Electoral Democracy or Hindutwa: Choice before BJP

Posted on | June 6, 2009 | 93 Comments

The air was thick with speculation about the election process and expected and wished results. Lalu’s RJD, Paswans Lok Janshakti Party, Mulayam’s Samajwadi Party, Mayawati’s BSP, Jayalalitha’s AIADMK etc had prepared a wish list and expected mangoes to grow on coconut tree. They neither reaped the mango nor the coconut. The pragmatic regional party-Biju Janata Dal acted pragmatically as its ally, the BJP had become a white alabaster around Navin Patnaik’s neck with its rabid and aggressive policies on the ongoing struggle between Dalit Hindus and tribal Christians. Navin was rewarded with the removal of the noose from around his neck.

Mamata Banerjee, the firebrand, unpredictable and whimsical and arrogant Bengali political persona had a good catch taking advantage of blinded policies of the Left and their detachment from ground realities. The Congress also ran in Bengal clinging to the apron string of Mamata. Narrow regional vision, caste dependence and political arrogance did not pay dividend to Chandrababu Naidu and the Tamil Amma.
The Left, which always looks at the people and the world with left eye were unable to synchronize their vision and realize that globalization of economy is the order of the day; linking of Indian economy with global economy could not be stopped with rotten Marxist axioms and India required a broader nuclear understanding with the global community as part of its self reliance in power generation. They, like the Rip Van Winkle of the demised communist philosophy, suddenly woke up and started fantasizing the image of a Third Front with ramshackle wheels of Lalu, Paswan, Mulayam, Maya and Amma. Even a dream-cart cannot move on rotten wheels. Karat & co are yet to learn that Communism is dead and Indian communists are only a label on the old bottle of putrid Marxist wine. People of India are not ready to try them anymore.

The main warriors Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party approached the polls more or less with the same agenda and usual slogans of recriminations, blame-game, personal attacks, sacs full of secular overtures and bags full of communal overtones. Congress had a few advantages over the BJP. Its projection of mild mannered, soft speaking and immaculately honest Manmohan Singh as the prime ministerial candidate rejecting courtier’s cacophony of Rahul as the new PM played a chord of trust in Public mind. Some rural oriented policies of the last government, like agricultural loan remission, NREG, Rojgar Yojana, housing schemes etc projected a pro-poor image. At the same time Manmohan’s limited success in the economic front by holding together the Indian economy in the face of global collapse, lower inflation rate and swing back in the share market also injected positive vibes in urban economy. Only the chronic heavy and addicted investors lost to some extent during temporary recession in the Sensex.

The Congress government had failed to arrest deteriorating law and order situation and increasing thrusts from Pakistan and Bangladesh based jihadi tanzeems. But the bold action of removing the hair-care Home Minister and induction of the old horse P. Chidambaram infused some confidence in the police and intelligence agencies, though he did precious little in the short time he got in the last short stint.

However, Manmohan government succeeded fabulously in globalizing the dastardly sea-borne attack on Mumbai by ISI pet Lashkar-e-Taiba. Never before had the U. S. Israeli and British intelligence helped India in unison. Global intelligence input coupled with Indian inputs had succeeded in framing an iron cast charge against Pakistan based LeT. After initial dithering, denials and coy demure postures Pakistan was forced to act. Well! Pakistan had very little choice. The Let, Jais-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Jhanghvi and the Taliban groups had started hurting Pakistan enormously. The suicidal policy of Zardari-Gilani government was reversed under US pressure. Pakistan itself is now the main theatre of jihadi activities. Despite failure of Indian agencies to prevent the sea-borne attack, in spite of advance intelligence the global backing of India’s cause had won the day for Manmohan government. The mild master played tough. In contrast, though failure of the Congress in security front was its main plank, the BJP led government in 1999 botched up the IC 814 hijacking incident. By its abject surrender to the demands of the jihadis the BJP government did earn sympathy of few families who had staged daily dharna before 7 RCR. It did not please the country and the global community. In fact, it was a no win situation for which no one can be blamed. But Congress used it against BJP by hitting below the belt. Handling of the situation by RAW, IB and the concerned police forces (especially at Amritsar) exposed the chinks in Indian armour. This one failure compounded all other failures. The one pyrrhic success in Mumbai gave enormous dividend to Manmohan government. His action of removing the chief Minister of Maharastra also clicked in public imagination. All Political parties may agree on a formula: that none of them would use a national tragedy as election plank. If we cannot agree on everything, we can agree on one thing that the enemy can hit anytime, anywhere and at any target. Sonia’s action of targeting the IC 814 incident was very demeaning in nature.

The BJP led government, in general perception, had allowed the Kargil attack happen, as the PM, Defence and Home Ministers well unmindful of such possibility in the midst of peace talks. The colossal failures of the RAW, IB and Military Intelligence were virtually covered up and instead of rolling of heads two strange things happened: the enquiry report was dumped, the RAW and IB chiefs were rewarded with gubernatorial posts. This had not endeared the BJP in public eye; though the army and Air Force came out with flying colours. These instances are being cited about inexperience of the BJP in governing the country and their inability to extract the maximum from the bureaucrats. The Baboos are attuned to Congress whipping-rewarding; a legacy of the British past. The BJP is yet to master the tricks how to harness and drive the big Baboos.

To the credit of Congress it must be said that its youth face Rahul Gandhi, the ever-smiling face of Priyanka and the resolute lines of determination in the eyes and face of Sonia emitted positive vibes. The Youngistan Indian voters were drawn more to the Congress and in the final tally it was seen that Congress returned more youth MPs and the positive actions generated feelings of hope in public minds. They approached the election with positive approaches and aggressive agenda despite desertion by the Left Front, RJD, LJP, and in the face of humiliating bargaining by Mulayam Singh. The funniest part was Lalu Yadav offering 3 seats to Congress in Bihar.

The BJP has very little young face in the party; terming Arun Jaitly and Sushama Swaraj as young Turks would be an insult to Indian youth. BJP has a vast pool of youth power in the RSS and its limited cadres. But such youth cadres are not projected in planned manner; they are simply asked to worship, do pranam, charan sparsh etc of the senior leaders and follow them like herd of cattle. There is no system of training the youth leaders and gradually push them to the forefront. The geriatric leaders cannot match the youthful vibes of young leaders like Rahul, Priyanka, Jyotiraditya, Sachin etc. Moreover, Rahul had visited several universities and institutions to inspire the youths. The BJP and RSS leaders just issued sermons and did not make effort to exploit potential youths in the ABVP, RSS and other front organisations. The BJP does not have a resource pool in its youth wing who are allowed to graduate to higher positions.

The party, on the other hand, went to the poles with an artificial hype and concluded inference that the country was ready to reject the Congress for alleged failures of Manmohan government, minority and Dalit alienation from Congress, Left and caste satraps deserting the main adversary and with presumptions that in Andhra Pradesh TDP and Praja Rajyam Party would perform wonders. It’s over optimism of the charisma of Jayalalitha was not based on impact of the Sri Lankan war against the LTTE and AIADMK failure to empathize with the beleaguered Tamil civilians in Jaffna and Mullaitivu areas. DMK blew hot and cold and the aging supremo went on a token fast. Manmohan government’s open denunciation of Sri Lankan offensive and apparent neutrality on the issue had given ample opportunity to President Rajapaksha to go for the final push with liberal weapons and personnel supply from China and Pakistan. India silently connived with the killing of over 20,000 Tamil civilians by ground firing and bombing by Pakistani pilots flying Sri Lankan fighters. The BJP failed to gauge this diplomatic support of Delhi to Rajapaksha and at the same time carrying on diplomatic demarches for protecting Tamil interest. It is rather surprising that a couple of former intelligence chiefs now in BJP camp could not decipher this nexus between New Delhi, Chennai and Colombo.

