Times of India Editorial on BJP's communal electoral campaigning

(Times of India
April 13, 2007)

Editorial

Hate and Dust

The years in office seem to have had little impact on BJP's politics, if the campaign material the party has used in UP is any indication. First came a controversial video CD that projected a communal stereotype of the Muslim community.

When the Election Commission issued a show-cause notice to the party to explain why it should not be derecognised for violating the Model Code of Conduct, senior BJP leaders disassociated themselves from the VCD and blamed middle-level state leaders. Later, the party questioned the credibility of the EC.

Even before the EC got to hear the case, the party has come out with posters insinuating that the patriotism of Muslims is suspect. There seems to be clear design to the campaign; it is directed to polarise UP society on communal lines during elections.

A national party that had until recently held the office at the Centre is stooping to such a low, makes the situation even more alarming. The campaign material in contention is crude in language and incendiary in tone. It violates the norms of accepted political practice and the party has to render a public apology for overt communal propaganda.

Slandering a community, particularly considering the context and past history of similar campaigns, can't be excused even by stretching the definition of the right to freedom of speech. Various judicial commissions that investigated communal riots have revealed that hate campaigns played a significant part in preparing the ground for rioting.

The UP issue has to be treated within the purview of Section 123 (3A) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which prohibits candidates from promoting "feelings of enmity or hatred between different classes of the citizens of India on grounds of religion, race, caste, community or language" for the purpose of gaining votes, or prejudicially affecting the election of any candidate.

Any move to deregister or derecognise BJP, as demanded by its opponents including Congress, BSP, Jan Morcha, may lead to a communal polarisation in the state. However, party leaders, on account of being office-bearers, should be taken to task. They ought to be barred from contesting elections and holding public office for a stipulated period.

In the past, several Shiv Sena leaders have been found guilty of hate speech and punished. BJP candidates in UP who have put the controversial campaign material to use should be held guilty of violating the RPA and judged accordingly.