Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra an attempt to retrieve Indian democracy

Rahul Gandhi’s slogan of ‘Nafart Ke Bazar men Muhabbat ki Dookan’ (a message of love in an atmosphere of hatred) will certainly inspire the common people. It will also blast the myth of the Gujarat Model. People in the rest of India must know that Gujarat is not well on the Human Development Index

The current political discourse in the country is hardly inspiring. When the world is discussing the onslaught on Gaza, the Middle East conflict, the return of conservatism in traditionally progressive countries, or issues such as climate change, we are busy with the inauguration of the Ram Temple at a medieval site in Ayodhya. Does the bankruptcy of our collective wisdom need any further elaboration? Currently, the most popular theme on TV screens is about political personalities who may or may not attend the inauguration ceremony of the temple in the third week of January. Except for the Left leaders, none of the leaders could show the guts to declare a boycott. The Left must be eulogized for their unequivocal stand that the Prime Minister’s inaugurating a temple is an act of politicizing religion. Refraining from clearly putting it before the public is cunning on the part of the political parties. Can a secular country approve the presence of constitutional functionaries such as the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, and Governor in a purely religious program such as this? According to the schedule, Prime Minister Modi will be the Yajman (host) in the Prana Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony.

We should recall how Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru viewed the opening of the Somnath Temple by President Rajendra Prasad. On March 2, 1951, Nehru wrote to the President, “My dear Rajendra Babu, I confess that I do not like the idea of your associating yourself with a spectacular opening of the Somnath Temple. This is not merely visiting a temple, which can certainly be done by you or anyone else, but rather participating in a significant function which unfortunately has a number of implications.”

Nehru did not press it further after Rajendra Prasad insisted on participating. However, Nehru was very clear that no government should associate itself with a temple in any manner. He had objected to the Suarashtra government’s setting aside rupees five lahks for the installation ceremony of the Somnath Temple. He said, “This seems to me completely improper for any government to do.”

The mainstream media is excited over the ceremony and trying to propagate the BJP’s narrative. In the process, it has put its credibility at risk. It ignores all uncomfortable questions. There are many unanswered questions. On what basis have only select people been invited? All the stalwarts of the Ram Temple agitation, including former chief of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Praveen Togadia, former chief minister BJP leader Uma Bharati, and firebrand BJP leader Vinay Katiyar, have been completely ignored. Pioneers of the temple movement, such as Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, have been invited but told not to join the celebration. The media may overlook these questions, but it must be the agitating minds of the workers of the RSS and the BJP who have devoted their time and energy to the cause of erecting a temple of Ram in Ayodhya. The cause was indeed the wrong one, but their devotion to it was real. The handpicking of guests only confirms the political nature of the program. There is an apparent attempt to impact the 2024 elections. Prime Minister Modi’s only goal is not to share the glory of opening the Ayodhya Temple. No one would have imagined that a minor player in the Ram Temple agitation would own all its glory.

There is an obvious attempt on the part of the ruling BJP to polarize the people on religious lines. The BJP and media are spotting people who could be declared enemies of Ram. The Chief of the Overseas Congress, Sam Pitroda, is an example. He is being targeted after he suggested that Narendra Modi is not the prime minister of a single party; he is the prime minister of the entire country. He has criticized mixing politics with religion. BJP leaders, including ministers in States and the center, took no time to pick up a quarrel with him. They grabbed the opportunity to reiterate how Muslim invaders destroyed the Ram Temple and attacked Hindu values. Does it not show the real intention behind the pompous celebration? Can the country afford further attacks on our secular fabric? Is it not the responsibility of intellectuals and civil society to stand against it? The attempt to polarize society just before the elections must be condemned unequivocally.

However, by declaring the second phase of his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi has shown the courage to accept the political challenge from the RSS and the BJP. His starting this yatra from Manipur is highly significant. The Modi government has virtually withdrawn from the State and left it to suffer unbounded strife and misery. The Union government has done very little to initiate reconciliation. It has failed to act against those who have forced the State into an unprecedented crisis. A partisan chief minister is continuing with the blessings of the BJP’s central leadership. Rahul Gandhi’s decision to start his Nyaya Yatra from Manipur must be appreciated as statesmanship. It will not only extend a healing touch to the tormented souls of the province but also restore the confidence of the Manipuri people in the Indian nation. It is akin to mainstreaming those who have been alienated by the misdeeds of the rulers. The Yatra that will culminate in Gujarat is also significant. Gujarat has been the RSS laboratory for rabid communalism. The hate speeches of leaders testify to the state of affairs in the State. Rahul Gandhi’s slogan of ‘Nafart Ke Bazar men Muhabbat ki Dookan’ (a message of love in an atmosphere of hatred) will certainly inspire the common people. It will also blast the myth of the Gujarat Model. People in the rest of India must know that Gujarat is not well on the Human Development Index.

Though an attempt to denigrate the Yatra is already underway, the determination of Rahul Gandhi to retrieve Indian democracy needs applause.

(The author is a senior journalist. He has experience of working with leading newspapers and electronic media including Deccan Herald, Sunday Guardian, Navbharat Times and Dainik Bhaskar. He writes on politics, society, environment and economy)