PM Modi is distressed at ‘violent protests’ but voices no regret for communal barb made in Jharkhand

The day after making the insidious and provocative statement that he and others could make out the identity of protestors opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act by the clothes they wear, Prime minister Narendra Modi finally tweeted on Monday that he is distressed at the violent protests ‘ on CAA’ ( sic) which he added are unfortunate.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the statement in Dumka, Jharkhand on Sunday. He was quoted as saying, Congress & their allies are creating a ruckus. They are doing arson because they did not get their way. Those who are creating violence can be identified by their clothes itself.”

It triggered comments and memes with some pointing out that policemen in uniform were seen on Sunday vandalising parked motorcycles in AMU and unleashing violence and brutality against students at Jamia.

The PM’s tweet on Monday came after students across the country hit the streets to protest police brutality in Jamia Milia in Delhi.

Meanwhile, though the Election Commission sought details of the alleged statement made by Rahul Gandhi in Jharkhand on ‘rape in India’, the poll panel appears to have turned a deaf ear to the PM’s blatantly communal reference in a rally in poll-bound Jharkhand.

The PM’s statement on telltale clothes of protestors triggered varied response. Sitaram Yechury of the CPM tweeted, “What were the 'clothes' protestors in Assam who were shot dead were wearing, Mr PM? Modi has a long past record of using communal dog-whistles to attack genuine political movements. This one is no different, but it amply clarifies the real intentions of this govt.”

Former diplomat and Ambassador K.C. Singh tweeted, “Actually, the churidaar pajama PM Modi wears & Jodhpuri jackets, which are truncated achkans, have Islamic provenance/past. Let’s not decide communities by their clothes or segregate sartorially.

Others reminded the PM that protestors killed in Assam were not all Muslims. “ Sam Stafford, Abdul Alim, Ishwar Nayak, and Dipanjal Das. Are you able to identify these four men shot dead by the police in Guwahati by their clothes, Mr. Modi?” asked one.

The PM’s reference to protestors’ clothes was again invoked at midnight on Sunday when protestors assembled outside Delhi Police Headquarters. “ I hate saying this but we have come to this now. The bulk of the people in front of the police headquarters are NOT Muslims. Modi can come and see their clothes. We may have Hindu or Sikh sounding names, but we gather here as Indians, speaking for fellow Indians who have Muslim names.”

At least one of the protestors on Monday took off his shirt to flaunt his sacred thread, indicating that he was a high caste Hindu.