- The Bharatiya Janata Party not only wishes to position itself as a party with a difference but also never misses out on an opportunity to showcase the catchy phrase of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas on any platform to impress upon the Indian and global citizens. Yes, the whole world is aware that the BJP is a right-wing leaning party that also wishes to highlight the highest tenets of Sanatan Dharma. No harm at all since our millennia-old legacy, culture, heritage, tradition, and practices are largely derived from the holy scriptures/texts. Since the country is predominantly Hindu majority followers, the onus rests on the flagbearers to ensure the secular fabric of the country is not punctured courtesy of parochial considerations.
PC: India Today
- Of course, people familiar with the political narrative of the country would be acknowledging the fact that the secular versus communal viewpoints hold center stage consuming most of our attention vis-à-vis impressing upon the electorate. Now, we know how some Hindutva hardliners wish to assert themselves to address their core constituents coming in the backdrop of not-so-impressive performances of the BJP in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. Especially, the setback in the crucial Hindi heartland of Uttar Pradesh was a big blow to the BJP which was confident of repeating its success. However, the far-from-satisfactory outcome in the Lok Sabha polls has ensured the boiling undercurrents surface between the UP leadership to come out.
- The BJP leadership wishes to course-correct the narration by sticking to the core Hindutva ideology. The resultant outcome is the contentious UP government’s Kanwar Yatra decision to issue exhaustive route guidelines. Unfortunately, the UP CM has doubled down and expanded the UP police order to display the names of owners of eateries all along the route that thousands of Shiv-bhakts’ take on their annual trek to Haridwar. The police order had covered only the three districts on the route with high Muslim populations. The state’s order ignores the severe criticism of the UP police’s measure. Earlier, cops had dialed back, saying the measure was voluntary. Mind you, faith must be respected but untouchability must not be patronized.
PC: The Federal
- Note that Kanwar Yatra is a tradition, even if it has exploded in numbers over the last 15 years. Districts with high Muslim populations have always been on the Kawar route. There’ve been no communal conflicts during the trek or return journeys. That police in the first place thought issuing such an outrightly prejudicial instruction was their business is evidence of their blindness to real duty. That the police imagined their bias would go unnoticed also showed their belief that they can fearlessly interfere in people’s day-to-day lives and livelihoods. NDA ally JDU has sought a review of the order saying Muslims along the route have always cooperated. This order must be modified forthwith without contributing to further vitiating the communal harmony.
