For majoritarian nationalism, communal, divisive propaganda has been a major plank for entering the electoral arena by promoting hate. The framework of Hindu nationalist politics has been centred around two tenets. First, it glorifies the ancient past, an era when the values of Manusmriti were the social norms. Second, it distorts history, particularly the medieval one. The narratives of temple destruction and conversion to Islam by force are not wholly accurate.

They have been adding other issues to this foundation using their vast network. So far, Babri demolition was used to propagate that Mughal rulers destroyed Hindu temples to humiliate the Hindus. Eating meat has been appended for added flavour this election season.

Recently, a visual of Tejaswi Yadav eating fish on April 8 was doing its rounds on social media. The Navratra, the month of Sawan as per the Hindu calendar, began on April 9. Many Hindus hold that non-vegetarian food should not be consumed during this period. Unmindful of this fact, a barrage was unleashed against Yadav for insulting the feelings of Hindus during the season.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to have mastered the art of twisting facts, using communal history to intensify the hate and communal propaganda. Seizing this 'fish given' opportunity with both hands, he recalled that last year, Lalu Yadav and Rahul Gandhi cooked and consumed meat during this holy month. Shrewdly, he combined meat during sawan with the destruction of temples by the Mughals, "When the Mughals attacked here, they were not satisfied with defeating the ruling king, unless they broke the temples and destroyed the places of worship. They found enjoyment in that. In the same way, by showing the video in the month of Sawan, they want to provoke the people of the country with the Mughal mentality." As per him, the videos were uploaded by his political rivals for 'vote-bank' politics!

The issue of temple destruction by kings has been extensively researched by outstanding historians like Richard Eaton, among others. History shows that Hindu kings also destroyed temples. Muslim kings also donated a lot to Hindu temples. Kalhan's classic Rajatarangini describes that Raja Harshdev, a Hindu king of Kashmir, appointed a special officer to uproot the idols of Hindu gods, those made of gold and silver, from Hindu temples. Aurangzeb gave donations to Hindu temples as well.

In a game of sectarian nationalism, truth becomes the biggest casualty. Interpretations based on such communal mindsets are far from the reality of social affairs. As the Indian Nation Congress released its Election manifesto, Nyaya Patra (Justice Proclamation), based on affirmative justice for weaker sections of society, Modi was prompt enough to state that this manifesto has the imprint of the Muslim League of yore. Others from his cabal have also mastered the art of using dog whistles. Yogi Adityanath, in an innocuous-looking sentence, stated that the criminal in UP would have to face jail or jahannum (a word used for hell in Islamic tradition). He also brought forward the issue of Haji Malang Dargah, a shrine close to Mumbai, being claimed to be a Hindu shrine. These tactics are similar to those used during the Baba Budangiri Dargah campaign, which strengthened the BJP in Karnataka decades ago.

Adding on to these, Mr Modi is spreading a fear that if the INDIA alliance comes to power, it will redistribute wealth to 'infiltrators'. In the same breath, he says that Congress will give the nation's wealth to 'those with more children'. In both these headlines, it is clear that Mr Modi wants to assert that Congress intends to appease Muslims.

The 'scare of infiltrators' was exposed when NRC was conducted in Assam. Of 19 lakh people who did not have proper papers, 13 lakhs were Hindus. As for those having more Children, the latest fertility rates reveal that these are declining among Muslim women, and at present, on average, a Muslim woman's rate of fertility is only marginally higher than the national average among Hindus. And if current trends continue, they may vanish soon enough.

One is reminded of the propaganda of the Hindu right-wing that Dr Manmohan Singh had stated that Muslims have the first right to national resources. This was in the aftermath of the Sachar Committee Report 2006, which showed that the economic, social and political condition of Muslims had been worsening over the years. What he had stated was totally different as well. He had said, "I believe our collective priorities are clear: agriculture, irrigation and water resources, health, education, critical investment in rural infrastructure, and the essential public investment needs of general infrastructure, along with programs for the upliftment of SC/STs, other backward classes, minorities and women and children."

How the Hindu right wing is capable of distorting the facts to suit political propaganda becomes clear in most of these instances. Spreading hate against Muslims and condemning those who dare to talk of affirmative action on rational grounds is a strict no for this political formation thriving on divisive politics.

Over the years, its propaganda tools have become sharper, and its mechanisms have spread so well that they can concoct a narrative that demonises religious minorities, Muslims in this case. It constructs an anti-Hindu image for those sticking to the norms of democracy and the values of the Constitution. The media is at present backing this party unconditionally and is trying to manufacture a 'social common sense', which is totally opposed to the plural ethos of India, which has developed over centuries, culminating in the greatest-ever mass movement in the World, our freedom struggle.

It is time that the components of the INDIA alliance give a truthful rejoinder to the falsehoods of majoritarian politics.