Antonio Diniz
From the time BJP came to power at the Centre, the party seems to have two clear and well defined agendas
First a palatable one that focuses on overall development, reforms, infrastructure and also to sell the democratic and secular idea and image of India to the external world. This strategy has two main components: one Sabse Sath Sabaka Vikas for internal consumption and the second to convince the countries of the world to accept India as a super power with great economic and technology potentials with solid democratic and secular credentials.
The second is regressive and suspicious one: to promote Hindutva and go slow or overlook or give irrelevant explanations or interpretations to the divisive and communalistic acts perpetrated by right wing organisations such as RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dhal and other fringe groups who have become extremely embolden since the BJP’s coming to power at the Centre and in some states. Their insistence on “ghar wapsi, or use of Gau rakshaks and “love jihads” who are law unto themselves have sent shivers in the minds of secular innocent people after witnessing several unjustified lynching.
Now these contrasting and controversial agendas are somehow interlinked and will have far-reaching implications and consequences on the success of external ambitions and also on the welfare, security, safety and peaceful coexistence of its citizens, specially the minorities.
The first agenda that is presented to the world about India’s great potentials in different areas and achieving the important long pending goal of becoming a permanent member of UNO and NSG can suffer severe setback, if the divisive and communalistic forces manage to succeed in their sinister plans and evil designs. How can countries of Europe, Asia, Americas and Africa who are predominantly Christians, or Islamic or Buddhist support India internationally if their right-wing organisations or their fringe groups that forcefully profess Hindutva and constantly accuse the minorities of being anti-nationals and demand that they should leave the country or those eating beef to be executed publicly? This is a grave offence not only against the minorities but also the Dalits and others who eat beef.
It’s high time that sanity should return to the BJP since it’s the responsibility of the Government to rein in all the antisocial and communalistic forces who operate with impunity across the country and spread hatred, revenge and violence over irrelevant issues.
Let’s hope that latest tough warning issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have some kind of sobering effect on the lynch mobs.
