Was Bharat Jodo Yatra Subversive?

Was ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ Subversive? Ram Puniyani As assembly elections in Maharashtra are progressing; the mindset of BJP was expressed in a clear way by the Maharashtra Deputy CM, previous CM and a top BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis. In an interview to TOI, and in several speeches, he blames the downward performance of BJP in 2024 Elections to the Bharat Jodo Yatra. As per him the BJP failed to counter the narrative set by the Yatra. This led to the decline of BJP MP Seats from (2019) 23 to 9 (2024). In this context he approached various organizations (30) affiliated to RSS to set the counter narrative. He also revealed an open secret that when in trouble he consults his parent organization RSS to brighten the electoral prospects of BJP. Just to recall the first yatra, was called the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, which started on September 7, 2022, from the south in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu This was concluded in January 2023, in the north in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. It covered 4,080 kms, across 12 states. The second one called Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra travelled from east to west. This started on January14 from Thoubal in Manipur, which covered 6,713 kms through 15 states before culminating in Mumbai on March 16. As per Fadnavis now Rahul Gandhi is surrounded by Urban Naxals and Ultra left elements and he is less of a congressman more of ultra left ideologue! Right wing Hindu Nationalists true to their Guru M.S. Golwalkar’s formulation (Bunch of Thoughts page 133,) Muslims, Christians and Communists are the internal threats to Hindu Nation, Fadnavis and his ilk will label anything against the agenda of Hindu Rashtra (Nation) as either pampering Muslims or Christians or Urban Naxals or Ultra left today. Urban Naxal word has been coined for all the human rights activists. Ultra left is the word for mostly those working for the rights of all deprived sections of society. Why was Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) conceived and taken out? Clearly the then 8-9 years old Modi Government’s rule had stifled the voices being raised for protection of values inherent in the Indian Constitution. It was the culmination of the social discomfort due to Government policies which were being directed against citizenship rights of Muslims, against the worsening plight of average people. It was conceived to unite India on the lines of what Mahatma Gandhi did while leading the anti-colonial movement. What was the agenda of the BJY? As clear from the title; its aim was to instill a sense of oneness amongst Indians, irrespective of their caste, color, religion and gender? It was airing the demands for most disadvantaged sections of social groups’ rights through various slogans, including the one demanding caste census. The response to this yatra was magical; making people from most strata of life join it or see its spectacle from the sidelines. They perceived that long years of divisive politics and implementation of policies which favored the rich and affluent are harming the unity of the country and the plight of average people. They perceived that this event will restore the situation in a better direction. This yatra stood in stark contrast to the Yatra taken out by Fadnavis’ peer Lal Krishna Advani. That yatra (Advani) was on the emotive issue, around a make believe notion of Hindu temple having been destroyed centuries ago by a Muslim king. Advanis’ yatra saw the bloodshed all the way on its route. And later when its fall out, Babri demolition took place much more violence was witnessed and Hate against Muslims got further entrenched in the society. That Yatra, which Fadnavis welcomed with glee, led to the upswing and strength of the communal party. This Yatra (BJY) was a total contrast. There was no emotive issue. It kept the Indian Constitution at the center and united the Indians on the identity of Indians. Fadanvis is more concerned about the red cover of the book (Constitution), because the contents of this book don’t matter to him. And he also forgot that this red cover edition of the Constitution was presented by the Supreme Leader Narendra Modi to Ram Nath Kovind. There was an apprehension during BJY whether the visible support to the Yatra will change the electoral equations. While not fully but in part, the Yatra has dented the then prevailing electoral dominance of communal parties. To its great credit the statement BJY is impacting Maharashtra election coming from Horse’s mouth (Fadnavis) is the big validation of its impact on electoral politics. So far the dominant discourse was that of prevalent Hindu Right wing nationalism. That has been partly combated by this BJY, while more needs to be done. Challenging the divisive communal discourse, which has been leading to Hate, fear and ghettoisation of minorities is partly challenged but a lot more needs to be done in this direction. What Mahatma had begun in a very powerful way was to give the message of unity of people cutting across religions. That’s what BJY tried and has to take it further. Another important fallout of the Yatra was laying the foundations of social platforms like Bharat Jodo Abhiyan and Eddulu Karnata. These have the potential to boost the values of the Indian Constitution. These groups working for ‘rights’ of diverse deprived and ‘less equal’ sections of society, have been coming together as collectives where they can assist each other in preserving the values of Indian Constitution. These groups are diverse, dedicated and firm on equal rights for all. The concept of rights for all is very troublesome for the Right Wings. In their agenda between ‘rights and duties’ there is a neat division. For them the affluent have all the rights and the deprived have all the duties. This is akin to the feudal kingdom systems where Kings Landlords, priests were endowed with all the rights and lower sections, including women, had all the duties. So was the distribution of and wealth. Thanks to Fadnavis we now know clearly that BJP suffered a setback due to BJA. Thanks to Fadnavis we know more clearly the deeper relations between RSS, Its progeny (which are not in electoral politics) and BJP which is their front on electoral chess Board. It was known but coming from the BJP leader himself, there should be no doubt about it now!