The ‘Hindutva brigade’may become Modi’s Achilles’ heel <http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/times-views>
March 18, 2015, 3:14 pm IST <http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/times-views>*Captain GR Gopinath* <http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/author/gr-gopinath/> in *Captain's Musings* <http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/captains-musings/> *|* India <http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/> *|* TOI Modi rode to power on his personal charisma and track record of good governance, focus on development as the chief minister of Gujarat and personal integrity without any taint of corruption, by overcoming overwhelming odds both from within and without. He was under investigation by the then adversarial ruling Congress intent on framing him to stem his rising popularity. He rose like a meteor despite incessant virulent attacks by media and NGOs for not doing enough to stop Gujarat riots and a few even accusing him of being complicit. He also had to subdue and conquer resistance from within his own party from entrenched old guard and dead wood and also ambitious rivals who did not match his political base or stature, but who opposed his candidature for PM.His sheer dynamism, overarching insight into the nature of politics and his astute sense to be able to read the mind and pulse of the electorate, a native genius for campaigning and communicating directly and through innovative social media, though unschooled in its fine art, paved the way for his roaring and inexorable success. There can be no two opinions that it was a vote for Modi and not BJP – whose track record in states like Karnataka was no better than Congress. And in other states the BJP did not distinguish itself from Congress. To use the words of Kejriwal,” There’s no difference between Congress and BJP.” Kejriwal was right. But Modi through his powerful and magnetic persona managed to capture the imagination of the country cutting across social and economic strata and captivated the educated youth and middle class and convinced them that he was their man, a beacon of hope for them and he was different from the rest and had the capability to lead India out of the morass it found itself in under Congress led UPA rule. It was undoubtedly Modi’s leadership as much as his style that helped BJP ride to power without the necessity of leaning on coalition partners to form a government. Modi made two major poll plank promises. Development and good governance – not one without the other. The first in fact can not happen without the second. His promise also had a corollary -* Sab ke saath, Sab ka Vikas*. He guaranteed solidarity with development for all, which explicitly implied development benefits and good governance for all regardless of caste or creed. He trumpeted that there was not a single riot in Gujarat in 14 years, after the first ‘Gujarat riots’ after he had barely taken over as the CM, compared to many other states which had witnessed repeated communal violence – which was a fact. He was accused of being authoritarian and intolerant of dissent. But that only worked in his favour rather than against him, viewed against the back drop of his predecessor Manmohan Singh, who was perceived generally as weak and controlled by the High Command. For a country and its people reeling under scams and scandals, and shaken by frequent riots and terrorist attacks as a consequence of feeble governance and venal politics, Modi’s promise of building a economically developed, militarily strong India touched a responsive chord and galvanised the indifferent and demoralised electorate into a strong tide in his favour. In fact ironically, Modi hijacked the Kejriwal led AAP agenda against corruption; and the electorate, especially the educated middle class and youth, switched loyalty in the last minute, preferring Modi with experience and promise of stability over Kejriwal who came across as inexperienced and anarchic for a national role in the parliament elections. Now, it will almost be a year since Modi was sworn as the Prime Minister. The right wing Hindu rabid groups of various shades of saffron ideology or so called fringe elements, who sprung up right after the swearing in ceremony of Modi and like loose canons have been firing salvos unsettling the minority communities and queering the pitch for Modi, and who have embarrassed him no end, are continuing to doing so brazenly and with impunity. It was initially thought, they were actually the ‘fringe’ not the mainstream. But many elected MPs of the BJP known for their zealotry joined the chorus and were vocal publicly, spewing venom against other communities some times and at other times asserting and calling for Hindu supremacy. The RSS, not a peripheral unit but the ideological fount for all outfits including the BJP, its political wing, also joined in sowing seeds of apprehension. People began to wonder if all this were a pattern and part of a larger strategic plan to consolidate Hindu votes before the state elections to strengthen the BJP hold on the states to be able to better deliver on its poll promises of development but covertly help fulfil the RSS agenda. Many felt that it was irrepressible initial euphoria of Modi’s elections and exuberance and was impossible to contain them and it would all soon die down once Modi was firmly in the saddle and his writ would run and the fanatics and rabble rousers would be silenced as Modi had demonstrated in Gujarat that he alone was the master in his state. He brooked no interference in his state when he was CM, as it would destabilise communal harmony and he knew as a result his pet agenda of development would suffer. He had then banished the *Togadias* and *Singhals* of the world. They all fell in line. However, through out the last ten months of the Modi rule in the Centre, the actions and outbursts of the Hindu bigots has been unabated. Attacks on churches, uncalled for and