Currently
there is propaganda from BJP combine that Congress is anti Hindu party.
On every conceivable occasion it states that Congress is insulting
Hinduism. In the wake of the verdict of Mecca Masjid blast cases; as the
accused got released; BJP spokespersons went hammer and tongs saying
that Rahul Gandhi-Congress have defamed Hindu religion, they should
apologize for that. In the ongoing campaign for Karnataka elections
(2018) BJP has taken out a Yatra against so called ‘anti Hindu policies’
of Congress. The propaganda has gone to such an extent that even Sonia
Gandhi, the ex-Congress President had to say that Congress is perceived
as a party for Muslims!
How
should we understand the policies of a party for any religious
community? BJP is propagating that it is a party which is taking care of
Hindu interests. Is it true? It has taken up issue like Ram Temple,
Holy cow, article 370, love jihad etc. Have Hindus at large benefitted
from it? We see that economic slide in the conditions of farmers,
workers, dalits and increasing atrocities against Hindu women. The claim
that these emotive issues are for the benefit of Hindus is a pure make
believe propaganda which has led to polarization, increased hate and
increase in the acts of violence. The major victim of these policies is
not only the Muslims but Hindus in large numbers.
What
about Congress being Anti Hindu, against Hinduism? Let’s take the case
of Mecca masjid blast. The major part of investigation was initially
done by Hemant Karkare, who was killed in the 26/11 act of terror on
Mumbai. Swami Aseemanand, the accused, himself had confessed of his
crime in front of a magistrate, which was not under duress, and his
confession was legally valid. Most of the investigations pointed fingers
to Aseemanand, Sadhvi Pragya, Lt. Col Purohit et al. During last four
years of BJP rule the case has been so presented by agencies as to
exonerate them all and put the blame of wrong investigation on the part
of Maharashtra ATS. While Karkare was proceeding with the
investigations, Modi and Thackeray had called him anti-Hindu. Karkare
felt so much pressured by these intimidations that he sought the advice
of his distinguished elder, Julio Reibero, who advised him to carry on
with his honest work, ignoring the pressures.
While
anti Hindu image of Congress has been constructed around such issues,
its pro Muslim image has been constructed in last few decades more so
after the reversal of Shah Bano issue by Congress government, which
apparently was a flawed decision. Still it was just yielding to
retrograde elements within Muslim community. Muslim community as a whole
did not benefit from it. Dr. Manmohan Singh’s statement ‘Muslims have a
first claim on national resources’, is yet another statement flouted to
assert that Congress is pro Muslim. What this hidden from the public
view is that this statement came in the wake of the Sachar Committee
Report. This report had debunked the claim that Muslims have been
appeased, it concluded that the economic condition of Muslims has got a
big slide back while they are also the victims of communal violence, and
that the only place they are over represented is the jails!
As
such attempt to walk on the path of secularism in our country, which
has suffered the impact of ‘divide and rule’ policy of British is not
easy. With the rising Indian consciousness, Indian Nationalism, Indian
National Congress came up with the people from all religions. Badruddin
Tybaji presided over the Congress session in 1887. It also had
Presidents who were Parsi, Christian, and Hindu notwithstanding. This
time around Congress faced criticism from Muslim communalists (Sir Syed
for example), as being a Hindu Party, while Hindu communalists (like
Lala Lalchand) dubbed that Congress is appeasing Muslims at the cost of
Hindu interests. All through Congress had to face criticism from these
elements, as it had the primary focus on Indian Nationalism; it was
practicing secularism with some slips here and there.
The
criticism of Muslim communalists, Muslim League culminated in the
formation of Pakistan. Hindu communalist, Hindu Mahasabha RSS criticism
was that Gandhi is appeasing Muslims, it is due to Gandhi that Muslims
have raised their head, due to which Pakistan was formed. The sharpest
articulation of this came in the actions of Nathuram Godse, who was a
trained RSS Pracharak and also became the Secretary of Pune Branch of
Hindu Mahasabha in 1936. In his statement in the Court (‘May it please
your honor’), he says that Gandhi is responsible for formation of
Pakistan, he has compromised the Hindu interests and been pro-Muslim!
The
present criticism of Congress, it being called a Muslim party, it being
against Hindu interests seems to be a continuation of the arguments,
which began with Hindu communalists in 1880s, via the articulations of
Hindu Mahasabha-RSS-Godse, which have become intensified during last
couple of decades. Surely the condition of Muslims has worsened during
last several decades and during last four years, its status is having a
‘free fall’, while those in power, making these accusations, anti
Congress propaganda are having a field day with emotive issues in which
Hindus are as much of the losers as the other sections of society are.
Walking
the secular talk is becoming more difficult by the day. Gandhi was
killed for this and his disciple Nehru is being the subject of
vilification and calumny for the same. The Muslim communalists rejoiced
formation of Pakistan, where development and amity is missing. With
Congress-Gandhi Nehru we could make a small journey towards fraternity
and progress. The criticism of Congress as being Muslim party, as being
against Hindus, reflects more about the sectarian agenda of those
propagating it rather that the nature of Congress, which despite all the
flaws has been trying to protect secular values, despite massive
limitations!
