BJP Agenda is Regression, Not Growth Posted by: Navhind Times <http://www.navhindtimes.in/author/user/>in Opinion <http://www.navhindtimes.in/category/opinion/> *BY PRABHAKAR TIMBLE*
It is getting apparent and patent day by day that the ‘temple’ party which repositioned itself under the slogan of development and “sabka vikas” is moving backward and is gearing to take the Indian Hindus to the discriminatory, regressive and traditional past rather than an equitable, progressive and scientific future. The six months of political ‘parivartan’ made possible due to the pull of Hindu mobilisation by “hindutva” forces and the push provided by the emerging middle class putting the eggs of their aspirations in the Narendra Modi-led BJP incubator could end making both the social segments worse off than before. The freedom-loving Indian Hindus and the beneficiaries of the guarantees provided by the Indian democracy could well be in the trap losing their freedom and creativity under the onslaught of the right-wing ‘hindutva’ brigade. Six months of the new dispensation have not brought new ideas on the table. On the other hand, India’s past is becoming the agenda of India’s future. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the saffronites are in a haste to convert their communal agenda into an action plan under the cover of development and nationalism. It is true that one cannot judge the performance of any government in such a short time. However, the initial footsteps of the NDA government do not show that they are in the direction of growth and development. The play on the drums of Hindu, Hinduism, Hindusthan has been given top priority. This is followed by slowly dismantling the idea of composite India by pulling curtains on the rich, secular and tolerant heritage. The process of decimation of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Babasaheb Ambedkar which was within the confines of RSS properties has been brought to the national stage. The footprints that the BJP wants to leave will prove detrimental to the Indian Hindus and the middle class as the fundamentalist elements of the Hindu society take control to monitor the knobs of education, human resource development, history, culture and internal law and order. Liberal economics, intolerant and hate politics and regressive social frames seem to be the agenda of the BJP government. Nathuram, Gita and Ghar-vapasi Nathuram Godse, a right-wing activist who shot the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi thrice in the chest at point-blank range, is being eulogized by hosting a ‘Shaurya Diwas’ in Maharashtra by Bajrang Dal, an affectionate branch of the RSS tree. A BJP lawmaker Sakshi Maharaj says, “Nathuram Godse was a patriot just as Mahatma Gandhi was. I believe Nathuram Godse was also a nationalist.” Granting that each individual has the freedom of choice and expression, these incidents though look small and stray, indicate the intolerance and hate penetration of the right-wing forces. We are fortunate that the BJP law maker did not demand that the day of assassination of Mahatma Gandhi be observed as ‘Patriotism Day.’ We are told there was a move to declare the ‘Christmas Day’ as a ‘Good Governance Day’ and there were failed attempts to make a small beginning in this direction by roping in school students and educational institutions. These are indicators of the new, polluted and corrosive thinking. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj wants the nation to accept that the “Bhagwad Gita has answers to everybody’s problems and that is why the Bhagwad Gita should be declared as a Rashtriya Granth (holy scripture).” In reality, the Gita is not the supreme scripture. All schools of thought of the Hindu religion don’t accept it. It is one of the many texts available. There are many interpretations of this scripture and there are many additions and alterations made to the Gita. Such outbursts show the ideological and cultural agenda of the government and it cannot be dispensed as the wish-list of an individual. If at all, anything is a national scripture for a democratic government, it has to be the Indian Constitution. The issue of reconversion or ‘ghar wapasi’ at Agra and Aligarh will keep the nation on the boil. Undoubtedly, freedom of religion includes the right of choice of religion. Missionaries of all religions are associated in facilitating conversions. The issue creates social tensions when political forces play a clandestine role. Think twice, watch out All the above has absolutely no link with ‘vikas’ (development) and national pride. But, issues such as the above are now pushed forward by the right-wing organisations as the climate is considered ripe for the “hidden” agenda. The way the matters are being allowed to erupt and handled shows presence of political patronage. I do not wish to conclude these as threats to India’s secular democratic fabric. This is too trivial and this track is overbeaten. The threat of such fanatic elements is more to the majority Hindu community rather than the minorities. If such elements in the BJP win such social battles and political wars, the Hindus (majority community) and the middle class become vulnerable. The agenda of fundamentalist elements is clear. They want Hindus to surrender their freedom of choice, speech, expression, movement and democratic liberties to such fanatic patriots and nationalists. The lips speak of development; the mind is set on keeping Hindus in bondage. Hindus of India, beware.