The hollow hype was accidentally discovered when a former governor in a northeastern state dropped in a gathering of former bureaucrats and claimed that his party (BJP) would score minimum 180 seats. When confronted with state-wise tally the former and now governor-in- waiting fumbled and his figure of 180 collapsed like pack of cards. Another BJP stalwart rather scowled at me when it was pointed that that: Muslims were inclined to go with the best protector in different states and there would be no Muslim block-voting; the Dalits were disenchanted with Mayawati for her new love for the upper castes; two major states-Bihar and Orissa were under spells of Nitish Kumar and Navin Patnaik; Voters in MP, Gujarat and Uttaranchal were disenchanted with the ruling BJP and in Rajasthan they were angry with the former Royal Government of Vasundhara Raje. Though politically unattached, I was termed as a Congress agent by the friend. He was not ready to accept that the BJP had blundered in Orissa by pursuing blind pro-Hindutwa programme in Kandhmal, Narnendra Modi had lost considerable ground after his minister was indicted for communal riot, and that the government of MP had lost ground because of severe caste alienation, alienation of Muslim voters and maverick performance and scandalous antics of some of the ministers.

BJP’s lack of moderation, increase in shrill communal cries a la Varun Gandhi episode and arrogant defiance by Narendra Modi, Advani’s frontal personal attack on Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had not endeared the party to the electorates. As Arun Jaitly correctly said-moderation won over arrogance. Such personal attacks were not only symbols of political bankruptcy but this also betrayed that the eternal “Rath yatri” had nothing better to offer to the country.

Projection of the 82 year old veteran as “Lauh Purush” did not match with his performance as the Union Home Minister. Compared to him the low-profile, soft speaking and constructive approach of Manmohan Singh gave an impression that this one person was capable of carrying the country with him despite stabbing by some of his coalition partners. In fact, the country does not require a “Lauh Purush”; it requires a humble and silent determined worker who can push the country towards economic development and social integration and inclusion of as much sections of the people as possible. Advani’s image that he was in favour of exclusion of the minorities from his vision did more harm than consolidating Hindu votes. India has walked past the politics of exclusion. The Sangh Parivar refuses to understand this truth.

The other frivolous issue that Advani brought up was the claim that if voted to power his government would retrieve lacs of crores Indian money stacked in Swiss banks. It created some media hype. But it had no impact on the electorate. Congress craftily threw back the missile by asserting that BJP did precious little to retrieve the money when it was in power. Such frivolous issues betrayed BJP’s failure to project the core issues concerning the common people. No poor in India imagine that he would get a part of the fabulous money even if that was retrieved from Swiss banks. Like the Bofors gun it also has become a dead issue.
Indian Voters wanted a stable government; that underpinning could be discerned by any keen ground observer. People were tired with haughty, maverick, greedy and parochial coalition partners of Vajpayee and Manmohan regimes. Track records of Jayalalitha, Mamata, Chandrababu and Left groups as coalition partners have not been very laudatoriest. These seasonal birds flew away at the slightest pretexts and stalled several vital programming and decision making of the government. This time around the voters wanted stability and a compact government. As a coalition savvy party the BJP is less reputed than the Congress. Despite Left’s intransigence Manmohan had pulled up the nuke deal and surfed rather comfortably over the sudden crest of economic collapse initiated by down-slide domino action of US economy, followed by European and Japanese economic collapse. That involved some smooth jugglery and innovation. It is doubtful if BJP has that kind of resilience in surviving whimsical behavior of coalition partners and its capability of pulling off a major international deal in the face of domestic and international obstructions. Manmohan has proved conclusively that he is a better swimmer in adversity and his political boss Sonia Gandhi is a better oarsperson. The country trusted that team plus the projection of pro-youth image by Rahul and Priyanka. The BJP lacked these assets and skills to compete the oarsperson-ship of Sonia and swimming capability of Manmohan. The country, by and large trusted Mnamohan-Sonia duo and not the singular image of Advani. In the absence of Vajpayee the BJP failed to project a moderate face. Finally, Manmohan’s moderation scored better.

Congress took advantage of non-governance and bad governance in certain states led by idiosyncratic leaders. It did well in West Bengal, UP, Punjab, MP, Gujarat, Uttaranchal, Kerala and Rajasthan etc states simply because the people had started losing faith on Mayawati, CPM & partners, Akalis and disastrous performance by certain BJP led governments. Congress scored well in Andhra Pradesh and Haryana despite the incumbency factors; both YSR and Huda were rated as acceptable administrators despite complaints of heavy corruption against YSR.

In contrast the BJP failed to exploit this particular aspect; it rather failed to protect its own homes from poaching by the Congress. In seemingly impregnable Narendra Modi’s Gujarat Congress made substantive gains. It is fruitless to argue that Muslim voted in favour of Congress. They did because they have no confidence on Modi. Even Hindu votes were divided. The BJP, VHP and other ancillaries of the Parivar worked at cross purposes. With all his charisma and magic Modi had not succeeded to constructing a solid cadre base.

In fact, BJP has no confirmed and structured cadre base. Congress has some organizational structure even in remote villages. The party has considerable hold on Gram Sabhas, Panchayats, and Zila Parishads and through the Youth Congress and the NSUI among the youth forces. Devolution of power to the Panchayats has generated friendly vibes for the Congress. BJP’s grassroots organisation is amorphous. It depends on the cadres of the RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, ABVP etc outfits and peripheral workers who generally nurse Hindutwa as a political ideal. Political cadres are different from ideological cadres.

There are differences between Communist cadres and cadres of other political parties. Cadres are committed workers at the grassroots level who remain loyal to the party come summer come winter. Congress has minimum 25% of committed cadres, Communists 60% and the BJP around 10%. In an election mobilization the BJP has to fall back on Sangh Parivar cadres. Modi and other BJP leaders had failed to mobilize 100% support from the Parivar cadres; at several places the Parivar cadres even worked for Congress. In several places in Delhi, my personal knowledge indicate that the BJP booth managers had sold their boots and booth clusters to Congress candidates by accepting huge money. This was true in Delhi and even in Gujarat. Such deviation of Parivar cadre support is not new; it happened in 1980 when Indira Gandhi was supported by bulk of the Parivar cadres. The BJP and the Sangh Parivar have to sit on more Atmachintan and Atmamanthan to determine why this fiasco took place in 2009! Why the cadres betrayed them!

There are allegations that Modi suffered because of his strident and unrepentant communal attitude. On charges of genocide Modi and Rajiv Gandhi stand on the same pedestal; the former is accused of Gujarat riots and the later for 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Both Modi and Rajiv had erred on same counts; they did not order killing of the minorities, but both of them, being at the helms of administration, failed to respond speedily to prevent holocaust. The Sikhs have not pardoned Rajiv even after 25 years. How can Modi get out of the scar within such a short period? If he wanted to, he should have gone for demonstrative penance in respect of the riot sufferers, both Muslims and Hindus. This lack of lessons from history of Rajiv has harmed the BJP immensely.

Another problem that haunted the BJP was continuous infighting in the higher formations of the central party. Rajnath-Arun Jaitly tiff over manager-politician Mittal has been well publicized. It did not have a manager like Pramod Mahajan. Similar silent clashes between Advani-Joshi camps, Venkaiah Naidu-Modi camps were rattling the party from within. Lack of inner party coherence led to group fighting and distribution of tickets to non-deserving candidates and lackluster and disjointed campaigning. The BJP may like to look into the inner conflicts and try to realize if Rajnath is the right leader, if Joshi’s hunger for power has been saturated and if it is time for the party to throw up younger leadership from its own and some from the politically oriented RSS and ABVP cadres? Introspection should not end in shuffling the dusts under the carpets. They should learn from Congress that to attract millions of new Youngistan voters they require youth leaders in the front and not sandal paste-kumkum smeared old haggard foreheads. Youth is the key to future elections and the youth are not inspired by communal slogans. They want good governance.

