On Dec. 22, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at the centenary of Aligarh Muslim University, a centrally administered university a few hours’ drive southeast of the capital, Delhi. Like so many important events these days, the celebrations were held online, but Modi’s speech was closely watched. India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has long had fraught relations with the country’s 200 million Muslims, with the party being accused of perpetuating an anti-Muslim climate of hate with its open embrace of sectarian politics. Modi himself has struggled to convince Muslims that he governs for all Indians, regardless of creed.
In the speech, Modi emphasized that his government was committed to religious non-discrimination. He also highlighted selected statistics showing improvements in education attainment for Muslim girls. But he also called on Muslim students to help build India’s international “soft power” by carrying the “best of India” abroad. Modi’s plea was likely tied to his recent diplomatic offensive to repair ties with the Muslim world—or at least ensure they aren’t damaged by perceptions that his government is not only Hindu nationalist, but anti-Islamic.
