MOHAMMAD NAUSHAD KHAN takes stock of the present political scenario in the country and points out that in the upcoming Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh polarisation might become a synonym for election.
Nowadays when we just think of election, the first thing that catches our imagination is polarisation. Even before election dates are announced, parties pull up their socks, candidates are named, manifestoes written, alliances formed, strategies chalked out and posters ordered, incidents aimed at polarisation become remind us of forthcoming elections in the state. The same is now happening in Uttar Pradesh.
We have witnessed it before Bihar elections as well as recently concluded assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Puducherry, Kerala, and Assam, and we are now getting that sense much before election fever will grip Uttar Pradesh.
Pawan Khera in his article, “How the Jote Jolted BJP,” published in The Indian Express on June 1 has rightly pointed out that BJP has been following the simple strategy: “Polarise the voter, confuse the Muslim and consolidate Hindus. It is the same strategy that was in play in Maharashtra, Bihar, Assam and in Uttar Pradesh.” In all the elections held in recent past the biggest emphasis had been on dividing the people and polarising one community against the other or polarising all communities against one community, creating social and political boundaries within boundaries.
Many would not agree that polarisation has become a synonym for election but it is a fact that the word polarisation remains in our subconscious mind whenever we think of elections. Why is it so? Why the words development, peace and prosperity hardly dominate our minds as strongly as fear of polarisation and who is responsible for that? When will India get rid of manufactured conspiracies leading to inciting violence and hatred aimed at polarisation? As we all know, economic globalisation has reduced economic and financial barriers but can we think of social globalisation based on humanity aimed at reducing intolerance, hatred and prejudice.
After recent assembly elections in five states, BJP has now turned its focus on Uttar Pradesh. In this regard a programme has been chalked out in Ayodhya from June 10 to revive Ram Mandir issue once again along with celebration programme marking the two years of the NDA Government at the Centre. In the meantime, talks are on in the political circles that the Sangh has favoured Mahesh Sharma and BJP MP Yogi Adityanath. It implies that there could be aggressive Hindutva and that could be one of the reasons why the Sangh is keenly interested in hard-line BJP face in UP polls.
Many believe that the statement made by Mahesh Sharma that Ram Mandir will not be an issue in UP polls is totally confusing because everyone is aware of his stand on the issue. The irony is that on one hand the BJP is saying no to Ram mandir issue but on the other doing everything in its capacity to polarise the sentiments of the people in Uttar Pradesh and the latest example is of slugfest in between BJP and the Samajwadi Party on the twist in Dadri incident. The new twist in Dadri incident is just like digging out an issue for fanning communal sentiment to polarise most of the community against particular community.
A report issued by a forensic lab in Mathura very recently has claimed that the meat sample recovered from the spot is of a cow or its progeny, though not collected from the house of the victim Akhlaq. Exploiting this report, the BJP has raised the issue and has demanded action against Akhlaq’s family. While reacting to the issue, the family of Akhlaq has said that we are not aware as from where the sample was taken and we all know that earlier report said it was mutton. How can the same sample have two different findings? Who are trying to play with the sentiments of the people in Dadri in particular and the rest in the state in general?
“The meat was not even found from Akhlaq’s house,” DGP Jawed Ahmed had said last month. It was found lying in a container or a dustbin at an intersection near the house in the village. The police have statements of some locals confirming this. The police investigation is about a man being attacked and killed in his house. (Indian Express, May 31). Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav has questioned the authenticity of the new findings on Dadri incident. He made it clear that nothing objectionable was found from Akhlaq’s house. The Chief Minister has also asked where was the sample sent and who had received it. Yadav said the fact of the matter is that Akhlaq’s family should get justice. The local people in Ddari do not want to be caught in crossfire and become victim of any kind of political conspiracy in between political parties. Some of them have even expressed that we don’t like to discuss the latest report because we don’t want to open our old wounds. We feel sorry for what happened here last time.
Many people believe that BJP is trying to keep the momentum of win in Assam and trying to exploit the situation here in Uttar Pradesh in anticipation that it was Hindutva agenda that helped the party to win Assam election. But Sanjib Baruah, in his article in the India Express on 2 June, has rightly pointed out that BJP’s win in Assam was not so much a consequence of Hindutva. It resulted from a consolidation, across fault lines, on the issue of citizenship.
It is hereby important for the people of Uttar Pradesh to remain cautious against any kind of political conspiracy by any political parties aimed at creating hatred and dividing societies on manufactured issues driven by political compulsion and greed. If we fail to do that, polarisation will definitely become a synonym for election one day.