I read the article ‘Why the Modi government gets away with lies, and how the opposition could change that’ by columnist Shivam Vij in ThePrint.
With due respect to Shivam Vij, the article is superficial, and only reveals the fatuity and intellectual vacuity of the so-called Indian intelligentsia. In times of elections in India, it is completely irrelevant whether the leader of a party or a candidate is a liar.
Shivam Vij refers to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Rs 20 lakh crore economic package to say it is far from a stimulus and is instead a “grand loan mela”. He calls the Modi government’s statement of paying 85 per cent of the migrants’ train fare during the lockdown a lie. He was also critical of Modi’s statements on the National Register of Citizens (NRC), demonetisation, electoral bonds, etc.
Shivam Vij refers to the term ‘doublethink’, coined by author George Orwell in his famous novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, and asks: “Why do people accept all this so willingly? Why do people who are lied to every day go and vote for the BJP?”
Shivam answers by referring to a paper that Christopher Paul and Miriam Mathews wrote for the RAND Corporation, dealing with the four ‘fire-hosing of falsehood’ propaganda techniques of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vij then suggests five ways to India’s opposition to counter Modi’s lies.
Also read: Why the Modi government gets away with lies, and how the opposition could change that
Lacking depth
Shivam Vij’s thinking is totally superficial, inane, and lacking in depth. Here’s why the BJP keeps winning elections despite Modi’s lies.
As I have explained in several articles — ‘India is still India-A Response to Aatish Taseer’ published in indicanews; ‘Is India truly a secular country?’ published in Punjab Today; ‘Dark days are ahead for India’ published in Daily Times — although the Constitution declares India to be a secular country, the ground reality is very different.
India is in fact a highly communal country. That is because secularism is a feature of industrial society, but India is still semi-feudal. In India, most Hindus are communal, as are most Muslims. This I can say from my personal knowledge. When I am sitting with my relatives and Hindu friends, and they are sure no Muslim is present, they often spout venom against Muslims. When a Muslim is lynched, most Hindus are indifferent, some are even happy.
Of late, polarisation in Indian society has increased to such an extent that Hindu children in many schools tell their Muslim classmates that Muslims are terrorists and anti-nationals. They sometimes ask Muslim kids if their fathers manufacture bombs.
Also read: Why can’t the opposition tell people to do things from their balconies?
Lies don’t matter to Indian voters
But it is not that India became communal only after the BJP came to power in 2014. India was a communal country even before that, but communalism was usually latent, erupting only occasionally. This was because the Congress and other secular parties depended on the Muslim vote bank and appeased the community in many ways. After 2014, communalism has become open, virulent and relentless, since the BJP does not depend on Muslim votes to win elections.
When it comes to voting, most (probably 90 per cent) people in India vote on the basis of caste and religion. They do not see whether the candidate is good or bad, educated or uneducated, or whether s/he has any criminal antecedents (a large number of MPs and MLAs have criminal backgrounds).
And the voters certainly do not consider whether the candidate, or the leader of the party s/he belongs to, is a liar. All that India’s 90 per cent voters see is which caste/religion the party represents.
Also read: 8 things the Congress could learn from 40 years of the BJP
BJP’s relationship with Hindus
Since about 80 per cent of India’s population is Hindu, and the BJP presents itself as a party of Hindus, it started winning elections after successfully galvanising and arousing Hindus’ religious sentiments based on the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and Lal Krishna Advani’s Rath Yatra, and stoked up the communal fire. From a party with only two seats in the Lok Sabha in 1984, it reached to 182 seats in 1999, and 303 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
As is evident from the 2019 election, the real issues facing India — such as poverty, unemployment, malnourishment, lack of healthcare and good education — were non-issues for the voters. All that mattered for 90 per cent of them was religion and caste of the candidates.
Most politicians are liars, and not just Modi. They promise the moon at the time of elections. Indira Gandhi had said ‘Garibi hatao’, and our gullible masses swallowed this slogan lock, stock and barrel. So why blame Modi alone?
