the Gujarat riots or the Dadri lynching although he sent a message of pluralism by referring to Imran of Alwar and upholding him as the symbol of India.

To thunderous applause from the spectators - almost exclusively Indian-origin - the Prime Minister announced, "for my deshwasiyon", an Air India flight between London and Ahmedabad from December 15. "We will not rely on the colour of your passport; for us, you belong to us," he said.

Modi said the air connectivity had been established in 2003 during the Vajpayee government's tenure but was discontinued later. "What is the use of taking names as to who did it?" he asked - a question that stood out against the backdrop of criticism in India that he rarely misses a chance to take pot shots at the erstwhile UPA regime.

The Prime Minister also redefined FDI (foreign direct investment) as "First Develop India" in keeping with his partiality to "clever" acronyms.

For the better part of the programme, Modi provided pure theatre in the packed stadium, assisted by a warm-up act from Cameron.

The two Prime Ministers, new best friends, spoke so warmly about each other that at one point it seemed Modi was appealing to the crowd that they should henceforth always vote Tory.

Perhaps that is exactly what he meant and perhaps that is the dividend Cameron had sought and found.

Cameron greeted the assembled audience with a namaste and by asking " Kem chho (how are you), Wembley?" in Gujarati.

The British Prime Minister referred to Modi's blockbuster slogan of 2014: " Achchhe din aanewale hain (Good days are coming)."

Perhaps unaware that the slogan is cited these days in India to rib Modi and remind him of unfulfilled promises, Cameron said as the Indian Prime Minister watched poker-faced: "They said achchhe din aanewale hain, under Modi, achchhe din zaroor aayenge (Under Modi, good days will certainly come)."

When his turn came, Modi told the rapturous crowd: "I was told London will be cold but not so cold. Your warm welcome makes me feel at home. I am grateful to PM Cameron for his kind words."

When he paused to pour himself a little water, the crowd took up the chant, "Modi! Modi! Modi!"

Before he went on a walkabout among the crowd, Modi made people chant: "Please repeat after me - Bharat Mata Ki Jai!"

'Nothing off table'

Earlier, Cameron told PTI that the concerns of freedom of speech raised by over 200 authors in an open letter to him had been discussed during talks with Modi.

"We talked about the letter and as ever in our relationship, nothing was off the table in terms of the subjects we discussed. I see India as I see Britain, a country that is a vibrant multi-racial, multi-faith, multi-ethnic democracy that has very strong public debate, freedom of speech, rule of law and those are things that Britain and India continue to learn from each other," he said.

Asked about his views on the reports of a curb on freedom of speech coming out of India, Cameron said: "I think what's happening in India is that (there is) a Prime Minister with a very clear mandate to reform and open up the Indian economy to investments. That was the message very strongly received here in Britain."