Veteran BJP leader and former Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy voiced his support for party colleague Suvendu Adhikari amid controversy over Adhikari's remarks calling for an end to the slogan 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. Roy clarified that Adhikari wasn't opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan itself but rather emphasizing the need for tailored implementations in different states.
Roy explained in an exclusive interview with India Today TV that PM Modi's 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' slogan pertains to national unity and development, but its application can vary across states. He stressed that Adhikari's intention was not against the essence of the slogan but rather about strategic alignment in West Bengal politics.
Regarding criticisms that 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' could be perceived as anti-Muslim, Roy pointed out that such perceptions stem from a mindset perpetuated by self-proclaimed secularists driven by electoral motives. He argued that this mindset tends to absolve Muslims of wrongdoing while unfairly attributing faults to Hindus, a narrative he attributed to Mahatma Gandhi and others.
Roy emphasized that Adhikari's statement reflected truth rather than a hardline stance versus a softline approach, asserting his support for Adhikari's position. He also critiqued the current definition of secularism in India, suggesting that it wrongly equates to state neutrality on religion despite different legal standards for various communities, such as laws on polygamy and triple talaq among Muslims.
In conclusion, Roy stated that the BJP aims to correct this interpretation of secularism and bring about a more balanced and equitable approach across all communities in India.
