YOURSAY | Religious rhetoric can only go so far

 

YOURSAY | ‘Nobody wants an unjust, racist, and extremist government.’

COMMENT | The humbling of Modi and lessons for M'sia

Vijay47: It cannot be denied that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the rare diamond that has taken India to heights not thought possible even a generation ago.

His India, or Bharat as he prefers, can now walk proudly with other leading nations and can soon claim status as the world’s fourth-largest economic giant.

Yes, India is going places and not just to Mars and the neighbourhood moon. Yet, the recent elections have brought him down to earth.

The people of India have decided that Modi should not be given that unfettered freedom to do as he pleases.

While other problems remain in measures large or small, it is his stand on his brand of Hinduism that, to a major degree, brought a stop to his party’s religious excesses; and his deification by sectors of the gullible public did not serve his cause at all.

When does a politician earn the merit to inaugurate a temple? It is akin to a high priest opening a Parliamentary session and reminds one of a politician officiating the conversion of a youth.  

Modi must have thought that the Ram Ayodhya temple (supposedly built of the birthplace of Lord Rama the heroic deity in the epic Ramayana) was a monument that would assure him the eternal worship of the people but in the process, he learnt he was his own Ravana (the villain in Ramayan).

The proud Hindu majority of India demonstrated clearly that they are discerning in their expectations of their leaders and would not be swayed by extremism being dangled before them.

Sure, his party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did win, but only by the skin of its teeth.

It must have been an unbelievable shock to Modi, yet he has five years to repair his image and the sanctity of service to his country.

Religious fanaticism, like snake oil, simply does not sell.

I hope he does not venture further out on the limb to try and win his people over by resorting to unsavoury approaches; he would earn outright condemnation if he attempts ruses like the secret conversion of children.

I am sure there is a lesson here for everyone.

BluePanther4725: An enlightening article by former attorney-general Tommy Thomas. The days of politicians making use of race and religion to win votes will be over someday.

People have begun to wise up and realise that these politicians are using race and religion to amass power and enrich themselves.

Even PAS has failed to do any good to improve our country and our economy.

We must vote for leaders who have integrity, aren’t corrupted, and are capable of leading us regardless of race and religion.

The lesson we learned from India’s recently concluded parliamentary election is that even the poor and uneducated can wise up and rise.

Nobody wants an unjust, racist, and extremist government.

PMB: Whatever the criticisms, the fact is that it was the Hindus themselves who reduced the power of the Hindu-first BJP-led government in India. The voters called the shots.

That’s democracy. Letting the people decide and keeping all other forces outside the electoral process.

We can’t say the same in Malaysia until the majority’s role in democracy is recognised. The democratic process always includes the majority.

The non-democratic process will exclude the majority and/or minorities.

The democratic process guarantees majority and minority participation and the outcome is determined by the way they vote.

In Malaysia, to ensure majority representation as they are largely rural and not fully democratically mature, the race and religion cards need to be played to get their support.

When that majority segment of voters mature and choose a non-majority representation, that’s their choice. But minorities should not force it on them outside the democratic process.

While we appreciate India’s democracy, it can’t be emulated until the majority vote is ensured and not sold out for the sake of power.

Hmmmmmmmm: I believe the problem with many of our voters is that they are not astute.

Many of them live in poverty or trying their best to make ends meet.

They have no access to good healthcare or education but they are prepared to accept their lot.

The way they and their families vote, they are condemning their future generations to end up like them.

They are too afraid to take risks and change their votes to someone who offers them better healthcare, education, an improving economy, and so on as opposed to those who merely promise to protect their race and religion.

Hence, the low calibre of our elected representatives.

It will take a radical shift and a sudden awakening in the whole community for them to start to place importance on things like better healthcare and reject those who harp on race and religion.

Who shall we vote for: They have had to eat humble pie.

Hundreds of millions of illiterate, untouchable, marginalised, poor and uneducated voters spoke collectively to reject Hindutva (Hindu nationalism) and the choking of rights of the minorities.

These not only include 200 million Muslims but also millions of Christians, Sikhs, and Jews.  

Despite all that, they vote with their brains. It will not happen in Malaysia because the chauvinists and racists do not vote with their brains. 

Headhunter: A good piece from Thomas. Realistically, Malaysia is no India. India prides itself as the biggest democracy in the world and that system is still intact despite being far from perfect governance.

Malaysia is a different story altogether. Race, religion, special privileges, and corruption in high places are being played out day and night.

How do we get rid of them when the majority of the population and power are in that category?

Regrettably, we are a long way from the type of government we see in India.

Cakap tak serupa bikin: Modi and his Hindu-based party are just doing what religion-based parties are doing everywhere, including in Malaysia, truly Asia.

India is majority Hindu, so if the majority want a government based on Hinduism, isn’t that their right?

Don't the majority in Malaysia use the same argument here?

Aren't Muslim-majority countries all over the world incorporating Islamic principles in their governments and ignoring the views of their minorities?

Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones at each other. - Mkini