avoidable provocative and inflammatory statements against Christians and Muslims, assertion of ‘Hindu Nationalism’, conversions or reconversions under *Ghar Wapasi* programmes, have all caused heart burn and disquiet among not only minorities but even among the vast majority of others who do not belong to any radical groups but who voted for Modi despite reservations about BJP’s Hindu ideology or bad track record in governance in many BJP ruled states, plumping for Modi’s development and growth agenda accompanied by his promise of ‘ more governance and less government. ‘ An year is a long time in politics and it is time for Modi to assert himself without losing a minute and call the shots. He must rule and steer the country firmly by dealing with an iron fist not only against the Hindu outfits but Islamic fundamentalists and any other fanatical narrow minded religious groups or sects who can divide society. There’s no doubt that the left leaning liberals and ‘pseudo secularists’ both with in the Congress and other ‘secular’ regional parties who readily wear secularism on their sleeves, have been soft on Islamic fundamentalists, and their terrorist activities and have not bee forthright in strongly condemning the *Mullahs, Maulwis* and their *fatwas*. They have avoided castigating and at times even encouraged radical Muslim politicians like Owaisis with an eye on Muslim vote bank, thereby not only doing disservice to Indian Muslims at large but giving grounds to reactionary Hindu right wing groups to retaliate in justification to undo the ‘historic wrongs’. It is also well known, many evangelists and a few unscrupulous and jingoistic missionaries, have since a few hundred years lured tribals and Dalit communities with money and other inducements taking advantage of their backwardness and exploiting their poverty to convert them into Christianity. All these evils instead of opening the eyes of the majority Hindus to the underlying prejudices in Hindu society and curse of backwardness that makes the Dalits and poor, vulnerable to conversion, has whipped up passions to reconvert them without either community addressing the problems of their poverty and exclusion from mainstream of society. Modi has done a remarkable job in articulating India’s foreign policy and has show cased India as a vibrant democracy and a good destination for investment and a responsible country in the comity of nations, willing to play an active role in fighting terrorism, poverty and environmental degradation. His handling of India – US relations bilaterally as well strategically in the light of a global and an aggressive and expansionist China has been commendable. The recent Sri Lanka and Seychelles visit was equally impressive, enunciating the Indian view point firmly without being overbearing and opening up possibilities for enduring friendship through trade and commerce and cultural ties between both countries and containing China skilfully. But Modi is unaware that the reputation of India going by recent events as an increasingly intolerant nation trying to revive Hindu chauvinism and fears of veering away from a great culture of liberalism and pluralism and modern outlook with a scientific temper, precedes Modi’s foreign visit and even as he is touring those foreign shores, a dark shadow hovers about him casting doubts on the true picture back home, and raising misgivings among investors who are not sure if Modi’s actions will match his rhetoric and inspiring speeches. Modi is wavering still on full blooded reforms (take the case of retrospective taxes introduced by Pranab Mukherjee under UPA which could have been easily scrapped without going to parliament and the recent tax notice on Cairn Energy) as well as also dithering in controlling his own *Hindutva* outfits who are doing everything to countermand his sales pitch. The Hindu Brigade is working directly at cross purposes with Modi. Inability to deal justly, swiftly and ruthlessly against Hindu extremists will hamper and weaken Modi’s efforts in controlling hawkish Muslim politicians who are also political animals or quelling Pakistani sponsored *Jihadi* militants and destroying Islamic terrorists with zero tolerance. Modi’s focus will shift from good governance toward managing ideologues from two extremist ideologies and tackling terrorists who will take advantage of the communal disharmony. The attacks by Hindu bigots on other religious minorities like Christians has further complicated, compounded and vitiated the atmosphere and is counter productive to peace and the reforms agenda to attract investments and create a vibrant growth oriented economy. Development , growth and investment will happen only if and as long as there is peace, communal harmony and stability. Modi must resist the temptation to yield to advice from his core group of political advisors and other ideologues close to BJP, who may be pushing for imposing the primacy of *Hindutva* in Indian way of life as espoused by the ‘fringe groups’. Modi must hold his own counsel if he is being persuaded to allow the misadventures of the communal elements on the logic it will help consolidate Hindu votes in BJP’s favour. Modi will do well to remember that it was his credo of development and good governance, and his pledge that the Constitution of India will be his *scripture* and *holybook* that consolidated votes for him and brought him to power at the Centre. It was the dilution of that pledge and commitment and giving free rein to Hindu fundamentalists that lost him Delhi elections and cost him and BJP dearly and dented his aura of invincibility. If Modi does not pay heed and root out this evil of communalism, it may turn out to be his ‘Achilles’ Heel’ that may destroy his government and dash the hopes of the people who rooted for him for creating a well developed and prosperous India which is democratic, modern and vibrant with a tolerant, plural and liberal outlook. DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.