Defeat often disorients political masses and their supporters. Some BJP and Sangh activists flooded the cell phone waves by SMS saying that BJP’s defeat could be attributed to rigging of the EVM by Congress CEC nexus. I had suggested one such propagandist that they should take a high level delegation to the President or file a petition in the Supreme Court. It silenced some of them. Propaganda has a problem. Like Hitler was eaten up by Goebbelian propaganda the BJP may also become a victim of such self-deception. It is correct that in many European countries and in USA EVM has come under suspicion. They have discarded the system. In Venezuela it was found that in the EVM supply company the government has 28% stakes. If there is doubt about EVMs an all party meeting can look into the matter and go into the depth if the Congress and CEC have any nexus with the EVM suppliers. However, in India ballot voting is more hazardous than EVM voting. In BV system booths are physically captured by some honourable and prospective honourable MPs.

The BJP has another inbuilt disadvantage. A green politician Varun Gandhi raised high strung communal slogans and emerged as a leader from a nobody. Agitational politics of the BJP had created many frontline politicians like Uma Bharti. Even a short span of history has proved that such politicians do not last. The BJP went all the way to support Varun. This might have helped Varun and the BJP in a few seats in UP. But it alienated Muslim voters from the party. On the other hand by replacing Tytlar and Sajjan Kumar, when Sikhs objected, Sonia Gandhi earned accolade of the Sikhs and sent a vibrant message to the minorities in general that Congress was ready to atone past mistakes.

Hopefully the BJP and the Parivar would learn from this and stop giving slogans of Ram Mandir, Hindutwa and narrow communal approaches, if the party wants to emerge as either a Left of the Centre or Right of the Centre mainstream all-India political entity acceptable to all communities. If it wants to remain a Hindu political entity it will suffer worse consequences. BJP cannot afford to break any more mosques, construct temples at disputed places and realize the impractical dream of Hindu Raj. Any impartial survey would indicate that common Hindus support status quo and are not seriously communal though some of them are concerned with alleged minorityism of the Congress & allies and are vaguely apprehensive of Muslim resurgence.

The BJP has another practical disadvantage. Considered as a Hindi heartland party, it has just started rooting in the South and in eastern States like Assam. Its back door entry in Bengal proves that Bengali Hindus, though considerably alerted by Muslim preponderance and demographic threat have to not been successfully converted to communal politics. If it has to find a foothold in the State of its founder leader, Dr. S. P. Mukherjee the BJP has to emerge as grassroots level mainstream party which can identify with middle class Bengali concerns and emerge as the voice of the Hindus in the districts bordering Bangladesh. The last Election has shown that Mamata and Congress exploited Muslim votes better than the CPM. The BJP has almost nil support in the rural areas. Sections of middle class urban voters alone cannot be a stepping stone to victory.

Congress has an advantage over the BJP. Being a remnant of the original Congress movement it has grassroots support almost in every part of India. Only bad governance by the Congress, as during the Emergency and scandal-ridden regime of Rajiv, had witnessed complete washout of the Congress. Bold and fair leadership can revitalise the dormant Congress supports in any part of the country. In 2009 election the moot question was: had Congress succeeded in projecting Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka as capable leaders who can give good governance? It is not easy to give any verdict just now. But, in case Manmohan government can continue to govern well and improve security environ and revitalise the economy than such a conclusion would not be out of place. BJP’s short stint in government does not support its claim of India shining.

The BJP, on the other hand, barring in Chattisgarh, Karnataka, and Himachal and to some extent in Madhya Pradesh has not been able to throw up a consolidated image of leadership that could be trusted with good governance. Its partial UP success is neither for Advani nor for Rajnath Singh. Upper, backward and lower caste Hindus lost confidence in BSP and SP. The fall out was almost evenly picked up by the Congress and the BJP. Muslims in UP, obviously voted mostly for the Congress. In fact, in the midst of election campaign some BJP insiders threw up the name of Narendra Modi as the Prime Ministerial candidate. Modi may have some credibility in Gujarat, Maharashtra and among committed Hindutwa voters but no one in the country is ready to accept as the PM, not yet, till he proves that besides being a Hindu he can uphold constitutional rights of all sections of the people. Rajiv Gandhi had failed on this score; so also Narendra Modi.

The BJP has not drawn lessons from history. Even at the peak of communal tension and killings on the eve of partition the Hindu Mahasabha had not succeeded in drawing votes from the majority Hindus. It was a pressure group in the Congress and remained a pressure group. If the party, whose successor is the BJP, could not cash on Hindu votes at the peak of communal divide how can it now dream of securing 100% Hindu votes? Such a situation can only arise if there is total cultural and religious polarization in the country. India is a multireligious, multicultural, multilingual and multiethnic country. Its kaleidoscopic varieties are enshrined in the Constitution. The BJP, if it wants to emerge as a giant opposition to Congress and riffraff regional and caste-based parties it should project an image of acceptability to all sections of the people. Such an image turnover is perhaps not possible as long as the political face of the party remain rooted in the Sangh Parivar. The Parivar, as a social movement, may continue to serve its targeted population for betterment of the community, serving the fringe population and fighting against caste divergences and unify the Hindu polity. The RSS can no more irresponsibly use the BJP as a political front. A composite country cannot be governed by party branded as communal. That BJP is communal is believed by many Hindus even. The BJP has to shed that stigma and while keeping Hindu welfare in mind, it has to adopt a policy for Sarvajana Hitaya Cha. Common welfare of all the common people is the soul of electoral democracy.

Some of my Hindutawadi friends mailed me long articles suggesting that the BJP was defeated because they were not sufficiently Hindu and deficiently secular. They advocated that stiffer Hindutwa slogans and activities would attract wholesale Hindu votes. The BJP should shed the secular image. It is difficult to make a blind see, dumb speak and deaf to hear to fine music (no dig at my especially able friends, it is a simile). My Hindutwa friends forget that India is a predominantly Hindu country that has come to accept secularism as a constitutional scheme of governance and essential ingredient of nationhood. Mere 13% Muslims cannot pose danger to 80% Hindus. The allegation of growing Muslim population and subversion of the Indian Muslims, though partially correct, is not a threat to the fabrics of the nation. Out of, say, 160 million Muslims at best 1 million may have turned resurgent. By itself the assumed figure is dangerous. Even in Taliban affected Pakistan the fighting strength of the Taliban is about 30, 000. It is correct that some Muslims have come to notice for violent pro-jihad activities. However, any deviant activities by any section of the Muslims can be tackled by the State under existing laws. Even if a small segment of the Muslims have been subverted that need not essentially lead to a conclusion that India requires a communal Hindu party to establish pure Hindutwa entity. It might create a situation in the country that existed in 1935 and rolled down to 1947 with indescribable pains. Do we want to go back in history and recreate the scenario that haunted us in the past?

Obviously not. Every religion and culture in India is distinct and these have added to the varieties of the country. One cannot thrive to the exclusion of the other. Such exclusivism had invited disaster in the past. Do we require recreation of the scenario? The BJP has to ask itself these questions and analyse that in a dynamic country geriatric leadership has inherent values as well as drawbacks. There has to be a healthy balance of generation gaps. The BJP requires grassroots cadres of its own not depending on the Sangh Parivar, should be able to evoke confidence in all sections of the people, desist from supporting mad religious frenzy and hatred and project an image that it can give good governance. One Vajpayee does not make a party. There should be thousands of Vajpayees to evoke confidence in public mind. Please stop Yatras, and get down to ground realities, if the BJP wants to emerge as the mainstream party acceptable to all sections of the people. Construction of Temples is the easiest job. Construction of a steady and believable political edifice that can govern is rather very difficult. In case BJP realize this than only India can have a healthy Two Party system with Lalu like riffraff elements thrown in the fringe.

