NEW DELHI, May 6 -- 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 se...