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| Ideological drift of BJP | | | Omkar Dattatray
In war and politics everything
is possible was not said by an impractical man. BJP is on the march of so called reformation and modernization just for the vote bank politics. Like other political parties BJP has also mastered the art of opportunism, value devoid politics and pretence perfectly. Lust for power, fame and privileges associated with power are so strong that even mind set is changed and principles are compromised at the altar of securing it. It seems in the game of power there are strange bed fellows. BJP has gone congress way and is trying to outnumber them in one go. It is just not only stepping into their shoes, but sacrificing its own principles, values and even its whole philosophy. BJP which was hither to criticizing the congress and the left parties for minoritism, sham secularism and appeasement policies towards minorities is now itself advocating the cynical minoritism and pseudo secularism. It has distanced itself from projecting the cause of majority community for appeasing and pampering different minority denominations. One wonders is this changed mindset and reformation a farce, pretence, hypocrisy or a constraint of power? Whatever it is but this window dressing does not augur well for the interest of the party and the people. This ideological drift will only distance the party from the masses particularly from its core constituency. It will be a great disadvantage to the party from long term perspective. Every political party has its pet issues, themes and principles which distinguish it from other political organizations. Thus BJP the Pan India political party also has its pet issues, themes and principles which differentiate it from other political parties. But alas, the BJP has shelved all its themes, principles and pet issues for sticking to power which seems to be the be all and end all of the BJP's existence! In cases of J&K BJP has put all its pet themes and principles at back burner only to share power with regional PDP which believes in self rule which is nothing but another variant of autonomy as advocated by national conference.
The BJP has become ideologically bankrupt as it has given a good bye to all its principles, issues, pet themes and slogans only for appeasing a certain section of the population. BJP was earlier criticizing congress for being pseudo secular but the fact of the matter is that now BJP is also following the policy of appeasement towards the minority in order to project itself as the secular party. The pet themes and slogans of the party have been consigned to the dustbin in order to keep itself in power. BJP has now become another congress as there is little or no difference between the two parties as far as the principles, slogans and themes are concerned. In the Vajapayee era the NDA government led by BJP had no two third majority in the parliament and it worked on the crutches with the support of more than dozen political parties. The common voters thought it was compulsion for power that the party shelved its basic themes and principles and in future when the BJP will get absolute majority it will fulfill all its promises and stick to its principles but nothing of the sort happened. The issue of Ram temple at Ayodhya, the uniform civil code for all Indians, the abrogation of the controversial article 370 of the constitution and other such issues were shelved at the altar of power politics. BJP has become more loyal than the king so far as the secularism is concerned. It is no more a party with a difference but a party with differences. It is nothing but ideological drift of the BJP. BJP's political philosophy and the principles are sacrificed only to keep the minorities in good mood and to project itself as a secular party like congress and leftists. What a topsy turvy situation that the party has kept all its philosophy and principles in the back burner only to champion the cause of secularism. Thus the difference between this cadre based political party and other political parties has vanished and the credit for this goes to unprincipled stand of BJP about its core issues and pet themes neigh its philosophy.
The BJP has to explained to the nation if their earlier stances, commitments and promises as well as their manifestoes and slogans where a deceit on the gullible voters or where there commitments just the shortcuts to power and Delhi throne? The irony is that when the congress is also seeing reason in not following the politics of pseudo secularism, the BJP is making all out efforts to lure and woo minorities just to project its reformed, moderate and transformed face. The three main issues of BJP are already in cold storage. Now under a well thought plan the move seems to be afoot to erase the three issues of the party from BJP's itinerary. Ah, what a perversion of ideology and principles! BJP under its new found Maha mantra i.e modernism and dynamism is divorcing itself from even Hindutva plank and there is every possibility that BJP will distance itself from its basic notion and theme of cultural nationalism.
The think tank of the BJP must see to it and adhere to its cherished principles and values. Is this change a new face of BJP, a reformed one or mere a mask and pretence is the question of time. At present one can only say that it is akin to ideological bankruptcy of BJP, if not, what then? Earlier BJP stood for positive, genuine and true secularism but today it is also treading the same path of minoritism, more or less as did its predecessors of congress during their tenure. However, still it has not been able to gain a political constituency among minorities. In fact, to gain political power and showcase itself as a secular party it has divorced itself completely from its thinking and ideology. The BJP was once a strong votary of the strong centre and the champion of the unitary character of Indian federation. But today it is advocating the strong federal structure and devolution and decentralization of power and authority to federating units of Indian union. Earlier it also stood for centralization of power. Where have these commitments of the party gone? In the changed socio political scene, the BJP has compromised a lot. In J&K BJP is playing in the hands of PDP satraps. Where is the BJP's commitment to Ek-Vidhan, Ek-Nishan, Ek-Pradhan which was so dear to old leaders of the Sangh. Right or wrong the party has transformed itself from its conservative outlook to modernity. Though in the process it has forgotten its main issues and themes. Under the pressure from its mother and sister organizations of the Sangh parivar like RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal, its twisted and half hearted statements on Ayodhya, article 370, Uniform Civil code cannot earn any accolades to BJP. The BJP and its leaders should understand that it cannot befool the gullible voters and its core constituency for all times to come by using its planks and core issues when it suits them and then shelving them for their cozy chairs. The BJP led NDA government has also failed to contain terrorism and in sending a strong message to Pakistan. BJP has diluted its stand on foreign nationals issue and is somewhat soft on religious conversions only to appease various minorities. Further isn't there a total dilution on BJP's earlier position and stance on Swedeshi movement, PSU's and their disinvestment, privatization and other pressing economic issues confronting the nation. The parties stand on Hindi language as the medium of instruction and as the official language as well does not receive much attention as one hoped from BJP thanks to party politics of BJP. BJP should not indulge in pro Hindu, pro Muslim or a pro Dalit stance but justify its separate identity as a pro India, pro nationalist and pro people party which can take India to new heights. |
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