Religious proclivities should be confined to societal, cultural and moral realms and banished from political framework by all the communities. Congress and riffraff parties should also rethink if their open pro-Muslim policies are not adding to the fear psychosis of the Hindus and are pushing them to resort to Newton’s Third Law of Motion-Hindu reaction to Muslim appeasement. Hopefully, Sonia Gandhi and the new Manmohan government would take this aspect seriously and give a positive message that the historical mistake committed by Congress in Lucknow session to agree to communal formulae for the country does not propel it to repeat the same while implementing highly controversial Sachar Committee Report, which is worse than the Lucknow formulae devised by Motilal Nehru. Sachar need not divide the country once more to alienate the majority for pleasing amorphous grievances of a minority. Out of 80+% Hindu majority in India at least 55% + are actively opposed to any Lucknow pact like arrangement under Manmohan-Sachar dispensation. Sonia and Congress, in the first flush of victory should not push the country back in history. Hindu susceptibility cannot be thrown away to dust bin of current history in the making; it is pregnant with several complicated dynamics, which have the potential of disturbing the seemingly secular fabrics of the country. In addition to one or two Abhinav Bharat suspected incidents hundreds of such incidents might resurface. On this issue the country is sitting on dry powder keg. Hopefully Manmohan would not be blind to these potentialities and repeat another 1916.

Category: Articles

Comments

93 Responses to “Electoral Democracy or Hindutwa: Choice before BJP”

Selvam
June 6th, 2009 @ 11:09 am

Thank You
Jai Shri Ram
Magi
June 6th, 2009 @ 11:22 am

Yes I accept,
“Congress and riffraff parties should also rethink if their open pro-Muslim policies are not adding to the fear psychosis of the Hindus and are pushing them to resort to Newton’s Third Law of Motion-Hindu reaction to Muslim appeasement.”
and “Sachar Committee Report, which is worse than the Lucknow formulae devised by Motilal Nehru”

This are worst things that create fear in moderate hindus. And there are lot like this points…
Abhnav Sapte
June 6th, 2009 @ 4:15 pm

A fine analysis. Thanks for telling us that Rajiv Gandhi and Narendra Modi are on same padestal
Bidisha Meena
June 6th, 2009 @ 4:16 pm

Thank you sir. Every time you come out with some surprise. Your analysis should be examined by BJP. You deserve pointing out Hindu fears and Congress stoking communal fires.
chintamani sharma
June 6th, 2009 @ 4:19 pm

Kudos to you. Both Congress and BJP should take lesson from this. As a Hindu I am ready to live with Muslims but Muslim appeasement make me afraid. Manmohan should understand this. Sooner than later Hindus would polarise and sink the political boat of Congress.
Yarappa Chandragiri
June 6th, 2009 @ 4:21 pm

Congress more exposed than BJP. BJP leadership should learn that they cannot run a party sitting on the lap of RSS. It has to be an independent party. We condemn Sachar report.
Sayiid Akhtar Ahmad
June 6th, 2009 @ 5:04 pm

You are basically communal. Otherwise why you would plead for the Hindus?
Arvind
June 6th, 2009 @ 7:43 pm

Is Hinduism a religion? Or is it something more than that? Who is a Hindu?
Arvind
June 6th, 2009 @ 7:45 pm

I do NOT subscribe to the idea that India is multicultural. Diverse, yes. But multicultural, no.
Vijayalakshmi
June 6th, 2009 @ 10:30 pm

In your long article you have not written anything about the satanic evangelist moneybags who have been wreaking havoc in India. It is in their interest that the Congress remain in power. It is these elements who have ensured the victory of the Congress by selective ‘chawlaisation’. There is no way the Congress could have won in Jammu,after the powerful Amarnath andolan. There is no way the Congress could have succeeded so much in Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Delhi, UP and Andhra. Surely, the inroads the Congress made in Gujarat and MP is questionable. That money-power won the elections for the DMK is a known fact here. So the victory of the Congress is not a laudable one. The Congress is not a secular party. It is the most corrupt, casteist and communal party. It has polarised the Indian society by pitting the so-called minorities against the majority community, by its condemnable partisan politics. I do agree that BJP’s campaigning was very poor. The sham secularism of the Congress should have been exposed with their Election Manifesto in hand.
S Gandhi
June 6th, 2009 @ 11:37 pm

Dear Sirs

Many thanks for your mail.

In marathi its saying “Zhakkas” means no superb than this.

Every mind was asking himself what went wrong for BJP. Everyone looking BJP’s Hindutva a way means to offer “Ram Rajya ” to tear pesudo secular view of government and media who are overlooking islamic terrorism and christian conversions.

Everyone was looking space for such a pesudo secularism but no body knows how to express. Your last paragraph satiated everyone’s thrust like monsoon on dry parched land.

“Congress and riffraff parties should also rethink if their open pro-Muslim policies are not adding to the fear psychosis of the Hindus and are pushing them to resort to Newton’s Third Law of Motion-Hindu reaction to Muslim appeasement”

Hindu susceptibility cannot be thrown away to dust bin of current history in the making; it is pregnant with several complicated dynamics, which have the potential of disturbing the seemingly secular fabrics of the country

Sir, these two statements exactly spotted everones suspecion and subconsciousness. Thats exactly everyone want to say to Government of India.

We do not have any problem with Muslims or christian but appeasment of one community and ransom conversion will lead hindus into battlefield to preserve “Dharma” – Law, Justice, righteousness” That what we had seen since 1200 upto latest 2002

Tolerance limit of hindu is on the verge of explosion exactly like Newtons third law of motion. ” Congress Created Pakistan and Pakistan Created BJP”

We all hope your article will starkly open daddies slumber. If not then I am sure “Delhi Daddies” are acclerating the rebellion process.

Many thanks for your time Sir for such a splendid and systematic narration.

With Kind Regards

Shital Gandhi
diocesan bishop » Blog Archive » UP state advisory panel
June 6th, 2009 @ 11:56 pm

[...] Electoral Democracy or Hindutwa: Choice before BJP | Maloy Krishna … [...]
kashmirilal
June 7th, 2009 @ 12:30 am

Thanks for a thorugh and somewhat partial analysis of the bjp defeat. Suddenly every point of bjp is seeming ou have defective and of the congress -all right. The positive cause of bjp victory in states like Himachal Pradesh, Chattisgarh etc. have been conveniently forgotten. Some of the factos you have mentioned are good. Thanks, kashmirilal
Krishnamurthy Anantha
June 7th, 2009 @ 11:52 am

Dear Dhar,
Your analysis is the best I have read so far. BJP should have serious introspection and decide that to be politically successful it requires broader bases and confidence of people. Otherwise they cannot remove Sonia and Gandhi family. Your comments about Hindu apprehensions are very subtle but direct to those who appease the Muslims. A good balancing act. Thanks.
Laxmi Pandeya
June 7th, 2009 @ 1:04 pm

You are a Congress Dalal. Why bash the BJP? Get converted to Islam.
Namrata Shindhe
June 7th, 2009 @ 3:45 pm

You have rightly pointed out the reasons of fear of the Hindus. Hope Manmohan would take note. I am happy that you have put Rajiv and Modi on the same padestal
Bharat Nair
June 7th, 2009 @ 5:29 pm

Dear Sir,
1.Your analysis, as allows is very good and you have very rightly pointed out the “internal corruption” in BJP.
2.Please note that this is nothing new- just see the political history of BJP in kerala.They have leaders there who have acquired star image for their skills in “vote-selling”.
3. I think you have missed various “political games” which was played in different states in India for the last 5 yrs.
a) gujjar trouble in Rajasthan b) Punjab c) MNS in Maharashtra d) Ram sene in Karnataka
Is this Intentional? or is there anything more to this??
3.”The RSS can no more irresponsibly use the BJP as a political front”.
Please cite examples where RSS have irresponsibly used BJP.
4.I am almost sure that my question would be answered with “another” smile.
Raghu
June 7th, 2009 @ 6:33 pm

