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| Will controversial issues, raised by BJP, help NDA ? | | | Even if a former BJP Chief, Nitin
Gadkari, has clarified that Article 370,
that grants special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, is not in the poll manifesto of the NDA one may hardly accept his views. It is so because BJP has remained the source of strength for the NDA and NDA minus the BJP can be as good or bad as a rudderless party or a conglomerate of parties. Gadkari seems to believe that the next Government will be formed by the NDA and that is why he has stated that neither Article 370, nor Ram temple at Ayodhya nor uniform civil code are in the NDA's poll agenda but these issues are included in the poll manifesto of BJP. Well this claim by Gadkari seems to be amusing because it may not be easy to keep the BJP away from the NDA. For the sake of argument one may agree with Gadkari's views because the NDA, that ruled the country between 1998 and 2004, could not include Article 370 or uniform civil code or Ram temple at Ayodhya because parties, including the JDU, and others would walk out of the NDA had the NDA attempted to include such controversial issues in its action plan.
Whether for right or wrong reasons the BJP seems to have revived some controversial issues including Article 370, uniform civil code and Ram temple at Ayodhya simply to woo voters belonging to that side of the fence who want these issues to be taken up for debate and for implementation. Well the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, had been in a fire fighting mood when, during his pre-poll campaign in Jammu, had favoured debate on Article 370 to find out whether the special status had been beneficial to the people of the state or not. He had stated that in case it was established that Article 370 was found to have proved beneficial to the people of the state it may not be revoked but in case it was established that the special status had proved harmful for the people it may have to be revoked. Had one bothered to read Modi's statement carefully one would have not rushed to the conclusion telling people that Modi was for abrogation of Article 370. Whatever Modi said in Jammu it generated some controversy in the Kashmir valley where majority of people support the special status for the state. It also enraged the valley centric political parties, especially the NC and the PDP, whose leaders told people that no power on earth could abrogate Article 370. Others said that it would result in finishing the Instrument of Accession which has remained the basis for Jammu and Kashmir to be part of India.
Amidst controversy over the BJP raking up Article 370 during the Lok Sabha polls, its former president Nitin Gadkari has clarified that it was an old issue for the party that was included in the BJP manifesto and not that of the National Democratic Alliance. Article 370 has been on the agenda of BJP and it will take a decision over it when it comes to power in full strength on its own. Gadkari, who is member of the BJP Parliamentary Board, said like in the past it was not on the agenda of NDA, but of the BJP. Inclusion of Article 370, which provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Ram temple at Ayodhya and Uniform Civil Code in the BJP poll manifesto for 2014 Lok Sabha elections has triggered widespread criticism from rival parties.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and other JD(U) leaders were up on their feet as soon as the BJP manifesto with focus on these controversial issues was released. Hitting hard at his old ally, Kumar had said "this justified his party walking out of the alliance with BJP." Congress, RJD, Samajwadi Party and other parties used the issue to intensify their criticism of BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Facing criticism of being a communal party, Gadkari said: "Congress, Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar are poisoning the society with continuously talking about casteism and communalism. These are multi-communal parties out to destroy the nation." It is yet too early to say whether the BJP, on the slogan of abrogating Article 370, favouring uniform civil code and Ram temple at Ayodhya, has polarised the political scene or not. It is too early to say if these issue raised by the BJP has instilled fear among a section of people. The veil of mystery and confusion is expected to be lifted with the declaration of poll results. |
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