New Delhi is once again a fortress. Already there are 14 security zones, 4,000 cops, 200 cameras
Authorities gear up for INDI-alliance bloc rally venue Ram Lilla Ground preceded by a march. Let's take the clock back and try to get at the root of the issue. SIR - the constitutionally empowered process under Election Commission is not the issue.
Even Gyanesh Kumar is not the 'real issue nor target'. Starting from 2002 .... post-Godhra mayhem; the BJP's stunning triumph after the riots and the 2026 political protests and rallies - was clearly down to one man - named Narendra Modi.
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| Modi and APJ Abdul Kalam - President's maiden visit to Gujarat after riots |
The opposition parties' grievances are directly linked to one man and his governance and politics. Without him around in power and in an 'assertive stage'; none of these protests would have been around.
After the riots when the Modi-led BJP won the polls in December 2002; it was generally given to understand that not even the prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee or his deputy L K Advani (Namo's mentor) had quite expected the scale of the Lotus party's landslide win.
Singing and campaigning around Hindutva slogans; the ruling party in Gujarat and in the centre (under a much sober leadership) romped home with 126 seats in the new 182-seat assembly.
The opposition Congress party - that went to polls trying to offer a softer Hindutva image under Shankersinh Vaghela - was virtually wiped out, winning only 51 seats.
Some of the phrases being heard these days such as "majoritarian communalism" were at play way back in 2002. Long before perhaps Gyanesh Kumar, IAS, thought he would be India's CEC -- the chief election manager.
How the polls of 2002 went on --- The Sickular media and wester experts were convinced that the BJP's electoral strategy was "shameful and fascist".
** No doubt, Modi's main campaign theme centred on "Muslim terrorism in neighbouring Islamic Pakistan" and the target was Mia Musharraf.
*** Many said - Gujarat state's Muslim minority, who accounted for about 9% of the population, maybe formed to 'consider' leaving Gujarat or even India for Pakistan.
While Modi did not apologize for the mayhem; it was constantly alleged that the chief minister's administration including cops were complicit in the ati-Muslim carnage.
More importantly; Modi atually had 'seized' a political opportunity.
And hence the aggressive and assertive platform of 'Hindutva' - practically meant chauvinist Hindu supremacism.
On the other hand, the Congress did not realise even Vajpayee had suggested the need to analyse whether Modi's populist rightwing tactics - a right mix of welfare measures and Hindutva-inspired nationalism could be repeated elsewhere. Come to 2026 -- the experiment showed positive dividends to the saffron camp in West Bengal - a long time communist and even the alleged Jehadi bastion.
See - what Rahul Gandhi said on Oct 31, 2026 ---
"We are not going to let you escape. I also want to address the people who have carried out this assault on the Union of India. Gyanesh Kumar is just one element...".
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| Sonia Gandhi in one of those Gujarat visits - 2002 |
Long back, 'The Hindu' newspaper in Dec 2002 -- had said ::::
"What the BJP has harvested now are the fruits of hate, which it chose to spread assiduously and aggressively in pursuance of its agenda of majoritarian communalism. The poll verdict is not merely unfortunate, but extremely ominous for the country's future as a truly secular and pluralist polity and, therefore, a matter of grave concern for the millions of people".
The moot question is not that much has changed in last 24 years -- the real diagnosis why it did not change.
The Opposition is clueless on how to handle the real challenge thrown by Modi.
They only look at Modi in power and then the vision gets blurred. His governance - firstly corruption free 12-13 years - and the ability to deal with the myriad socio-political and geo-political challenges are not appreciated by them.
Hence, they are unable to do the objective criticism. Attacking everything about Modi's government has made them only a symbol of ridicule.
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| Vajpayee addressing Shah Alam relief camp - 2002 |
Obviously after repeated election loss and no sign of organisation built up including cadres-filled Left parties; India's opposition parties now need to get their act together. The mock parliament or public censure of Gyanesh Kumar and the Nov 1 rally are not quite the right way. In fact, the AAP and Congress have done one thing in Delhi -- they have left the trading community aggrieved during the best period of their business season in the run up to Diwali.
Nov 1 -- also reminds Sikh voters - of 1984 when anti-Sikh carnage had brought in immense personal and the community tragedy.
Other lessons not learnt :: The Modi-style 'Hindu revivalism' punctuating with development have been actually repeated across India in states such as West Bengal. People have responded too.
** A 'depressing omen' for Congress has been its gross failure to try to fight it out in West Bengal. In Assam; it lost a key Muslim-stronghold Nagaon parliamentary seat and among 19 MLAs it has in the north east - 18 of them are Muslims. In MLC polls just held, it scored a zero and here the voting was cast on ballot papers. The Congress party sought to appease Muslim voters even on the issue of Vande Mataram song - which was actually a Congress slogan and symbol of fight against the British.
We may hence - try to get a deeper analysis of a declaration that as long as there is Pakistan there will be relevance for RSS and as long as Congress continues with its Muslim and even Christian appeasement card; both the BJP and the so-called 'Hindu fundamentalism' will persist.
When the problem is more fundamental - one needs to clean up the drainage system in the locality; not look for new brands of anti-mosquito sprays and options.
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| Blogger |
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