Good analysis.BJP has to introspect and come out strongly.We are unsatisfied on congress,they ruled india for more than 5 decades,but still we are not getting good drinking water,connectivities,safety,electricity,etc…They become well developed but india is under developed.
Maheswar Nalpat
June 8th, 2009 @ 8:15 am

You are unduly harsh to the BJP. In Kerala RSS is strong but BJP has no root. The March of BJP in the south should start from Kerala.
Zorawar Katoch
June 8th, 2009 @ 8:18 am

A very good analysis. BJP has failed us. We expected NDA but got another corrupt UPA. It is all because the greedy top BJP leaders fought their dirty game and tne RSS did not support. In many places RSS cadres were sold to the Congress. RSS has become a bania party with a mukhots of Hindutwa.
Maloy Krishna Dhar
June 8th, 2009 @ 8:23 am

Dear Bharat,
I will reply on RSS stranglehold on BJP. I have been associated with many senior RSS and BJP leaders. RSS wants BJP to become more hardliner HIndutwa org. Can any party seeking all India mandeate ignore the fact that midddle path is the best. BJP has to play a very critical role in maintaining balance.
Wasan Wadhwa
June 8th, 2009 @ 12:24 pm

Very correct. Bjp suffers from over confidence and bloated ego of its senior leaders. It is easier to meet a “corrupt” Congi leader or a thief Lalu. But it is very difficult to meet a Advani, Rajnath or a Jaitly. They are self proclaimed supremos cut off from reality. On the other hand the RSS are blind bandicoots. They are not doing anything for the HIndus and eating Gou mal and drinking Gou mutra. Damn pundits!
Karthi
June 8th, 2009 @ 2:55 pm

Wasan Wadhwa mind ur words.
Kaptan Singh
June 8th, 2009 @ 5:14 pm

You have highly praised Sonia. Is she going to make you a governor? You are a paltu dog of Congress.
Latika Ratnam
June 8th, 2009 @ 5:17 pm

Your views are very well balanced. I am sorry some people are abusing you. Do not mind. Some deaf and dumb and blind demagogues do not know how to react to criticism. IN last two paras you have really exposed Hindu fears. Hope Sonia and Manmohan would hear to these warnings.
niladri Sarkar
June 8th, 2009 @ 5:21 pm

You have not taken into account Muslim atrocities in Bengal. Mamata has become an Avatar of Muslims in Bengal. The Adharmis have now left the CPM and joined Mamata and Congi. Please write about demographic threat from the Muslims in Assam and West Bengal border districts. WE are now becoming minority in our own country.
Karthi
June 8th, 2009 @ 6:51 pm

We are becoming minority in our very own country.
Amol
June 8th, 2009 @ 8:44 pm

Sir,
Very much calculated view on the elections. Hope BJP accepts this.

But u have also not given clarity on some issues raised by Mr.Bharat:
a) gujjar trouble in Rajasthan b) Punjab c) MNS in Maharashtra d) Ram sene in Karnataka

Were these things intentional. And the role of Indian media in glorifying the Congress and Rahul Gandhi.

I have seen some material which says Indian media is full of anti-Hindu policies and funded by foreign people. Dont know if this is truth. You only can tell us the truth.

K.P.S.GILL Sir has written a book on Indian Media which shows the false accusations made by Media and the role of NGO’s against Police during Punjab problem.

Kindly shed more light on this issue.

Will Hope for a response.

Thanking You,

Amol
Maloy Krihna Dhar
June 9th, 2009 @ 8:09 am

To AMOL & others:
Your questions are speculative-
1. Gujjar agitation is an old issue. Gujjar vs Meena tussle has not been well managed by the BJP. V. Raje’s imperious handling of the situation eroded both Meena and Gujjar vote banks. You cannot rule a State with Queens and Kings any more.
2. Nothing special happened in Punjab. People were fed up with corruption and Badal Empire. They wanted a change. BJP has no following outside the cities IN cities population complex has changed- There are more Muslims, Biharis and Bangladeshis. They vote for Congress and not for BJP.
3. MNS is Shiv Sena’s family trouble. How can you interfere in that. Cong + NCP exploited it.
4. Ramsene Hindu primates are abominable. I have written in my portal earlier. Vote analysis show Ramsene candidates did not dent BJP vote considerably.
5. Media was correct in forecasting Cong prospect. No professional media would like to propagate communal propaganda. If BJP and RSS want to air their views than they have to launch Channels like QTV and other Islamic TVS. I think you all should plead with BJP.
6. As a former Punjab operations hand I do not agree with Gill. There were thousands of human rights violations in Punjab. The media cannot be expected to collaborate with police. Police/intelligence have done their job and the media theirs.

Finally, though I am a proclaimed friend of HIndu interets, I say that India is a composite country and the BJP and RSS have to accept this reality and play politics accordingly’
Regards to you all,
Maloykdhar.
Osia Shyamali
June 9th, 2009 @ 8:12 am

Sir,

Your assessments and reasons are immaculate. In case BJP wants political power it has to carry all sections of people. RSS should work among Hindus to unite the society and not behave as self-proclaimed Big Brother of all Hindu matters.
Om Chand Sharma
June 9th, 2009 @ 8:15 am

You are a Congress chamcha. Stop shedding crocodile tears for HIndus. We will fight and get Muslims out of this holy land
Karthi
June 9th, 2009 @ 11:06 am

Your are the only person who said ” Media was correct in forecasting “.
Harish
June 9th, 2009 @ 1:35 pm

I dont think this author is right in saying that for BJP’s survival should join the bandwagon of psuedo secular parties . The way forward for BJP is development, along with assertive hindutva. The author though has correctly pointed out the malaise in the party ie lack of grass root level cadres. This is something that BJP has to address on a urgent basis , along with . The author just parrots co-journalists of the SICKular media by trying to target NAMO, who by far is the finest leader India has produced since Sardar Patel. Look at the devlopment done by him in Gujarat, which has become the best adminstered state in India. The media loves targetting him, but forgets the cause of the riots i.e Godhra Massacre, none of these hypocriates condemn the Godhra massacre nor SIMI but they jump at the 1st opportunity to pull down NAMO or condemn Abhinav Bharat members as terrorists. This dual standards will not only undermine the credibility of the media but also of all the SICKular parties
Bharat Nair
June 9th, 2009 @ 5:41 pm

“India silently connived with the killing of over 20,000 Tamil civilians by ground firing ……….”
Shri. Dhar ji, This number in civilans death has already been denied by U.N. Hope this error would be corrected.
kartik senapati
June 9th, 2009 @ 6:03 pm

Sir,
Your views are lopsided. How can you write against Hindus? Hindus are the original inhabitants of Bharat. We must fight the Muslims to the last.
Qaisar Owaisi
June 10th, 2009 @ 8:23 am

Beneath your secular skin you are a hardboiled RSS. You wear the Cong skin to bluff people. How can you oppose reservation and weightage for Muslims. We had been assured this before and after the partition. It is OUR LAND that you call Bharat. We have special right on this. Hands off Muslim demands or we cut your hand.
Rosa Verghese
June 10th, 2009 @ 8:36 am

Well done sir! In Kerala people like Bharat Nair do not see the monkey game of the RSS. They are everywhere but come election they support any party that pay better. IF BJP cannot set foot in the state of its founder_Bengal and a state where Hindus are endangered-Kerala what use for us is the RSS, VHP and BJP; all paper tigers? Hope RSS blokes read your column. Or are they blind to anything rational and recite RSS mantras mindlessly like a teenage Muslim can recite the entire Arabic Quran. What is the difference between these two great fools?
Suman Mudaliar
June 10th, 2009 @ 8:39 am

Great post. BJP made naked. Your analysis should hit heads of BJP bloke heads and arouse some strategic thinking. Your warning about Congress policy of Muslim appeasement is very poignant. We won’t shy from fighting if we are compelled.
Shankar Prasad
June 10th, 2009 @ 5:26 pm

You are a GREAT FOOL Dhar. BJP and RSS require more hardliner Hindutwa policy. Our independence is incomplete till we have ridden this country of all quisling Hindus and fith column Muslims. Ask Sonia to make you a Governor and get your Nirvana. You are a Trojan Horse of the Congress and an enemy of the Hindu.
Tarit Samaddar
June 10th, 2009 @ 5:29 pm

Do not get upset by abuses from mad people. You have presented whole issue rationally. Mad and insane people do not know what is reason and what is dogma. They are poisoned with dogma. Let us try living peacefully. If Muslims show hostility we can take care of them physically. Why should we not give a try to peaceful coexistence?
Amol
June 10th, 2009 @ 9:05 pm

R/Sir,

Thanks for your important views.

