Vijay Hashia
With the LS election gathering momentum, new vows wooing electorate are making rounds. The medley of anger against opponents, libelous speeches, accusation and counter accusations keep drooling outward. Vote bank politics is once again undermining the spirit of voters. Partisan politics has hit back and forth, secularism is once again on the edge, wobbling and overshadowing the long term vision, the vision of corruption and poverty free India. Its principle enshrined in the constitution, is being undermined.
The country’s present economic scenario reveals that the unemployment rate has increased; GDP shows receding trends as compared to the previous records. Jobs are in dearth. Eighty lakhs compete college education every year. Seventy lakhs are on the streets for jobs. They flaunter job markets, but in vein. Industrial growth has paralyzed. Efforts of Government at the fag end to revive economy are marred by policy paralysis. The reason ascribed is slow investment, weak industrial activity, poor labour laws and bureaucratic hurdles. FDI did not click because of strong resistance from the opposition parties. Corruption, eradication of poverty and revival of economy are seemingly unimportant issues because we are still fighting to protect secularism.
The first three general elections of independent India were dominated by INC. Congress in despotism and opposition virtually reduced to no voice. The cracks as Muslim vote bank developed when voters were wooed on region, caste and communal lines in 1967. Again they turned their backs against Indira Gandhi in 1977 for sterilization programme during emergency. While Charan Singh, in 1980 amassed support of Jats, Gujjars and Rajputs, the Congress relied on the support of Brahmins, Dalits and Muslims. It followed V P Singh’s Mandal mantra. The sectarian politics for largesse to quid-pro-quo deals continued. Come the elections and meets the clergy, priest or a spiritual guru who issues commands to his men to cast votes to a particular party.
While Congress is alleged to buckle under Imams for Muslim votes, BJP is said to be under the clout of spiritual gurus. Arya Samaj leader Swami Sumedhanand contesting from Sikar on BJP ticket, is seeking Baba Ramdev’s help to woo voter, Mahesh Giri from East Delhi on BJP ticket has blessings of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Both Baba Ramdev and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar are trying their spells over voters for Narender Modi.
Historically, Nehru’s commitment to maintaining secular credentials of the Indian state was impeccable. He was not practicing Hindu or Muslim but had a deep affinity for India’s culture, the richness of which he discovered. The agony of partition and the vulgar politics of the Muslim League were a direct challenge to the secular identity of India. Nehru’s secularism was a reflection of his idealism, a tendency to envision the world as he wanted it to be. Nehru became the most visible exponent of secular practice in India. His agnosticism and rationalism had no place for fundamentalism from sabotaging Indian politics. He did not buckle Imams, Sadhus or priests for votes. Indira Gandhi’s secular credentials were challenged post 1969 congress split. Charan Singh, V P Singh harped on Jat-Muslim votes. Rajiv Gandhi, fearing Muslim vote reprisal, bowed to the pressure of some Muslim leaders and enacted a law reversing the Supreme Court judgement in Shah Bano case and Narsimha Rao, scary of Hindu retaliation, did nothing to stop Ram Janamboomi riots. The present trend is again an effort, a paradigm shift from economic, unemployment and poverty issues to polarization of votes.
It is unfair to say that both Congress and BJP are truly secular. Previous records reveal that both parties have flared up communal riots to their interests. The RSS and the larger Sangh Parivar continue to serve as the BJP’s ideological mentor propagating ‘Akhand Bharat’ and ‘Ram Rajya’. Faction in BJP still sees the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya a project unfulfilled. Congress on the other hand incited 1984 anti Sikh riots. Both parties have cultivated communalism for potential vote bank. Other political parties have equally played to vote bank politics. Take the case of J&K state, where the political leaders accuse BJP for 2002 Godhara riots and Modi’s unapologetic stance but have no regrets for the exodus of people and destruction of temples in Kashmir. These are deemed only acts of vandalism in the course of terror spree.
The petty politics seems to again playing spoke in the wheel, whenever the electorate has to choose. When political parties fail to put positive agenda, the kind of politics played is to divide electorate on sectarian lines. Politicians are fully aware of voter’s psyche and weaknesses but an average rural may be not be of the theology of hatred propounded to divide and rule. You tutor people, plant seeds of bigotry, their imaginations are imprisoned to knock at narrow confines of parochialism. Secularism teeters on fragile volumes, for it is felt morally smug and politically correct.
Follow our WhatsApp channel