Prof. Ravinder Chadha
After successfully launching debates on the issues of corruption and price rise in 2013-14, intolerance in 2015, now the media, especially electronic media has set its tone over the debate on sort of Nationalism propagated by the ruling B.J.P, which congress and other opposition parties call as Jingoistic Nationalism. The debate is triggered with the statement of Home Minister ruling out outrightly any dialogue with the separatists in the J&K State, Govt claims to have meticulously secretly planned, result oriented long term policy to isolate the so-called stake holders (separatists with the support of Pakistan) & make them irrelevant. Whether his claims to set the security contours in Kashmir, N.E states, Naxalism in order by eliminating terrorism of all sorts, succeed or not will be counted by the time factor. Opposition criticizes this approach of Government towards Kashmir, shielding of cow protectionists and tackling issue of Rhingo migrants equating it witch Jingoistic Nationalism.
More smoke than light has been generated by the recent remedial actions announced by the Govt to resolve problems of escalating unemployment, price rise, black money, corruption etc, but it still manages to enjoy common man and media support.
This is what is baffling Congress pandits and strategists contemplating over its continuous descending graph and how to reverse the stream. Let me suggest to ponder over certain points for the manifestation of the crisis. Their formula of criticising Govt and create an atmosphere of anti incumbency will not materialise unless until these cogitable minds try to unfold the root cause-why people are giving their silent approval to this type of nationalism?
Firstly, the decline in public esteem and credibility is not spontaneous. The people of India adopted congress as mother political party, but the commanders of the party influenced by the British brain preferred to carry forward Britishers legacy of divide and rule for garnering votes – rather than integrating India through true social harmony. Leaders forgot that appeasement and exploitation have never been a long term phenomenon as these cause heart burning, resentment and disenchantment among other sections of the society resulting in silent resolution in democracy which not only oust the Govt but discord it completely as is evident from Congress graph from largest party to 44. The reactionary youth are turning towards jingoistic nationalism much with the approval of majority is the outcome of the silent revolution. Secondly why stalwarts of congress yielded to the adamant view of one or few persons and voted against uniform civil code? India is the only country where sanctity of the constitution is distorted to appease the minority to secure its vote bank. Congress presumed it as master stroke but now it has boomranged. Thirdly it carries no sense that the country that believes in non-violence and truthfulness opts for tiger, the ferocious and cunning animal as the national animal. Had it opted the cow, the most revered animal among all communities, as national animal, the question of cow protectionists would not have surfaced on the national scene. Fourthly, the infiltration of Bangladeshi refugees at the time of its independence may make some sense, but granting them clandestinely fake Indian national status in connivance with communists to ensure their victories in West Bengal and Assam amounted to a crime. Not only that their callous and casual attitude towards infiltration continued till their last Govt without caring for security scenario of the country. In the process, certain reactionaries in these state have also taken arms in their hands to counter them.
Certain fugitives also sneaked into this side in the garb of refugees, their involvement in terrorist activities have been proved beyond doubt. In the process youth organisation in these states have also taken arms to counter them.
Fifthly, the main aim of introducing reservation, as enshrined in the constitution as desired by Dr B.R. Ambedkar was to bring dalits in the national mainstream, but congress utilised this opportunity for grabbing votes by simply continuing with it, thus making it powerful medium of garnering votes, which no party could oppose for the fear of losing votes, without bothering for the dilution in quality in service class. Besides, bureaucrats and elites among dalits, who derive wholesome benefits of policy at the cost of deserving poor lot, are misleading and extending latent support in favor of continuance of scheme. This has led to the formation of more caste-ridden rather than caste free society. Emulating congress, many political parties like BSP, Samajwadi, R.J.D etc, claiming to be the real champions of dalits and minorities, have appeared on the national scene and caused severe damage to the congress vote bank resulting into the victory of B.J.P under the solid premiership of Narindra Modi.
This is reflective of slow and gradual alienation of public from congress because of above mentioned policies, knowingly that jingoistic nationalism has no space in mature democracies, still it is getting support, may be temporary, because people have not yet excused congress for its blunders. In fact, congress involving itself in these debates means getting itself into media trap. Better it should revisit and redefine its policies as regards to true nationalism without exploiting communal or caste ridden feelings or opposing govt policies for the sake of opposition to establish its lost credibility in the public.
(The author is former HoD (Deptt of Chemistry GCW Parade)
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