A voter like me can give Congress 10/10 on only two issues:

1) Mr.Shashi Tharoor was elected as an MP. We would like to see him much much better as a Prime Minister rather than the showoff and flashy son from the family in 2014 and later on. (Yesterday’s news : The Kalavati which was promised much by Rahulji has still not got any aid).

2) Congress + Abdullahs in Kashmir defeated the traitors PDP family. Though Abdullahs are not good but they are better than the PDP. (Hope most of the readers know abt. the Hostage crisis of the Mufti Mohammad Saeed’s Daughter)

Thanks and regards,

Amol
Amol
June 10th, 2009 @ 9:07 pm

To,

Shri Om Chand Sharma Ji,

How is Dhar Sir a Chamcha when he is giving a good advice to BJP ?

You shud really read his book “Open Secrets” and then talk here
Nazib Qureshi
June 11th, 2009 @ 5:40 pm

Are you threatening the Muslims? Who is afraid of stupid Hindus? We have rights to what we demand. Stop behaving like a RSS cadre. You are a RSS brain.
Savitri Chauhan
June 11th, 2009 @ 5:43 pm

Your analysis is correct. Now BJP has started fighting. If they do not give up Hindu slogan their seat in Parliament would come down to 50 in next 5 years.
Rathin Talukdar
June 11th, 2009 @ 7:02 pm

Fine piece. From your Open Secrets I though you are a member of RSS. Now I understand you better. Tell me one thing. If Muslims do not reconcile what do we do? WE allow Assam and Bengal to be Muslim majority states? No. That will i9nvite civil war.
Angare Jhalak
June 12th, 2009 @ 8:03 am

I thought you are a Hindu and you are a follower of RSS. Now I find you are a Congress dalal. RSS BJP will survive on their own without Muslim support. It is our holy duty to fight all Muslims.
Raksha Ahuja
June 12th, 2009 @ 8:51 am

Very balanced view. On Muslim appeasement issue I fully agree.
JAI RAINA
June 12th, 2009 @ 3:06 pm

Your analysis is proving correct. BJP infighting is coming in the open. One cannot go to bed with a wife with mother tagging at the back; similarly BJP cannot do politics of the country with RSS chaining its mind.
Ruby Khanna
June 12th, 2009 @ 8:54 pm

I think you have been over kind to Gandhi family. One minor success and BJP’s one big failure cannot be treated as a permanent feature. If BJP stops Hindu slogans and discipline wild buffalo like Varun than it has chance to recover.
Karthi
June 12th, 2009 @ 9:05 pm

No BJP should not stop hindu slogan.Except BJP there is no party fo Hindus.
Karthi
June 12th, 2009 @ 9:07 pm

Nazib Qureshi ur are the real stupid.See how taliban is banging pakistan.
THE LOTUS BLOOM
June 13th, 2009 @ 8:05 am

You are a betrayer. Once upon a time you were friends of the BJP and RSS. You have turned away for what? For Congress money? Beautiful Muslim women? You are a greedy stupid dumb beggar. The Moon will rise again, the Lotus will bloom and HINDU PUNAH RAJ KARENGE. Take is as destiny of mahan Bharat. Do not consider this pyrrhic victory of Congress is permanent. Do not think Sonia will be the Empress of Bharat.
A HINDU
June 13th, 2009 @ 8:14 am

What nonsense! BJP lost because they failed to project strident Hindu views and programme for the Hindus. BJP trying to go the Congress way is the cause of its defeat. Ism cannot diluted. Bharat is a Hindu country and Musalmans are betrayers.
LOTUS EATER
June 13th, 2009 @ 8:37 am

You fool Lotus Bloom. It would not again. Finally wilted under Rahul’s daring heat. Why blame Dhar? He has just said what was said by Arun Jaitly in Indian Express and Sudhindrs Kulkarni. You stupid idiots you do not want self examination. You are doomed.
Dravid
June 13th, 2009 @ 11:40 am

Ha! The Indian Muslim and Hindu Taliban spotted. Enjoy!

Hindus can’t win an election ans the Muslims think that they won the election. Very funny.

If someone won, its the Indian villager.
Chandrabir Raghav
June 14th, 2009 @ 12:18 pm

Your comments are proving true. The BJP is divided from within, they do not encourage youth, they stymie criticism, they do not invite new talents. What would happen to this Dinosaur?
Bharat Shukla
June 14th, 2009 @ 4:01 pm

No sir. We disagree. India requires a strong Hindutwa party. BJP should not befriend Muslims.
Raksha Sangh
June 15th, 2009 @ 9:09 am

Your suggestions are accurate. Even RSS is telling BJP the same thing.
Rathin Samaddar
June 16th, 2009 @ 8:29 am

Why are some people abusing Dhar for a nice presentation. Let us think coolly and ask BJP what should it do next? We want a substitute for Congress at all India level. BJP can be that party if it really emerge as a Bharatiya Party and not a Hindu party alone.
Dharmvir
June 16th, 2009 @ 6:44 pm

The biggest fall of BJP is because of the fact that it is not able to clarify what hinduness( the way I understand is its differentiation between dharma and adharma and following dharma) means and how it is suppose to deal with other religions. ( This being tricky needs to be handled very carefully , as the religions
we are tackling in India have predatory characteristics). Indian media has never allowed BJP or we shall say BJP was not able to bring this debate in public to show the truth from lies.

Mr Dhar, I have read couple of books written by you, and I have high respect for you for the fine analysis you have done in all your works. And I don’t think you are congress or BJP guy as some people
have suggested here. I think you are trying to do analysis without attaching yourself to any entity. But I am bit confused by your article ?
Are you suggesting that BJP should become congress type secular and accommodate all ideologies ( also religions) just because n number of people are following it. or should BJP do a self analysis and
install systems which creates debate of dharma vs adharma in society. and try to follow what is dharma rather than what is required by certain religion ?

The whole point to existence of BJP is lost if it cannot create a worldview which is based on dharma. If they are there to play petty politics I don’t see how they are different from congress and why they
should be supported.

I have a request for you, could you please summaries for the sake of audience , what is your understanding about ideology of BJP and if BJP is sticking to that ideology or not.
A seperate post will be highly appreciated.

