Dear Prime Minister Modi-ji,
As you visit Britain later this year, I have a question. Should your country be called Hindustan or Bharat?
When a country is 70% Hindu, and the only historic home of the oldest of all faiths, then that country is home, wherever its sons and daughters may live.
For too long nations have limited their protection to their own Citizens. India, must extend this principle – to cover all those whose ancestors have called Hindustan their home.
Because unlike those of all other faiths, Hindus have no traditional, ancestral home, except India, it must be the policy of your Government that all Hindus wherever they are in the world will be extended the umbrella of protection of your Government.
From this day onward, the first determinant of your relations with any Foreign Government must be their treatment of the Hindu population within their borders. It has to be the business of this Government how Hindus are treated worldwide. If they want better relations with India, first make the best relations with Hindus in their own country.
This doctrine is not novel in international relations. The people of Israel provide protection for Jews wherever they are in the world, of whichever nationality. We shall extend no lesser protection to Hindus.
Nor should anyone ask, what of those of other faiths? Muslims, Christians, those of all other faiths who are Indian nationals will continue to have the full unwavering protections of the Indian State.
As Hindustan becomes and economic superpower, what use this wealth, this status, the hands of friendship of other nations, if they do not respect our people, for Hindus wherever they are will always be Hindustani first.
You are often called a Hindu Nationalist. So be it. You have never been embarrassed of the title. This is Hindu Nationalism. This is an example of what it means. Justice for all, appeasement of none. The Hindu nation is not confined to borders drawn by a colonial power. We are the Hindu nation, world over. Hindustan holds dominion over us all.
Extend this Doctrine to all Dharmic faiths who have no home except India – including the Sikhs, Jains, Parsees too.
I have termed this the Modi-Patel doctrine in tribute to India’s first Deputy PM, Sardar Patel, who was responsible with bringing all the States into the Union at Independence and thereby earned the title the ‘Iron Man of India’. Hereafter India will be Iron-like in its resolve in the protection of Hindus.
We look forward to your visit.
Alpesh Patel
