Intolerance may harm BJP poll prospects

The issue of “intolerance” is becoming relevant politically once again against the backdrop of attacks on dalits, minorities in different parts of the country and ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh and Punjab Assembly polls.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directives to check “Gau Rakshaks” involved in the anti-social activities has angered the VHP, Congress president Sonia Gandhi appealed for a national movement to reinvigorate the principles of “compassion, coexistence and inclusive development.”

If this issue is bringing dalit-Mulsims in UP closer to the BSP, unrest and long spell of curfew in the Kashmir Valley has put a question mark on the government’s ability to handle the crisis-like situation.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Mrs Gandhi appealed for a national movement to reinvigorate the principles of “compassion, coexistence and inclusive development as the indelible features of our polity, society and economy.”

President Pranab Mukherjee wants that incidents of attacks on dalits and minorities should be dealt with “firmly”; calling the violence against “weaker sections” that is against the national ethos as “aberrations”.

Coming down heavily on forces of intolerance, Mr Mukherjee cautioned against “unmindful pursuit” of a divisive political agenda and polarising debates by groups and individuals, saying they lead to institutional “travesty” and constitutional “subversion.” The BJP had paid a heavy price of a debate on intolerance and caste based reservations in government jobs in the Bihar Assembly polls. While the civil society reacted sharply on growing intolerance, BJP’s political opponents — Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar — had made this the poll plank against the BJP in Bihar.

According to a section of the media, out of 18 cattle related attacks reported in the last few months, 16 have taken place in the BJP-ruled states including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.

While division in the Sangh Parivar on the issue of tackling cow protectors is clearly perceptible, the debate on beef eating, Love Jihad, Ghar Wapsi, unrest in some university campuses, has sharpened the divide between the BJP and the rest.

Mr Modi who had condemned the violent activities of ‘Gau Rakshaks’ and demanded strict action against them, said there are few bad elements, shortcomings in our society and they need to be controlled. We will have to strive hard to protect our nation from such anti-social elements, and expose such people.

But the Shankaracharya of Kashi Sumeru Peeth, Swami Narendranand Saraswati disapproved the PM’s statement on cow vigilantes, saying it encouraged the killing of cows. According to the media, the Shankaracharya felt that the PM’s statement has somewhere financially benefitted people who kill cows.