Regards,
Dharmvir
Maloy Krishna Dhar
June 17th, 2009 @ 8:24 am

For Dharamvir & Others,

I am politically unattached. However, being a practicing Hindu I love my culture and the people who are proclaimed Hindus. I am proud of being a Hindu.
2. BJP requires introspection. a) Whether it wants to remain a 60-70 member opposition in the Parliament and rule a few States. b) If it wants to emerge as a party of right of centre with broad secular and progressive bases. c) BJP has to understand that Hindus do not require a political party as the Muslims once had an exclusive party: Muslim League. d) Most Indians want a viable substitute to dynastic party i.e. Congress and they want to see decimation of casteiest and regional satraps. e) Dalits do not trust high caste dominated BJP; Dalits are required to be assimilated with the wider Hindu realpolitik. d) Muslims are disarrayed; they are used as vote bank by Cong & others by exploiting their fear psychosis and lack of political cohesion. BJP has to realise that India is a multicultural, multireligious and multiethnic country. Even though Hindus are 80% they are not united and won’t vote for an exclusive Hindu party. e) BJP and Hindus have to make another sincere efforts to assimilates the Muslims. If the Muslims do not respond to overtures of secular offers and assimilation than we would be back to 1906-1947. That is not what people like me want.
f) The RSS has a big job: unifying the Hindus irrespective of castes, diversities of sects and educate them about the need for a unified Hindu face. They may like to divert from rituals and apply themselves to real unification effort on intra community line.
g) If BJP and RSS fail to do introspection they may continue to remain as minuscule Hindu entities and give scope for permanentcy of NG Family Dynastic Rule. The Choice is yours.

f) RSS has a big duty: unify the HIndus, make them see that HIndu unity both culturally and politically is important for India;s security. RSS may like to have a relook ats objectives and go in a big way to make the diffused Hindus into a soolid united political mass overcoming middle class defiance, affluent clsass apathy and Dalit etc revulsion.
g) Only that way we can have an alternative to Dynastic Congress. Otherwise let us settle for a few more generations of N-G family leaders to fool us.
Vishwa MOham
June 17th, 2009 @ 8:27 am

Your clarifications are very good.
amol
June 17th, 2009 @ 7:47 pm

R/Sir,

Thanks and views in last three points are highly appreciable.

Have you conveyed the same to BJP and RSS.?

Thanks again

Amol
Madhav
June 17th, 2009 @ 7:55 pm

Your points are well taken. We in the BJP Require self analysis and set up new goals.
Bajrangi
June 18th, 2009 @ 8:02 am

TUM HINDU VIRODHI KANGRESSI CHAPLUS HO. BHARAT MEIN HINDU PARTY NAHI HOGA TO KYA HOGA? HUM HINDU HAIN EBAM HAMARI PARTY HINDU KE LIYE KAAM KARENGE. AAGAR MUSALMAN TUMKO NAA MARE TO HINDU TUMHARA ANT KAREGA. DESH KE DUSHMAN!
Karthi
June 18th, 2009 @ 11:38 am

Boss,Every party requires self introspection.We dont trust this results.They misused the Electronic machine.This time most of the peoples voted for BJP,but the result is different like what happening in iran. start a campaign “Where Is My Vote”.
Karthi
June 18th, 2009 @ 11:42 am

And i too accept that RSS has to unite us ,yes they are doing that, and working hard for us.But i disagree that they have to discard Lord Ram temple in his birth place,and ideology.I sure hindus will turn against congress one day.
Karthi
June 18th, 2009 @ 11:54 am

I request you all to visit and keep reading :http://www.organiser.org
Bharat Bandhu
June 18th, 2009 @ 5:39 pm

Uttisthata Jagrata Bharatbasi. Hinduism is in jeopardy from Muslims, Christians and apostates like Dhar. This fellow is today Congressi, tomorrow BJP and next day Maoist. He is an enemy of RSS and Hindutwa. We will capture power through Hindu majority votes. Baran Parapy Nibodata.
Ashish Tiwari
June 19th, 2009 @ 2:16 am

Hi Mr Dhar,

I do not agree with you. BJP has to have an uncompromising Hindutva agenda if it wants to be in power. BJP has to work for uniting the Hindus rather than playing caste politics itself and be unrepentent for its Hindu bais and its goal of securing Hindu interests against the aggressive agenda of Jihadis and pseudo-secular forces. Again, Hindu agenda is for protecting hindus, securing their interests and bringing to an end discrimination and crimes against them. It does not has to be anti-minority at all!

BJP has lost past elections because it has forgotton that it is a party with a difference guided by high moral standards, clean public image and a particular ideology. Since it has tried to dilute its agenda, voters have started diluting their interest in this party. Though BJP voters at first understood the reason behind BJP to align with anti-congress parties to gain power. But after gaining power, they did not understood why they betrayed their trust. Those who voted BJP to power, wanted a concrete agenda against Pakistani terrorism, kashmiri pandits, bangladeshi infiltration etc and. In power for 4.5 years, Vajpayee govt just looked like a proxy Congress govt which dangles a carrot of ‘economic progress’ to divert the Hindu voters from its votebank politics. But BJP voters did not understand why does BJP wanted to substitute hindutva for India shining? Modi did not leave Hindutva so he is still ruling Gujrat.

Since the Vajpayee regime see it as a opportunist and confused party which has no ideology and no one can predict what stand it will take on which issue. Nuclear Deal is the best example. BJP has infact become a B-team of Congress. There is no difference in both the parties at all post 2000. Both now have the same agenda, grab power by any means with or without allies. However in this game Congress has an edge and that is its Muslim votes and all india presence on the back of which it has kept BJP off power for 10 years now.

Compromising on ideology for power, money and has taken this toll. Congress and other parties muslim appeasement, unprecedented corruption and price rise and terrorism are real issues which would have given BJP a huge advantage but the point is people do not trust this party at all to deliver on them. Instead of strengthening itself, the party just expects it can get the anti-establishment votes and its alliances and some how come to power.

And what kind of alliances are they? Every ally of BJP has worked to destroy BJP in that state. Mayawati, Naidu, Naveen etc and Nitish will dump it soon. Whereever BJP has not got into alliances like.. Rajastahan, MP, Karnataka, Gujrat, it has an edge over congress. So BJPs task is to cut out the secular crutches and be stronger in all state by itself. There in lies its redemption.
Maloy Krishna Dhar
June 19th, 2009 @ 8:17 am

Dear Readers,
I am receiving lots of abuses, notes of disagreement and some endorsement. I am happy that I have been able to arouse a debate and the symptoms are visible inside BJP. I thank you all irrespective of your comments. I’d try to kick up more disagreements on burning issues of the country. I would like younger people to apply their minds and to decide what kind of political government they would like to have: Dynastic democracy; Real popular democracy or Fractured regional democracy. Personally I am opposed to Dynastic Democracy. The younger generation have to decide on the future of the country; if it will remain united or undergo another spell of Partition on religious lines.
Raghu
June 19th, 2009 @ 12:31 pm

Hi all,
        Pls dont forget that we regular visitors only asked him to write a article about BJP loss in the election.As a stronging supporter of BJP and Sangh parivar, i too accept some points mentioned by him.There is nothing to abuse him, if we really want to abuse,abuse our people who voted by getting money, who are all supporting a party which ruled and ruling our great country for more than four decades,but still now also we are not having good water,connectivity,lack of political view to hang a person who attacked our great parliment,,etc.Even after a mumbai 26/11 also people voted for the same party.
      As a regular visitor or new visitor it is our responsibility to keep this room clean.
      Thank you
      Jai Hind
Dharmvir
June 19th, 2009 @ 12:59 pm

people who use abuse has nothing to say and debate on. Their knowledge about subject discussed is usually shallow
so they try to substitute that with abuse.

I request all the people who are using curse words to stop and bring out arguments on which we can discuss on and try to
understand the topic in more detail.
Dharmvir
June 19th, 2009 @ 1:27 pm

Dear Mr Dhar,

Below is my response to your post

1) I completely agree with you that BJP needs an introspection. But before introspection
it has to define the ideological environment it wants to taek to do introspection. Doing an introspection from
a strategy point of view rather than ideological view will not give BJP much needed bigger vision.

2) Your comment that BJP needs to adopt secularism is not clear. What is the need of
secularism when you are following dharma. Secularism is a very shallow political word and has been
use and abused in india like anything. The common understanding of word secular has a very weird
meaning in the Indian society today. Also the concept of secularism is based on some very wrong presumptions.
One of the presumptions is majority always suppress minority ? Secularism is practiced by all parties . where are
we in terms of unity and equality ?

3) Do you really think it is possible to unite Muslims with others ? The very basic tenant of Islam preaches separatism. We have numerous
examples in history where we can see that whenever Islam is followed by majority it crushes other ideologies.

