HVK Archives: Let's give BJP a chance
Let's give BJP a chance - The Asian Age
Sudheendra Kulkarni
()
January 26, 1998
Title: Let's give BJP a chance
Author: Sudheendra Kulkarni
Publication: The Asian Age
Date: January 26, 1998
It took the collapse of the Congress party on the one hand and
the collapse of the Babri structure on the other to effect a
qualitative change in the BJP-Indian Muslim relationship. It is
not generally recognised by political pundits, but the
unmistakable consequence of these two developments has been the
opening of a window of opportunity for the Indian Muslims and the
BJP to start a new chapter in the nation's politics.
The demolition of the Babri mosque, which itself had been built
after demolishing a Ram temple, was as unfortunate as it was
unpremeditated. But, in a flash, it proved once and for all that
Muslim politics cannot be the same hereafter. Babri was indeed a
moment of reckoning for Indian Muslims.
This unfortunate episode placed two stark political options
before both Indian Muslims and the BJP. Would Indian Muslims
continue to be used as a vote bank by the Congress, its clones
like the Janata Dal and the communists in a strident bid to keep
the BJP out at all costs? Or, would they make a clean break from
the past and begin to exercise their democratic option freely on
the basis of their own perception of the policies, programmes,
and performances of different political parties?
There are no prizes for guessing which option' Muslims are
currently gravitating towards. At long last, the average Muslim
voter's thinking today is in tandem with every other voter's
thinking: Let's give the BJP a chance.
Equally important is the parallel phenomenon within the BJP. The
changed situation in Muslim politics has also brought about a
significant change in the BJPs approach to Indian Muslims. To be
sure, the party was never anti-Muslim. But experience had taught
its leaders and members that Muslims never voted in significant
numbers for the BJP.
Naturally, there was no special communication directed at the
community. But all that is past now. The dramatic collapse of the
Congress party, and the inglorious fall of the United Front
government, have created a sudden hollowness at the power centre
which can only e filled by the BJP.
Today, not only the Indian electorate (including Muslims) but the
whole world recognises that the BJP will be heading the next
government in New Delhi. Hence, the question before the BJP is:
"Can we continue our old relationship of misunderstanding and
mistrust vis-a-vis Indian Muslims?
"Must we not make added efforts to narrow the gap separating us
>from our Muslim brethren?"
On its part, the BJP leadership has responded to the call of
history with great sagacity and a lot of sincerity.
In particular, it has been communicating its view on secularism
with unimpeachable clarity. In a recent interview. Atal Behari
Vajpayee, the leader most Indians want to see as their next Prime
Minister, said: "India was, is and will always remain secular.
Secularism in India should ensure equal space and justice for
everybody.
Indian secularism should draw its inspiration from the concept of
Sarva Dharma Samadar equal respect for all religions. More
importantly, the state should not be seen as tilting the scales
in favour of any one religion."
When the questioner pointedly observed, "All this is fine, but
Muslims continue to have apprehensions, Mr Vajpayee was even
more forthright.
here is no basis for these apprehensions. For fifty years the
Muslim community of India has been treated as a mere vote bank.
Through a sustained campaign of untruths, the BJP's opponents
have made Muslims victims of a fear complex that is not founded
on facts. The time has come for Muslims to break free of this
fear complex and cease to be a vote bank for those who have used
them all these decades without improving their lot in any manner.
Muslims in India have equal rights as enshrined in the
Constitution. We guarantee to protect the lives, properties and
honour of India's Muslims."
During his Swama Jayanti Rath Yatra in May-July 1997 (when
parliamentary election was nowhere in sight), party President Mr
L.K. Advani had issued an appeal to Indian Muslims, urging them
to understand Cultural Nationalism and forge heart-unity with
their Hindu brethren.
He repeated it at the National Muslim Youth Conference on'
December 4 and said, "The BJP is interested in, and will
sincerely strive for, a qualitative change in the relationship
that now obtains between our party and India's Muslim community.
The very thought of excluding such a large section of Indian
population is repugnant to us."
To be sure, it is not the victory of any political party in an
election which automatically heralds better Hindu-Muslim ties.
This desirable transformation is only brought about by deeper and
sustained socio-economic-political processes rooted in the
eternal values of our common nationalism. But to the extent that
both the Muslim community and the BJP, India's next ruling party,
are starting a new relationship of constructive engagement, this
happy development is certain to elevate Hindu-Muslim ties to a
higher level of harmony.
(Sudheendra Kulkarni is a member of the BJP national council P)
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