DR. S. AUSAF SAIED VASFI analyses BJP president Nitin Gadkari’s strategic moves unveiled during his presidential address at the party’s 3-day session at Indore.
Can a leopard change its spots? Can the Saffron and its allies give up Hindutva, in which its top leadership envisions Saffron’s survival? Before dealing with the subject, let us focus on what was the thinking of the BJP’s new president at the party’s National Council which concluded its 3-day session at Indore on February 18.
In the light of Mr. Nitin Gadkari’s presidential address, the political arm of the RSS has “almost realised” the futility of anymore using the Ram Mandir plank as a tool to gain popularity or votes.
EXPLANATION
The explanation of has “almost realised” is the language of the address itself and the fact that the temple issue was referred to, perhaps as a post-script at the end of the hour-long, 24-page speech. To quote Mr. Gadkari: “If I do not mention it, I will be accused of reneging on the party’s core issue. The matter is sub judice, so I would not like to say much. But the ongoing research shows that there existed a Ram Temple at the Ayodhya site. Ram is a symbol of our cultural nationalism, as also our heritage. I appeal to my Muslim brethren to give us the small stretch of land there so as to enable us to build a Ram Temple. This would mark a new chapter ‘in Hindu-Muslim amity’. We would help our brethren from the Muslim community to build a grand Mosque at some other place.”
It is fair to recall that it was Mr. L.K. Advani, who had through a resolution propounded the Hindutva philosophy, originally enunciated by the late Mr. Savarkar. The former Deputy Prime Minister had brought it out at the Palanpur jamboree in 1989. He loved, and loves, to call it a “movement”. But the new BJP president appears to be signalling a distance from the emotive issue which has ceased to attract audience. The failure of the BJP in the last two general elections is a case in point. Till date, the approach of the RSS handle has been bellicose – come what may, the magnificent Ram Temple will be built right at the sanctum sanctorum of the Babri Masjid. The new, the younger chief has preferred to “appeal” to the Muslim community to help him build the temple.
Amidst the talk of Pakistan-oriented terror, equally significant is the absence of any mention of Article 370, which ensures protection to the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Gadkari, who has been planted by the RSS in the BJP, is ready to fight the Congress at what it considers its home-turf and appeared to be interested in the uplift of the poor and the downtrodden of the country. Before coming to the conclave, the BJP president had supped with a Dalit activist of the BJP. He denied it was for photo-session.
3 WORDS
The words repeated in his speech were antodaya (welfare of the poorest), samajik samrasta (social equality), and vikas (development forward). He referred to the difficulties and pain of the unorganised sector and the poor and mentioned the agony of the suicides. He asked the Saffron activists to go to the villages which, he was sure, will ensure the growth of the BJP. He felt this strategy would result in 10% growth of the party if the Dalits were also brought under focus. To quote him: we need to have the SCs, STs, minorities and hawkers on our side. He also made an impassioned plea to wipe out casteism and untouchability.
The man from Maharashtra had a message for his cadre also: stop squabbling and sniping and douse the flames of mutual animosity.
Mr. Gadkari was all praise for Ms Sushma Swaraj, Mr. Arun Jaitley and Mr. Narendra Modi, who according to his estimate, has set up a model State in Bharat.
From the Muslim point of view, Mr. Nitin Gadkari’s promotion from RSS may prove a significant step in the history of the Saffron. Suave and soft-spoken that he is, the plural nation expected from Mr. Gadkari to apply breaks on the various Saffron oriented efforts at the digital divide of the heterogeneous society. At the earlier stages there was a gulf between the Hindus and Muslims; now, sadly enough, the gulf has taken a shape of hiatus. Does the RSS not see it as dangerous?
A section of the Hindu brethren voting for the Hindutva leaders may be profitable to the party at the hustings. But where will this mindset rather policy take the nation to?
Mr Gadkari was also expected to raise his powerful voice against the selective targeting of the Muslim youth in the background of Pakistan-backed terror.
Mr Gadkari’s emphasis upon welfare of the poor, social equality and development is welcome; is welcome also his advice to the BJP cadre not to touch the feet of leaders, as it smacks of sycophancy.
But, we presume, the difficulties and limitations of the principal minority of the country have not been taken into account by him. We are not in a position to accept his “exchange” offer as far as the Babri Masjid is concerned. Babri Masjid is a Masjid, a House of God. Its location is not negotiable.
MODEL MAN?
As regards the eulogy of Mr. Narendra Modi and his presentation as a model, it failed to go down the throat of the Muslim community. Does Mr. Gadkari not know that the hands of the accused, Mr. Modi, are drenched in Muslim blood, spilled in a planned manner? His admirers have been charged with rape and plunder. Until and unless the Supreme Court gives him and his minions a clean chit, Muslims are not prepared to review their opinion.
As an ideological community, it is disheartening for the Muslim leadership that the new BJP chief did not speak a word on the moral slide, on the ever-swelling ranks of the worshippers of Mamon, on the rampant greed and lust for power. The BJP dreams or day-dreams of overwhelming the entire country. For that, has the BJP guts to show catholicity and large-heartedness?
In the end, we are afraid, the new BJP chief gave the nation a glimpse of the stuff he is really made of. He sang a song and regaled his audience with: Zindagi kaisi hai paheli, kabhi toh hasae kabhi yeh rulae.