Modi is famous for being loathsomely righteous in the name of Hindutva, but this time he exceeded his own high standards by showing the world — as the sword-waving Sikhs did — that secular India is no different from the worst kind of Islamic state. The annoying thing about the loathsomely righteous is also that they are usually stupid, so they demanded a ban on Fanaa because Aamir Khan commiserated with Medha Patkar when she fasted against the Narmada Dam.

If they had been more intelligent they would have noticed that if there was reason to demand a ban it should have been because the film’s hero is a terrorist who steals a nuclear device from the Indian army. With Parzania they failed to notice that the film lied about Godhra.

The only way to stop being held to ransom by people who should not have any right in a secular country to occupy the public space is for the state to ensure that religion remains a private affair. When sword-waving Sikhs take to the streets, they should be arrested, as should fatwa-issuing maulvis and hate-spewing Hindu fanatics. They violate the secular principles on which India is built and if that is not an offence I do not know what is.