Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, while drafting the Constitution of India, mentioned in the Preamble that India is a ‘Sovereign Democratic Republic’. In 1976, the Constitutional Amendment declared India as a ‘Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic’ though ‘secularism’ is not defined anywhere in the Constitution. The Constitution allows a blend of secular and religious sentiments in which an individual can enjoy and express his religious freedom in modern India.
Sixty-five years since Independence, India has seen the ugly truth of communalism, secularism and their hybrid: ‘pseudo secularism’. More than communalism, it is ‘pseudo-secularism’ which is pushing for politics of division and hatred in India: a rogue is easy to deal with but a rogue masquerading as a gentleman is difficult to contend with.
Just short of a few weeks ahead of going for the most important Lok Sabha polls, Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s meeting with Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari along with Muslim delegations, raises several doubts about the purpose of the meeting. A day after Mrs. Gandhi asked Muslim leaders to ensure that “secular vote” (read Muslim vote) was not to split, Congress President’s meeting with Imam has been seen as a last minute attempt of polarising the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. It’s obvious from Mrs. Gandhi’s words that she wants to stir Muslims into voting against the so-called ‘communal BJP’. It is interesting that Mrs. Gandhi should be seeking to rely on a religious community to foil the chances of ‘communal BJP’.
Mrs. Gandhi’s desperate attempt not only undermines the secular ideals of the Constitution of India but also violates the model code of conduct (prescribed by the Election Commission) by bringing religion into politics.
Although BJP meets sadhus daily, I have not heard any sadhus or the party call for, at least publicly, the ‘Solidarity Hindu Votes’. It’s strange that while the so-called ‘communal BJP’ is assiduously trying to focus on development, Congress is playing its communal politics. Sonia’s move is seen as the desperate attempt by the Congress to fight back in the elections. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in his every speech issued warning against ‘divisive politics’, but he merrily attend the meeting between his mother and Imam and endorsed Congress President’s appeal to Muslims to tactically vote for Congress. Isn’t it divisive politic’? Isn’t it minority politics? As a matter of fact, Congress is more guilty of playing the politics of caste, religion, and region than any other political party in India.
On the one hand BJP’s Prime Ministerial Candidate Modi is talking about the Gujarat Development Model (whether a myth or a reality) to address the hopes and aspirations of long-suffering India, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi is harping on the politics of religion, reservations, and subsidies.
The mood of the country is not very good news for the ruling party. Anti-incumbency, corruption, inflation, price rise, industrial downturn, agricultural decline, the decline in the party’s fortunes in Andhra Pradesh consequent upon the diabolically planned and executed bifurcation of the State, and lack of leadership must all be giving nightmares to Congress Presidents nightmares ahead of the polls. Instead of coming up with policies and practices that would build a strong and prosperous India, the party is harping on shallow issues to impress the electorate.
Not that the other anti-BJP parties are any better. Most other parties – be they BSP, SP, TMC or JD(U) – are all playing the same old card of religious minorities – spreading fear and, consequently, hatred. Was the last BJP (NDA) rule of India really any worse than the rule of the ‘secular Congress’ for the religious minorities? If Akali Dal and Muslim League are not communal parties, how come BJP alone ends up as a communal party? After all, any party floated on communal lines must be deemed communal.
I have strong objection to Mrs. Gandhi referring to Muslim votes as secular. On the face of it, the very term ‘Muslim Vote’ suggests a communal, communalised vote! Does Mrs.Gandhi suggest that ‘Hindu votes’ are communal in some sense that Muslim Votes are not? By praising one community and neglecting others, the Congress is exposing its hypocrisy behind secular politics. Congress interprets ‘secularism’ and ‘communalism’ to suit its purpose. What Congress is following is pseudo-secularism; if it wants secular politics, it should not bring religion into the picture overtly or covertly. Instead it brings religion – and caste and region too – into the picture whenever it finds them useful to gain power; ‘power at any cost’ is the policy of the Congress Party. It’s 60-year-old (or even much longer, if we take into account the history before Independence) pseudo secularism has ruined the country.
I also strongly object to anybody calling Varanasi a ‘communal place’. A religious place is not the same as a communal place. Would these people dare call Amritsar, Rome or Mecca communal? Just because Varanasi is a very important – perhaps even the most important – symbolic place for Hindus, it doesn’t follow that it’s a communal place; that Modi should choose to contest from Varanasi does not make it communal overnight. Congress’s argument that BJP is engaging in communal politics by allowing Modi to contest from Varanasi is not an excuse to go ahead and ask Muslim leaders to issue order for each and every Muslims of the country to vote for their party. It’s absolutely unacceptable. If Congress can set up Muslim candidates from areas where Muslims are in a majority and therefore would win the elections, Modi’s choice to contest from Varanasi cannot be 
contested if he thinks it is a ‘safe seat’ for him.
When will our politicians understand that Muslims are tired of being treated as vote banks – just as tired as every one of us is tired of being treated as part of some vote bank or the other? Why should an Imam be allowed to make political decisions for his flock? Why should any political party rope in the services of its religious leaders for political purposes? Won’t Congress let hell break lose if BJP were to ask the Sankaracharyas to ask Hindus to vote for BJP? Muslims are as politically well educated as anybody else and can take their own decisions just like people from other religions in India including Hindus.
We Indians don’t need to live under fear and hatred. Modern India wants an escape from these leaders whose only aim is to grab power at any cost by inciting hatred and division on religious lines or any other lines that fetch them votes. We Indians – across caste, creed and religion – want better life, dignified life, peaceful life. Indians today want today – as they have always wanted – jobs, roofs over their heads, quality education, better health, safe drinking water, good roads, good amenities, and so on which good governance alone can deliver. To achieve these goals, we need – and want – fair politics free from corruption and manipulation. We greet and shout for everyone’s rights without bothering about caste, religion, region, or any of the umpteen factors over which people can be divided.
So my appeal to all the leaders is: stop divisive politics and focus on development.
(Written By Susmita Bose with input from Prasad Rekapalli)
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. Spectralhues is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. The information, facts or opinions expressed in the article do not reflect the views of Spectralhues and Spectralhues does not take any responsibility or liability for the same.
Tags: 2014 Lok Sabha polls BJP Congress Elecions 2014 india Muslim Vote Narendra Modi pseudo-secularism Rahul Gandhi Secularism vs Communalism Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Sonia Gandhi Sonia meets Syed Ahmed Bukhari spectralhues Syed Ahmed Bukhari Varanasi
