Indian PM Modi Tries to Woo Sikhs

On 13 May, Indian PM Narendra Modi’s pictures and videos splashed across the media. He was wearing a turban, cooking lentils, and serving in a langar (free kitchen) at Takht Patna Sahib. Bihar is a key state in the 2024 elections, but this was Modi’s attempt to woo the Sikhs. On 12 May, Delhi BJP leaders organized a pro-Modi Sikh youth motorcycle rally (SDW Vol. 2 Issue 19, Story 5). On 16 May, Modi gave a pre-planned interview – in a decade he has never held an open press conference – in which he said, ‘If an analysis is done of the work done by this government and previous governments to address the issues of the Sikh community, he would score 100/100. It would be better if a Punjabi channel or Punjabi people analyze what have been the basic issues of the Sikh community of this country and which government has addressed those issues.’ He spoke of the respect he has towards Sikhs and praised their contribution to the nation, ending with apparent humility, ‘Whether they accept me or not, what can I say about that?’ These attempts to woo the Sikhs were mocked on social media; Modi was reminded of attacks on farmers. Daler Mehndi, Hardeep Singh Puri, and former Haryana CM ML Khattar came in to praise Modi’s work with the Sikh community. BJP has fielded Sikhs in Panjab who face social boycott. In West Delhi, Sikhs are silent about their choices. Political parties are afflicted with selective amnesia when it comes to Sikh issues. While BJP talks about the 1984 genocide, it does not address the farmers’ protests. In 2014, AAP made its debut in Panjab over 1984, but now, in alliance with INC at the national level, no longer mentions it. Sikhs are 1.8% of the Indian population, but a visible and vibrant minority.