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BJP
Sweeps the Assembly Elections
Ram
Puniyani
The
Assembly election results of MP, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh
(Dec.2003) have upset the calculations of pollsters, has surpassed
BJP's own expectations and given it a clear majority. Many factors
have been at play in the defeat of Congress. To name a few its lack
of coordination with the fellow opposition, its not being so
professional in conducting the poll campaign, its and
overconfidence. Similarly BJP has been helped to such a majority by
combination of motley factors, starting from anti-incumbency factor,
to its highly coordinated effort and the success of social
engineering by Sangh Parivar in Adivasi areas. The last mentioned
seems to be one of the major reasons for its sweep of the magnitude
this time around. In all the assembly constituencies where Adivasis
are in majority BJP has an overwhelming dominance. The results of
its social engineering in the backward, underdeveloped areas is
giving it the dividends, it had aimed for.
BJP being the electoral wing of Sangh Parivar (SP) is just one of
the constituents which is working for the Hindutvisation of society.
It is not just the electoral victory for SP but also is the success
of its Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (VKA) and Vishwa Hindu parishad in
particular that such a phenomenon is going on right under our eyes.
One recalls that from nearly two decades VKA has been put in the top
gear. It has been working in the Adivasi areas for Hinduising and
Hindutvsing the Adivasis. With the broadening of trade and
industrialization these remote areas came further in contact with
the villages and urban populace. The interaction has had diverse
results on this section. While some Adivasi sections, a miniscule,
could take the advantage of reservations and urbanize themselves,
the vast number has been left to the mercy of Gods. The
encroachment, displacement, the states putting a tab on their
interaction with their forests has resulted in the pauperization of
this segment of our society. The major section of social workers who
could reach this segment was the Christian missionaries whose work
in the area of education and health care did influence a small
section of Adivasis in becoming Christians. Also the whole section
of communities can not be empowered and uplifted by charity work
alone, this type of work which has its own limitations. But all the
same it had a small effect on Adivasis. Despite the assertions that
Christian missionaries are luring and converting them to
Christianity, it is clear that the Adiviasis coming under their
field of work is fairly small and today Christian stand 2.18% as per
the 2001 census.
It is here that the different type of cultural intervention began
from the SP associates. VKA in particular focused on Hinduising the
adiviasis as the major project of theirs. This was necessary from
various points of view. The rich peasants and traders who were in
those areas were uncomfortable with the educated Adivisis, asking
for their rights etc, and thereby disturbing the status quo. The
Hindutva project saw them as the indigenous Hindus who have fled to
forests to escape conversions by Islamic rulers. Now having escaped
the attempts of Islamic rulers they are victims of Christian
missionaries. It is here that VKA started its multi-pronged
activities. To begin with they were called Vanvasis, to give the
impression that they are an inherent part of Hindu fold. Than hordes
of swayamsevaks swooped in these areas preaching that they are
Hindus and should be proud of that fact. Simultaneously the
promotion of Hindu Gods and Goddesses was undertaken at hectic pace.
Adiviasis as such can not be called as Hindus by the parameters of
the identity of Hindu religion revolving around Ram, Gita, Acharya,
and the belief in cow as mother. But by using the Savarkar thesis of
Puyabhumi, Pitrabhui (All those who regard this land as Father land
and Holy land are Hindus) they were called as Hindus and than made
to accept the Hindu Gods. Also a political campaign of re-conversion
(Ghar Vapasi) was unleashed akin to the Shuddhi campaign of Arya
Samaj, in early twentieth century.
While consciously sidetracking the real issues of Adiviasis, the
emotional issues, issues of identity politics, were highlighted.
Hanuman and Ram are projected as The Hindu gods, and lately the
destitute Shabri is also being promoted as the Adivasi goddess. On
the other side a hate campaign against Christian missionaries was
initiated at high pitch, resulting in the intimidation of the
missionaries working in remote areas, the most horrific act in this
direction was the burning of Pastor Stains with his two innocent
sons. Interestingly, Chattisgarh BJP leader Dilipsing Judeo that
time stated that he will defend the murderer of Pastor Stains, Dara
Singh. After being reprimanded by the top BJP leader he kept quiet
on this issue and his brother took up the brief for Dara Singh's
defense. Mr. Judeo has specialized in the conversion of Adivasis
into Hinduism. The all round attack on missionaries been going on at
various levels.
Meanwhile a Hindu identity amongst Adivasis is getting rooted and
most of their traditions and nature worships are being replaced by
the Hanuman temples and the new priests. The sample of the impact of
Hindutva amongst them was seen in the Gujarat anti Muslim pogrom,
where Adivasis were mobilized to act as the foot soldiers of
Hindutva. It is no accident that they could be used by the cell
phone wielding BJP cadres coordinating the pogrom. Also Dara Singh's
activities cannot be seen in isolation. Dara Singh also could
mobilize the youth of the area for the dastardly crimes he did. In
addition to Pastor Stain's murder Fr. Arul Doss and Sheikh Rahman
were also done to death in the area on similar and different
allegations.
The threat of BJP winning the elections is manifold. One can feel
the undercurrents of creeping Hindutva in different parts of the
country. The Kerala Marad incident, the Baba Budan Giri issue, the
Church in Goa all are the planks for initial mobilization of the
section of Hindus. As witnessed in these elections Hindutva was not
brought to the forefront but its subtle undercurrents were present
in different forms. It can be inferred that Hidnutva is the initial
plank followed by a clever manipulation of the issues which appeal
to the voters at the time. The solid base of Sangh Aprivar also
comes in handy in turning the tide even of issues which seem to be
crystal clear. Judeo's taking bribe is projected as a trap and how
can a King take bribe are successfully marketed to the extent that
the camera proven corrupt can also win the election. Incidentally
this also shows the double standards of RSS. Same RSS in case of
Bangaru Laxman, in similar situation (taking bribe) stated that Mr.
Laxman was a shame on RSS.
There is a serious need for introspection amongst the democratic
circles. The Sangh Parivar is slowly utilizing the democratic spaces
to strengthen its politics of Fascism. The threat of Fascism is
there for real. As one recalls Hitler also came to power through
democratic methods, winning over the minds of sections of middle
classes and then having assumed power targeted the struggling and
weaker sections of society one by one. Tragedy is that many a
socialists of yesteryears, blinded by anti-Congressism, or using it
as a pretext to further their personal political ambitions, are
either sitting in the lap of BJP or having an understanding with BJP
at electoral level. The argument proffered is that Congress and BJP
are two sides of same coin or some of them go on to say that it is
Congress which has given birth to communal politics, in the form of
Shah Bano, opening the locks of babri Masjid, its involvement in
Anti Sikh riots and so on. Most of such critics fail to see that BJP
cannot be compared to any other political outfit in Indian politics.
It is a political handmaiden of RSS which is wedded to Hindu Rashtra
agenda, which does not believe in Indian constitution and which
rejects the values of freedom struggle, Liberty, Equality and
Fraternity. One will like to state that BJP is giving democratic
postures at times only because it does not have suffienct majority
in the centre. Having manipulated its way to Delhi, at what stage it
will totally adopt the agenda and goal of RSS is a mere matter of
formality.
The point is that all those valuing Indian Constitution, standing
for democratic values, protection of weaker sections of society
irrespective of their religion, all those believing in plural
society need to wake up. This surely is the last such call available
to us. Democratic options may be limited today but still they are
there. And BJP is no democratic option that is for sure.
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