Shivam Vij’s five ways of fighting the ‘fire-hosing of falsehood’ betrays a superficial understanding of a phenomenon. Most Hindus, who constitute 80 per cent of India’s population, will keep voting for the BJP. Modi’s lies are irrelevant.
The writer is a former judge of the Supreme Court of India. Views are personal.
Hatred politics is above all issues in India as our democracy is not matured like US and UK, we still vote for POK to bring Muslim inside and same time we vote for NRC to drive the Muslim out. Just hatred politics not genuine thinking of the issues
Well today if you want to keep the country as a viable and with any relevance to depend on your future prospects then we require capable leaders with results and especially ones who respects the Constitution. India in its core is an idea pit together in its Constitution. Its not a country of religion. India is probably not even its people. The last 2 lines of Preamble says We Give Ourselves the Constitution or we Give ourselves ‘India’. The job of leader is to strengthen Constitution and thereby India. If the Constitution is taken care of excellently in full spirit its blessings will provide success for People of India. Its no one man that can peoples lives. India does that. BJP or Congress is not India. Weakened constitution will finish India. Never vote on Caste/ Religion. Example, Abdul Kalam was a Nuclear Scientist who have India needed Nuclear Advantage. No one in a different caste or religion was even qualified.
Hatred and envy led Jesus to be crucified. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated for his stand against slavery. Gandhiji was assassinated for taking sides with peace and non-violence.
Ask Modi what he stands by, and he will remain silent.
Before the truth, Modi has always stayed silent because he cannot face it nor refute it.
Many of my countrymen will learn this late perhaps.
We are not interested in learning.
Modi, modi, modi, only modi. Bharath mata ki jai.
I am compelled to join the weighty debate in order to point out a flaw in justice Katju’s rejoinder to Shvam Vij’s article on the lies behind Modi’s fortune. I think, Justice Katju is a little unkind to the Hindus.
There is no doubt that BJP’s luck brightened in 1989 following Advani’s Ram Mandir undertaking. But look at the poetic justice that Ram has delivered to his chief bhakt. The Supreme Court that awarded the land for a mandir to the Hindus has ordered the continuation of his trial on the charge of conspiracy to demolish the Babari Masjid that once stood on it. And Advani’s own protege has. .dumped him unceremoniously.
As to Modi’s electoral feats. assuming that all the voters of Modi were Hindus, the arithmetic does no quite tally. The strength of the Hindus in the Indian population is 80%. Its half will be 40%. The BJP secured 31% of votes polled votes in 2014 and 37% in 2019. In both the cases the BJP failed to secure a majority of even the Hindu vote.
Electoral success is a matter of complex politics. Lung power is one of the factors in this politics. The power of the media and the big business (that controls the media), who are estimated to have contributed ten times more fund than what was available to the chief Opposition party and the fragmentation of the Opposition are some of the factors, if one ignores the misuse of official and judicial machinery.
Hindus at large were not communal in nature especially the earlier generation but due to the issues happening within India and the rest of the world the present generation mindset has changed. Thanks to the Congress party which supported all the wrongs of the selfish Muslim leaders and the bombings in the trains and in Mumbai and other parts of India with help from Pakistan, have made many people orphans, some handicapped for life and the fear of these terrorist to rise again have left them with no alternative other than elect a leader who they feel can keep them secure in their own country. Therefore whatever lies Modi says is immaterial as long as they are safe.
A totally inane comeback on Vij’s excellent article. The fight is not between lie and lie but between falsehood and truth.
To compare the ‘lie’ of Indira Gandhi when she promised ‘gareebi hatao’ with the blatant and barefaced lies of today like how there are no migrants on the roads, like how no one is hungry, like how the government is paying 85% of the price of train tickets etc etc , is either stupid or partisan.
dun congressi bootlickers are idiotic indeed …modi ha not said lies he has promised what he can delivered n tried to do his best … his lies are only for the political frustrated opposition who own lies have come to the fore .. like the Rafale drama .. most congressi are corrupt n communal .. Shivam vij is congress frustrated moron who does not get his dues any more.. govt is indeed paying 85 % cost .. n the congressi asses were barking it was going to pay .. congressi have been caught sending madrassah students and claiming them as workers …! congressi need to be eliminated n some intellectual oppositions needs to be in their place but alas morons of SP BSP scums n brainles marxists are no hopes of good political opposition ….any we love the frustrated rants of anti modo lungi bhangis …and will cherish them
Winning elections and governance are two different things. We need more of better election strategist in the scene, who know how to win elections. Both the authors do not spell out how oppositions are winning state elections or municipal elections.
