Damn him if he wore. Damn him if he didn't. Is wearing Skull Cap an act of appeasement, but not wearing some other types of Caps is not appeasement? It is not exactly a question worth national debate. But one that needs an end as soon as possible so that the argument gets directed to more relevant issues.
The answer is - it depends on the person, and the context. If Modi was seen wearing the skull cap, people would argue that he is trying to reach out to the Muslims, considering the albatross around him. And people would still say that these kind of tricks will not absolve him of his "sins", and that he can't "fool" people with these gimmicks.
His attempts at displaying "unity and universal brotherhood" with his Sadbhawana Fasts were pretty much ridiculed as an act of "reaching out" to his "perceived enemies". No doubt people would have pounced on him if wore the skull cap.
If I remember correctly, this happened good two and a half years back. The old videos pretty much says that the Muslim Cleric pretty much tried to spring a surprise on Modi by taking out the Skull Cap from his pocket at the last moment. If only he had expressed or displayed his intentions before he had come to stage, much of these debates and discussions wouldn't be taking place.
Now, what is the biggest difference between Modi not wearing a Skullcap and him wearing other types of "Topi"? He is perceived to be "Anti Muslims", and not Anti Sikhs or Anti Tamils or Anti Assamese or Anti Anything Else.
Most people pretty much consider Sikhism as an offshoot of Hinduism, which it is (READ HERE). Both have their origins in the Indian Sub Continent. Whereas Islam, like Christianity, was an imported religion. With these historical facts in the background, Modi wearing a Turban or a Veshti wouldn't be considered as an act of appeasement.
Now the question of Rajnath Singh, BJP Party President, holding a view that wearing a skull cap is not an act of appeasement, is his personal view, as much as Modi's view is his personal. Rajnath Singh is considered just Anti Advani and Anti Joshi, and not anti anything else. So when he tries to pacify Advani, people would say, he is trying to appease the old man. When he reaches out to Muslims, it doesn't attract the same amount of attention as what it would if it were Modi reaching out. He can pull it off without much fan fare or ridicule. Modi cannot.
Those who understand, will consider the debate as over. Those who refuse to, can join the dimwits in interpreting this irrelevance endlessly.
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