4) I don’t think we ever moved from 1906-1947 scenario. The only difference is that it is happening locally rather than nationally. I don’t see the
day too far when India will have to loose Kashmir to Islam in the name of freedom of Kashmiri people. For the sake of freedom of same people
who kicked out their fellow citizens because they were not following their holy religion. How do you think the condition in Kashmir is
different from 1906 today. When a small piece of land is denied to Hindus in the name of demography change. How can you
say we are still not in 1906 scenario.

5) I agree with you on certain points that RSS needs to do revamping and the need to see the world in a different way. I think RSS today
is still using the methods adopted in 50′s or 70′s. World has changed a lot in last few years.
Sanjay
June 20th, 2009 @ 2:23 am

Dear Mr. Dhar,

I agree with u on few points only. It is right that BJP has to introspect and think what is their way out and why they are losing. I think their are a lot of reasons for their defeat and one strong point is their clear agenda either ideology or strategy and commitment towards it. Mr Dharmveer is right and I agree with him that Secularism is a word which can be used in different ways and everybody has his own meaning for that. But do keep on writing these issues Sir as it is really the need of this hour so that the people of this country starts thinking.
Ashish Tiwari
June 20th, 2009 @ 2:44 am

Dear Mr Dhar,
You seem to be missing a few points.

1 . People want democracy to function properly they want basic amneties, justice, education, jobs etc..it does not matter to anyone if that democracy is dynastic or popular. It is just the same as the fruitless debate Advani started–Manmohan Singh is a weak PM controlled by Sonia. How does it matter to anyone if he is weak or strong or by whom he is being run. We are only concerned if he is going in the right direction and doing the right things..

2. Partition on religious lines is inevitable in future if the vote bank politics is not stopped. Muslims have not got assimilated in the secular and peaceful fabric of India for 1000 years. What makes you think it is possible? However Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains have lived in peace even since Islam was not there. There have been large scale riots in India since independence and the trend seems to have stopped only with the Gujrat riots because Muslims now believe that they will face equal retaliation from the Hindu right.
If anyone wants to take lessons from history, 1947 partition did not happen because Jinnah or Muslim league or British wanted it. It happend because Muslims have come to be a majority in eastern and western parts of the country and rose to almost 30-35 percent of the overall population of India. And there has been and will be no change in their character. If anyone thinks so, he is fooling himself. You cannot force muslims to abandon their agenda but we can prepare a long term defence against the repeat of this. And it is not only Muslims. Even after the partition, Sikhs, Bodos, Nagas too have given independence a serious thought but they lacked the numbers and were soon decimated.

Long lasting peace and unity of India is possible only last till the below two conditions are met–
a) Hindus are a dominanat majority in all parts of the nation.
b) Hindus have a detterent force of causing greater harm if provoked.

Both the above conditions are threatened by the votebank politics of the pseudo secular forces who in the name of communal harmony and secularism are provoking muslim communalism and illegal infiltration. This has to be stopped by a party who is determined to tackle muslim communalism and population explosion and casteism in hindu community. While at the same time nationalist fervor needs to be injected in all the citizen of India just like the Chinese…
Sant Lal Raghav
June 20th, 2009 @ 8:35 am

I agree with author that BJP require reorientation of its strategy. Secularism need not be confused with Dharma, which is a spiritual concept; secularism is a socio-political concept most necessary for peaceful cohabitation. We do not want Dynastic Rule and another partition. We want patient accommodation to Muslims and see if they deviate from the path of separatism or they try to integrate. If they want separatism we will fight with all the might. Otherwise they should be welcome.
Uma Rathore
June 20th, 2009 @ 5:22 pm

There are sayings that Ostriches do not want to see dangers and bury heads in sands. Same tragedy is happening to BJP and its supporters. God save them.
Kiran Aggarwal
June 21st, 2009 @ 7:46 am

Current events in BJP prove correctness of your comments. Thanks for the best assesment.
Satnam Pundhir
June 22nd, 2009 @ 6:06 pm

Eagerly waiting for your study of the fault lines. I like your analysis.
Sampat
June 23rd, 2009 @ 5:40 pm

BJP will never die. RSS will not die. Jai Sri Ram
Joya Mondol
June 24th, 2009 @ 8:35 am

You are correct sir. BJP and RSS are still groping in the dark. Our hopes in them have been dashed
Karthi
June 24th, 2009 @ 11:34 am

Try to understand, that every party has differences.The truth is medias are not showing about other partys but speaks heavely about BJP.There will not be any divide,Ok how many members came out,hardly one or two, can you say this a divide.the medias are joking and fools are accepting.
Sanskriti Chauhan
June 25th, 2009 @ 8:04 am

Dhar, at this old age you have become senile. You and your few supporters are happy over defeat of BJP. BJP, RSS and VHP are sole representatives of Hindus. You are a lackey of Congress and doormat of Sonia the foreign overlord. Go to hell!
Ramchandra
June 25th, 2009 @ 12:06 pm

Ram, Ram Ram. You are an enemy of the Hindus. Are you a Kashmiri half musalman? Go and marry musalmani.
Madhukar
June 25th, 2009 @ 4:09 pm

Kehte hain murakh pagal bhi hota hain
Ram kare tera jivan ant ho
Ja tu narak
Sarke mar tu murakh.

A RSS aevak
Parul Dandavate
June 27th, 2009 @ 8:33 am

Salute your courage. Keep writing fearlessly,’
Regards
Parul, Pune.
Paul Brass
June 28th, 2009 @ 11:08 am

I have written on communalism in India. I find very little change in the situation even after 20 years. To me it appears that Hindus and Muslims are drifting apart.
Malaian
June 28th, 2009 @ 12:58 pm

Will the same Paul Brass write about christian communalism in india.Conversion is a panic among the hindus.This creates hate on them.Every one knows about this.
Grossmann
June 28th, 2009 @ 7:27 pm

An interesting study. I was in India during election time. I support you that BJP made several mistakes. It is tie they shun hardline Hindutwa and settle for realpolitick.
Avtar Singh Rathor
June 30th, 2009 @ 10:11 am

One last question. Would you like to join the RSS to save the Hindus?
senthil
December 17th, 2009 @ 9:16 pm

Sir,

As a formal IB personnel, i expected a lot of pragmatism in your article. But its disappointing.

While i agree with some of your points about BJP and congress, i find that a lot of that is influenced by popular media makings. Ofcourse, there is no alternative nationalistic media, and hence the media established facts have been influenced in you.

Now let me point out few things.

1. BJP needs efficient leaders and pragmatism. Not muslim appeasement. You are of the assumption that muslims have voted for BJP in the past and hence this time not voted for it, which is a wrong one.

2. Rahul baba and MM singh are popular only among urban middle and upper class voters who mostly do not vote. But for the rural people, their local leaders matters most.

3. You comfortably discounted the possibility of election rigging and manipulation, with deliberate projection of Naveen Chawla, and suppression of the report on him by former CEC gopalswamy.

4. Mumbai attack exposed congress’s and MM singh’s passiveness and inpotency, but sufficiently covered up by media. I feel, you failed to note that. As a common man, it appeared that the investigation is directly by Foreign agencies rather than Indian Intelligence. It mostly appeared that indian intelligence has become subsidiary of the american and british one. There is no assertiveness or independance of operations. I may be ignorant, but as a public, this is my opinion.

5. You mentioned about Kandahar. But what about the foolish and idiotic lethargy of the congress, to allow media to telecaste live coverage of the commando action, and the naken ineffectiveness displayed by congress?

Overall, with a disarrayed BJP and heavy influence of foreign agencies and their funds towards congress, the election itself is a mockery.
firewall ports
December 26th, 2009 @ 12:53 am

Amazing! It’s a real shame more people don’t know about this place, this article had exactly what I needed today