This weekend, the leaders of the world’s most powerful countries will gather in New Delhi for the Group of 20 summit to discuss pressing economic issues, including climate change, sustainable development, and food security.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created fanfare for the summit by unveiling its chipper slogan: “One Earth, One Family, One Future”, derived from the Sanskrit phrase “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.
On the face of it, the theme appears attractive, a desperate attempt to present a progressive and inclusive image of India to the world. More so, it is a call to associate both India and its prime minister with buzzwords like “progress”, “development” and “oneness”. But in reality, it is a deliberate facade meant to conceal the severe persecution of around 250 million members of religious minority communities, particularly Muslims and Christians.
While Modi’s rhetoric tries to portray India as a peaceful bridge between other bickering…