Blow hot blow cold antic

I A Pansohta




India is in the grip of election fever now a days. Heated exchanges between Manmohan Singh, Indian Prime Minister and Krishna Lal Advani, President BJP are on high, as India is prepared to hold 5-phased general election between 16 April - May 13, 2009 in which 714 million people, representing more than one billion population will cast their votes to elect new central government. According to Mr. Advani, UPA led government at centre is pursuing vote bank politics which they regard a greater evil than the menace of terrorism. "if politicians stooped to low methods to procure votes, they will collide with each other". As polls are drawing near, BJP workers are busy turning Advani into Lord Rama by putting up hoarding in different cities, depicting Advani as a hero who is out to destroy the evil.




While leaders are becoming too glib with their promises, both Congress and BJP leaders are active in addressing public meeting and attracting their supporters or affiliates in their public rallies. A few days back, Manmohan Singh cast aspersions on the BJP's ability to rule India. Two days later, BJP President and prime minister candidate challenged him to a live TV debate ahead of Lok Sabha polls, like in the US and described Manmohan Singh as the weakest political head the country has ever seen. He has been quoted as saying in a modest gathering "I have never seen a person who has to take orders from the party high command to do anything for the country. Without Sonia Gandhi's approval, nothing moves in the government" Meanwhile. Another BJP leader Rajnath said, Singh was trying to incite religious passions by harping on contentious issues. Mr. Advani even proposed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to contest parliamentary election, instead of taking Rajya Sabha route. Singh is a member of Rajya Sabha from Assam. Advani further roared saying "If the Prime Minister was not willing for live TV debate, he could ask Congress president Ms. Sonia Gandhi for the same"




The statement speaks of Advani's naked ambitions to show his muscles to emerge more heroic to gain cheap popularity to become Prime Minister. If we accept Advani's preposition as true, what would he likes to say about Lal Bahadur Shastri, Morarji Desai, Charan Singh, Chandra Shekhar, HDD Gowda and I.K. Gujral They played in the hands of different pressure groups, one way or the other with exception of Jawaharlal Nehru dynasty i.e. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. To many, it is nothing except to stir storm in the tea-cup or election gimmicks. Both Congress and BJP are two sides of the same coin, whose only concern is 5% Brahmans rule over rest of the unprivileged 95% population, that stands divided into Other Backward Casts, untouchable Dalits, Scheduled castes and minorities.




Advani appears to be in a mode of generating mixed reactions or signals, besides unleashing hate-mongering campaign. While, his aides, zealots or affiliates are crying out loud against the militancy ignited by its neighbors day and night by turning a blind eye to the Shiv Sena's militant activities. In fact, the whole exercise spins around the Hindutva doctrine. Hostility between Pakistan and India is being used as a trumpet card and scare-crow to create panic and capture public attention how this recipe of mutual destruction will haunt their ambitions of making Shining India a reality, one day.




BJP's hollow pretension about clean politics is no secret to the world now. Leader like Advani committed to demonstrate his guts, if really wants to lead a nation, in a manner, he generally poses should first have demanded a thorough enquiry of Batla House tragedy, Mecca Masjid fiasco, Samjhauta and Malegaon blasts etc. Had he played some constructive role in the past with Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy, today he would have been a man of all seasons but, alas, he has become a man of saffron reason.




The memories of 1990, when Mr. Advani led his procession to Babri Masjid for reclamation of this holy site for Hindu worship is still alive in the minds of people. The event coincided with the TV serialized dramatization of 'Mahabharta Ramayana'. In a society profoundly attached to its epic heritage and susceptible to the magic of movies, discovered long running saga taking the nation by storm. Advani donned saffron garb and posed with bow and arrows, atop a truck decked out in imitation of Lord Rama's chariot. His cavalcade swelling prodigiously headed for Ayodhya, but was arrested, on Government orders under leadership of Vishwanath Pratap Singh. This reminiscence also serves a clarion call by most deprived classes, who are being treated out of their racial discrimination, how indignation is poked on them and brute authority would be used to inflict inhuman treatment after party's electoral victory. How politico-bureaucratic nexus with intelligence agencies plays her role with the collusion of various Mafias by pulling strings of gangs of goons from behind the scenes is anybody's guess.




`Without giving any credit to the party's leadership and two houses of the parliament, in Advani's political mathematics, Sonia Gandhi is all-powerful, over arching and over-whelming vis-à-vis Mr. Manmohan Singh, an economic expert and veteran politician. Can anybody believe she possesses all such capabilities and it is she who alone dictates and guides without her party's decision-making prowess. Acknowledge Advani has all the capabilities to raise the political temperature in the subcontinent due to his past history and links with Shiv Sena, but he should remember how Mr. Manmohan Singh's team has delivered to Pakistan in terms of cross-border terrorism, its tarnished image abroad, domestic wear and tear, denting its economy and creating mayhem - a reality trickled down in the minds of people of South Asia.