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| Focus on Ghar sudhar, not Ghar wapsi | | Straight talk | 
By K B Jandial
BJP suffered unexpected stunning defeat in Delhi election and its spokespersons seen busy in protecting Modi- Shah Combo from the blame that reminds one of Congress culture of insulating its first family from any such blame. Accepting the defeat with humility by Modi would have created a new narrative in the fast changing political landscape marked by the non-dynastic era that would have silenced the critics within and outside the party. Kerjriwal’s apology on quitting as CM after 49 days was one of the factors of his reconnect with the people and the outcome is before the nation.
Even as the BJP has yet to do its ‘manthan’ on the power brakes applied on its “vijay- rath” a perception has gained ground - Modi is no longer invincible. Politics is all about perception. This has at least cheered up the Congress which is not worried on its failure to open its account in the national capital, perhaps for the first time, but is taking solace at rejection of Modi. AAP which is benefited by congress, dalit and Muslim votes may one day replace the grand old party if course correction is not done urgently.
Causes for near total rout of BJP could be many. These range from the negative and distasteful campaign to its growing arrogance to para-dropping of outsiders to projecting as CM candidate the celebrated police woman Kiran Bedi who was politically novice. Dissension within the party made BJP campaign lackluster as compared to the tumultuous campaign of AAP. All parties ganged up against BJP that converted the election into bipolar which proved fatal for it. Riding on high expectations, Modi’s speeches are losing charm with the public being stereotyped. The gap between the promises and deliveries on the ground is widening during the last nine months. He maintained public silence on controversial utterances of party’s fringe leaders. Silence is not always a golden rule and the Delhi outcome confirms it.
The uncharitable public utterances of some of the BJP fringe leaders like “ramzade & haramzade”, “Hindu woman must give birth to at least four children “and unchecked attacks on churches and Christian school in Delhi in last three months too had its toll on BJP. Vociferous campaign on “ghar-wapsi” after misfired “love-jihad” has made BJP vulnerable to criticism even though BJP spokespersons tried hard to justify on legal grounds return of the “former” Hindus to their original fold on their “freewill” who were claimed to have converted on consideration of monetary and educational incentives. But the criticism continued unabated.
The talk of “Ramzade and Haramzade” by no less than a Union Minister of State (Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti) is too communally inflammatory, mean-spirited and distasteful to be accepted by the society. The opposition, which for quite some time had been manufacturing issues, suddenly got a real one to embarrass Modi Government and also make political capital. The top BJP leadership was conscious of the fact that in one single stroke Sadhvi’s ‘Ramzade -Haramzade' remark had derailed its development plank and had brought back an abusive, socially regressive and politically disastrous discourse to the fore. Modi who is trying hard to keep his discourse focused on development, did not make any public comment on the issue even though he is reportedly disapproved such behavior in the meeting of Parliamentary Board.
Who among the sensible Hindu would follow Sakshi Maharaj’s diktat of producing at least four children? Are the people (Hindus) interested in outnumbering other religions by increasing population or look for better conditions for healthy and economic wellbeing of the family, possible only by restricting its size? Now, when even the Muslims (enlightened ones) are becoming conscious of the advantage of a small family for healthy upbringing of the children advice to the contrary to Hindus is stupid and unacceptable.
After its love-jihad-centric poll campaign led by Yogi Adityanath had disastrous consequences in assembly by-polls in UP, the BJP did make a course correction and shunned all such elements and made its leaders refrain from using abusive and divisive terms. It yielded good results in Haryana and Maharashtra. This is followed by the campaign for “Ghar-wapsi” which is nothing but religious “ aya ram & gaya ram”. Attacks on churches and Christian school too remained un- condemnable for long.
It is said that an essential skill for being a successful head of government is to manage the troublemakers in your own party. Modi’s public silence created an impression that either these utterances are part of the strategy to polarize situation for electoral benefit or he is failing to curb the unruly and fanatic elements. Amidst stories of mass conversions ( home coming) a Marathi language newspaper reported that “Modi has threatened to resign if RSS and others (including at least one minister) do not curb their extreme rhetoric”. This was followed at least two other warnings to MPs not to speak out of turn and not to stir up communal issues. Modi probably did not mean to resign, if he ever said it – surely he is not the resigning type! But the story, which has spread across the media, served as a warning to the BJP-RSS family, who know well that they are in Government only because of Modi. These reports were neither denied nor confirmed but his last week speech in Christian function at Delhi did some plain speaking at a Christian function reassuring minorities about freedom of professing a religion of their choice.
It is also not sure whether RSS is actually pursuing it as its agenda or it is handiwork of some overenthusiastic fringe fanatic elements speaking out of turn. Howsoever politically maligned RSS may be, it is a fact that RSS is a charitable, educational, volunteer Hindu nationalist NGO (said to be the world's largest voluntary NGO) devoted to the ideology of selfless service to India. Basically, it was founded as a social organization to provide character training through Hindu discipline, to unite the Hindu community in overcoming caste based divisions besides countering British colonialism in India.
It is indeed creditable that RSS advocates the training of Dalits and members of other backward classes as temple high priests on the premise that the social divisiveness would be responsible for the lack of adherence to Hindu values and traditions. Reaching out to the lower castes in this manner would be a remedy to the problem.
Not many are aware that both Mahatma Gandhi and Bhimrao Ambedkar during their separate visits to RSS camp in 1934 and 1939 respectively were impressed by the discipline and the absence of untouchability in its cadre. When Ambedkar asked Hedgewar, founder of RSS whether there were any untouchables in the camp, he replied that there are neither "touchables" nor "untouchables" but only Hindus.
With increasing talk of “forced” conversions and “ghar-wapsi”, a question arises why there is focus more on bringing back those who had left Hinduism either willingly or under coercion or even for any consideration rather than on preventing further conversion. It is because of ills and neglect that they might have gone to the other faith in which they are made to see better pasture. RSS with its pronounced laudable ideals should bring about ‘sudhar’ in Hindu society to which it is solely committed and make their lives comfortable and respectful in a more congenial social order. If things are really good in the religion and get equal respect why should anyone desert the original faith. In fact, people’s faith in the religious traditions and values needs to be strengthened. The areas of “sudhar” that need RSS and VHP greater focus include increasing trend of female infanticide ( J&K has the dubious distinction of having lowest sex ration) child marriages, dowry, extravagance in marriages, domestic violence, inequality, sexual exploitation of women, girl educations, casteism etc.
It is not that RSS is unaware of it. Even though blaming on Islam and Christianity for engineering conversions, RSS is willing to accept that certain ills in Hindu society were also responsible for propelling people to go for conversions.
"I do not deny that conversions had also taken place on account of ills in Hindu society and that is why we are emphasizing upon the need to reform ourselves", Mohan Bhagwat said in Lucknow after conclusion of the three-day conclave. Bhagwat said, "our objective is to call upon masses to sink differences of caste, sect, religion as well as of political affiliations in the larger interest of building social harmony and goodwill. Unless Hindu society rids itself of its ills, we cannot set a good example for those belonging to other faiths”. Quite candid and encouraging words! Let’s follow these in letter and spirit that would benefit all.
(The writer is former Secretary information, health, transport, CAPD departments and a member of Public Service Commission,feedback: [email protected])
(Opinions expressed in write-ups/articles/Letters are the sole responsibility of the authors and they may not represent the Scoop News)
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