LETTER | An opinion cannot be just given just because it is an opinion.

An opinion in the public sphere must meet all the standard requirements, that it is a learned opinion, based on facts and one that is intellectually challenging.

I have no quarrels with Rais Hussin. In fact, he is one of the few in Pakatan Harapan who is bold enough to give his opinion on a variety of matters.

A different opinion to his must meet the same tests as mentioned.

By the way, I am no fan of Donald Trump or Narendra Modi. It is just that a comparison of them should be contextualised in the larger political setting of their respective constitutions, competitive party politics, terms of office and regional differences.

It cannot be based on the fact that both of them share a similar contempt towards Muslims.

Trump is, perhaps, against anybody who fails to qualify as an Anglo-Saxon American.

His contempt for Mexicans is public knowledge that needs no elaboration.

Similarly, Modi’s rise to power can be equated with the emergence of Hindu forces at a pan-India level.

Sure, Modi might not have a great liking for Muslims in general but don’t forget it was the BJP that supported India’s father of the nuclear bomb, Dr Abdul Kalam to be the president of India.

Even the Congress Party that had a history of appeasement towards Muslims failed to do so.

How come Modi or the BJP has no takers in the southern states of India? How come the popularity of Modi has limits in the state of Tamil Nadu, dominated by Dravidian political parties?

So even if Modi might have strong anti-Muslim views, Rais might not be very wrong, there are constraints on the extent of Hindutva politics.

There is no necessity for me to belligerently troll those commentaries that are against Modi, there is no necessity to do so.

Whether it is the BJP or the Congress, I have been very critical of them for not taking the initiative to resolve the Sri Lankan Tamil question.

This is one of the major reasons why Modi is not only unpopular amongst Muslims but generally among Tamils in Tamil Nadu.

I hope that Rais sees the larger picture in the US and India before jumping to the premature conclusion of how autocratic leaders are more and more resembling Adolf Hitler.

P RAMASAMY is Perai assemblyperson, deputy chief minister (II) of Penang.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.