If anything that election after election has brought to light, it is the fast blurring difference between the BJP and the Congress in their ideological orientation. What has been singularly absent from the discourse is a defense of secularism which was expected from the Congress as the party claiming to champion inclusiveness. But the party instead has chosen to fight the BJP on its own ideological turf by plying soft separatism. Recent Gujarat and Karnataka Assembly poll campaigns have been an example of this: Congress president Rahul Gandhi made a beeline for the temples. In Karnataka his first port of call on landing has been a temple. But he has either skipped or been far less enthusiastic about visiting shrines – albeit he did once visit a dargah at Kalburghi. This should be a cause for great concern for the minorities, especially Muslims. It once again proves that they just dont matter in the politics of the country. And now every party not just is scared to ask their votes lest it alienate the majority community across its otherwise bewilderingly differentiated ethnic and linguistic profile but they dont even feel obliged to do so and would be happy if the Muslims didnt visit their rallies. If Congress is shy of doing so, every other party would be also.
Gandhi made little effort to flaunt his partys putative secular credentials. He fought the BJP on the latters terms. He pandered to rather than confronted the Hindutva narrative by ensuring that he continues his temple run. He kept a safe distance from Muslims, didnt directly appeal to them for the votes.
If anything it shows the dangerous mainstreaming of the Hindutva ideology in the country. Congress no longer sees secularism as an electorally beneficial proposition and would rather buy into Hindutva narrative as it resonates with the majority of the people. This is a constituency that has been built by the BJP by plying a poisonous, anti-Muslim narrative over the years and Congress submission to it is lending it a new rationale. Truth remains that Congress in its new avatar seems to have deliberately dumbed down its ideological voice. It is, ironically scared of secularism. It wont offer a reassuring and regenerative secular vision to the country but would rather choose to pander to the current reigning creed of Hindutva.
This is a very troubling development. In a sense, no matter what the verdict in Karnataka, it will change little for Indias minorities, particularly Muslims. It will be a long time before India gets rid of the unquenchable hate that currently courses through its body politic. But this reality hardly detracts from the profound significance of the outcome of the Karnataka polls. BJP emerging as the largest single party agonisingly short of the majority has cemented the Prime Minister Narendra Modis already unassailable political position in the country. But the minorities would want return of a political system that is promotes inclusiveness and discourages their persecution. And that doesnt seem to be the likely case in the short term.
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