BJP should understand the meaning of Karnataka’s defeat

All the political analysts are analyzing the defeat of BJP and the victory of Congress in Karnataka elections in their own way. Some are telling it the victory of local issues over national issues while some are telling the root cause of corruption prevailing in the previous government. As always, the pseudo-secularist faction is terming it as the victory of unity and brotherhood over the politics of communalism and polarization. Whether it is victory or defeat of BJP, this faction always chants this tune. If the BJP wins, it is a victory of polarization and communal mobilization and if it loses, it is a defeat of politics of communalism, polarization and hatred. These pseudo-secularist analysts are master players of such facilitative, simplistic and one-sided analysis. On the other hand, they cleverly ignore the blatant appeasement by the Congress and other regional parties. Talking about banning Bajrang Dal in this election held in Karnataka also, the Congress played the game of minority appeasement and got huge benefits from it. It went too far when he compared Bajrang Dal with a Jihadi organization like PFI. This had a direct impact on the minority voters who rallied and voted in favor of the Congress even in areas traditionally dominated by the JDS. Collective and strategic transfer of five percent less votes to JDS and five percent more votes to Congress clearly explains the policy and intention of the minorities. For the purpose of garnering the votes of the minorities, the Congress had also openly supported the Hijab movement, against which progressive women from Iran and all over the world who believe in justice and equality are still fighting. The Congress has been projecting Tipu Sultan, during whose reign a large number of minorities were massacred, as a hero. Actually, the meaning of secularism in Indian politics is the widespread appeasement of minorities. Strange decisions are taken in the name of secularism. Secularism in Indian politics is like that Gangotri, after taking a dip in which not only all the sins of the political parties and leaders are washed away, but also the electoral calamity is crossed. Even after bearing the brunt of partition, migration, persecution, conversion and appeasement etc., this country has become a paradigm of liberalism and progressiveness, by joining the tune of so-called secularism. The political parties, leaders and so-called intellectuals, who keep on talking about secularism, ignore the fact that if the basic character of India is secular and pluralistic, then the majority of this country has contributed the most to it. Seeing the day-to-day riots, terror-nuisance etc. in different parts of the country, this question is often found floating in the public discussion that whether India’s secular nature will be able to remain and survive after the demographic balance deteriorates? Why do the people who beat the one-sided drum of secularism do not want to bring the names of Kairana, Kerala, Kashmir and Bengal on their tongue even by mistake? Is it the responsibility of the majority to maintain and protect secularism or is it a shared responsibility of all classes?

The BJP was known to be an exception to this in Indian politics. Development, good governance, all-inclusive Hindutva and nationalism have been its basic identity. Party bigger than individual and country bigger than party has been his announcement. Justice for all, but appeasement of no one – has been its culture. All-round development, equal treatment and the rule of law have been its stated goals, but since last year’s National Executive meeting, the BJP is making all efforts to woo the minorities, especially the Muslims. From this point of view, he not only formally organized Sufi Samvad Maha Abhiyan, Sneha-Yatra etc. among Muslim communities, but also organized many attractive programs to bring together Bohra, Barelvi, Shia and recently Pasmanda Muslims and publicized them extensively. Did it too. In place of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas’, the talk of ‘satisfaction’ and ‘satisfaction’ started being spoken loudly. The natural and traditional voters and workers of the BJP did not like this change of pace. His return attitude let him down, which cost him in the form of a defeat in Karnataka. It is because of this changed attitude of the BJP that the statement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last phase of the election – Congress wants to lock up Bajrang Bali after Ramlala also had no major impact.

In fact, today’s voter does not like roundabout and double talk at all. It needs a leader who is very clear in his policy and intention and firm in his intentions. The election-by-election success of Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh and Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam says a lot. The central leadership of BJP should understand the essence and message contained in that success well in time, otherwise the path to victory in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will not be easy for it.

(The author is an educationist and founder of a social organization named ‘Shiksha Sopan’) Courtesy: Dai.J.
, Pranay Kumar