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Intimidating Trident Communalism 2003(contd)
-Ram Puniyani

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Kerala is another state giving the danger signals. This state has large number of RSS shakhas. The Marad incident of clash between two groups of fishermen was communalized and the Muslim residents of the village had to flee and take shelter in a refugee camp. The subtle undercurrents of RSS work are getting visible in most of the states. With BJP led coalition coming to power at the center this has got a boost and lot of official patronage is being showered on the organizations related to RSS, which primarily aim at its usual agenda, which spread myths against minorities which in turn form a fertile ground for the riots and other processes in due course of time. Also the flood of dollars in the RSS affiliates is another worrisome problem, adding grist to the already existing threats posed by their activities.

The results of the assembly elections (MP, Rajasthan, Chattisgargh) are the major worrisome factor. Every victory of BJP leads it further to its tightening grip on the civil and democratic institutions. By now the other opportunist political formations have started lending a ladder to the BJP?s rise to power. The ilk of George Fernandez, who is a symbol of the opportunist politics to the core, is rising and BJP is able to use such people to the hilt for its agenda and the dirty work. In order to retain their privileges and power this type of leaders are the one’s to defend the rape of women in Gujarat or to put a cover to the acts like ghastly burning of Pastor Stains. This victory of BJP gives another signal and that pertains to its ‘success’ in social engineering. By now the affiliates of BJP have infiltrated in the remote areas through Vanvasi kalyan Ahsrams which are not only Hinduisng Adivasis but also Hidnutvaising them. Gujarat showed as to how cleverly RSS can use Dalits and Adivasis as its foot soldiers in conducting the anti minority pogroms. These elections are showing that RSS grip on Adivasi areas is risesing and now through the medium of identity politics it can draw the adivasis to its electoral fold. In a way BJP seems to be emerging as a core pole in the electoral arena. One, it is able to negotiate coalitions, taking advantage of the power hunger of the opportunist electoral formations. Two, it is able to give them the RSS-Hindu identity through VKA etc. Three, by providing upwardly mobile channels to a section of them they are able to increase their base. And lastly, the Sanskritisation process, which ensures that this semi affluent section of Adiviasis falls in the lap of SP, also grips a very small section of Adivasis.

The policies in external affairs are leading the country in the lap of the US imperialism. One knows during the colonial period of our country, RSS was not opposed to the British rule as such but was focusing its energies on opposing the political stream, which trying to build India as a modern Indian Nation state, the national stream under the leadership of Gandhi. Even during America’s aggression against Vietnam, RSS might have been one of the few organizations in the world to blatantly support the American policies. India, which was the leader of Non Aligned movement has been gradually shifting its stance to become the client state of Unites states. This became very obvious when India offered all the support to US in its aggression against Afghanistan. The same wavelength is continuing and US is recognizing that India under the BJP can become another reliable ally for its global ambitions of imposing Globalization on his terms.

The impact of this Modi type intimidation on the Muslim minorities is in the adverse direction. The ghettoization of Muslim minorities, which increased in the mid eighties, is rising further. This in turn is leading to the further growth of Muslim fundamentalism in the pockets of population.

Overall the scene is quiet dismal, especially after the results of three state assemblies. If one analyses the electoral percentage, one is clear that the total votes polled by BJP are not significant except in parts of the country. But combined with the different strategies and with the coalitions, it is able to walk away with the cake. It is a clever Machiavellian move, which is keeping it in the center of power. Since BJP is tied to the apron strings of RSS and is electoral wing of Sangh Parivar, the danger becomes all the more. If the trajectory is not checked it will aim at a majority on its own, then subduing the allies it will manipulate the social and political processes in such a way that over a period of time it brings in the agenda of Hindu Rashtra.

The response of the communities has been very diverse. A sign of hope has emerged from the Human rights groups who have undertaken the work of spreading the values of pluralism and harmony in the communities. This being done through various channels, though most welcome is too little too late. Amongst the Muslim communities while on one hand there is rise of obscurantist values, on the other various groups and trusts working amongst them have been taking up the issues related to education and self-employment in a serious way. Again the efforts are miniscule compared to the problem on hand.

The efforts at political level will fructify only if the society gets a respite at electoral level and at social level. The need is to ensure that under no circumstance the communal powers come to power. Every stint in power leads them to strengthening their grip at the social level. This further erodes the pluralistic values and its impact is on all aspects of National life. The Nation is at the crossroads once again. The threat of communal fascism is rising by the day and the efforts to deal with this should aim at forming a sort of platform for egalitarian society, addressing the issues of people at day-to-day level. The positive alternative of a society where the values emerging from our freedom struggle and those enshrined in our constitution is strengthened has to be our priority. The fragmentation of secularists at political and social level is most detrimental. One can say with some degree of confidence that even now the overall majority of society is fed up with the impact of communal politics, the adverse effects of the politics of Hindutva. The majority of Nation wants the issues to be brought back to the one’s related to bread, butter, shelter and employment. The tragedy is, the center of gravity of our polity is gradually shifting. The challenge is not only to hold it but also to put forth a positive alternative of secular democracy, the one committed to not only to the people of one or other religion but to all Indian citizens. The issue is that we all deserve the status of equal citizens irrespective of our caste creed and gender. The issue at stake is that the choice of those who struggled for our freedom has to be brought back as the major concern of the nation, the concerns related to a decent social and political existence. Communalism is rising by default, it is as much the success of the long work of RSS and its progeny as much it is due to the failure of the progressive people to understand the multiple dimensions of social, economic and cultural life of the people in all its rich complexity. 

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