Ansari hits back at Modi in new book

New Delhi, July 8: Raising the issue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks at his farewell function almost a year ago, former vicepresident Hamid Ansari says many considered the comments to be a departure from accepted practices on such occasions.

August 10, 2017 was the last day of Ansari's second term as vice president (2007-2017) and chairman of the Rajya Sabha. According to tradition, leaders of political parties and members devoted the forenoon session to thanking the Chair.

“The Prime Minister while being fulsome in his complements also hinted at what he perceived to be a certain inclination in my approach on account of my having spent, as he put it, both a good part of my professional tenure as a diplomat in Muslim lands and in post-retirement period on minority-related questions,” Ansari says in his new book Dare I Question? Reflections on Contemporary Challenges, a collection of his speeches and writings, made mostly in his last year in office and some in recent months, and brought out by HarAnand Publications.

In his last interview before he demitted office, Ansari had pointed out that Muslims in the country were experiencing a “feeling of unease”.

“The subsequent furore by the faithful' on social media tended to lend credence to this. On the other hand, editorial comments and a good many serious writings considered the PM's remarks to be a departure from accepted practice on such occasions,” he says.

Ansari also feels that the widely accepted pluralist view of nationalism and Indianness is now being challenged by a viewpoint depicting purifying exclusivism through the idea of cultural nationalism.

“The idea of cultural nationalism' is premised principally on a shared culture narrowly defined,” he says. — PTI

Editorial comments and a good many serious writings considered the PM's remarks to be a departure from accepted practice – HAMID ANSARI Former vice-president