Well, it wouldn’t be far wrong to extend the argument and say the whole world is communal. Passions run deep all over. It is not just Hindus Vs Muslims, or Religion A Vs Religion B. There are always prejudices, dislikes. Kannadigas in B’lore may hate Tamils. Tamils in Chennai hate Brahmins and Hindu-wallas. The Koreans and the Chinese don’t like the Japs. And so on…. Why people pick up ONLY Hindus Vs Muslims and that too, paint Hindus as the aggressors and Muslims as victims, I can’t understand. Anyway, leave Hindu-Muslim rift aside.
People voted for Modi and will continue to vote for him. Not because he is seen as a savior of Hinduism–some may, but not most. I, for example, would vote for Modi because I believe he is trying to build the nation. His government hasn’t quite delivered on its promise, but I believe they are in the right direction, and most of the things they have done so far are foundational and hence its effects will be seen only in years to come. The latest example is the abolition of APMC. Maybe they bungled on the migrants issue, but that doesn’t mean they are indifferent to peoples’ suffering. Maybe their handling of the economy is wanting in sense, but that doesn’t mean they are not trying hard or correcting themselves. In any case, they are better than the people whose very objective of being in power was to loot the country–governance, even if they did a few things right, was only incidental. That is why people vote for Modi. Not because they are fooled, like Shivam ‘Intelligent’ Vij things; not because they are Hindu bigots as the Lordship thinks.
Katju is sensationalising by generalizing , for example many hindus may be communal to some extent,but to say this in a general way is extremely untrue. Again most politicians are liars , but there is a range from normal to the congenital, painting everyone with same brush is nonsensical. The reason why Modi wins are complex , but from the pattern of victories one can tentatively arrive at a conclusion, his seats are concentrated in the ‘bimaru states ‘ plus his home state, why would states with the lowest per capita GDP vote for modi ? Why? Why? Why?
I don’t agree with the justice. If d opposition is good, they can milk d lies. And saying everyone is communal is wrong. Most people in Kerala don’t have communal mindset.
Sucide bomber produceing state
Tale of two asses –
One ass says to the other – ‘ I can see you are an ass’. The other ass says – ‘I can’t see myself. But I can see you are an ass’
Sir, I found couple of facts too in your review but the other hand you wisely humiliated the whole Hindu community based on your personal experience sitting with your alien intellectual friends and family,
ANY COMMON MAN LIKE ME WHO LOVES THIS GREAT INDIA AND INDIA S PROSPERITY
SHOULD DIGEST THIS REMARKABLE NOTE WRITTEN BY A NOBLE PERSON.
MY HUMBLE REGARDS TO THE WRITER AND PUBLISHERS THE PRINT.
THANK YOU SIR.
Ao according to the author, Modi’s lies are irrelevant. So one should not even try to do anything. Not even to analyze the phenomenon and suggest possible solutions.
This is pure cynicism. And this is the reason why India will not change.
The root cause of communalism is lack of good law order system which itself is corrupted.When state can’t provide security people feel helpless.The law and order establishment takes side of ruling party ideology, leaving people fearful of their safety and lives.Can Indian state guarantee it will not become Islamic in nature if Muslims become demographic majority.You can see neighbouring Islamic countries where hindu minorities have no recourse to remedy their suffering, take the example of your own community they made you helpless in day where was Indian constitution?Unless there are ironclad safeguards that would prevent any community or caste by the virtue of their demographic majority bully other communities this will continue.State is never there were it’s needed .State is obstructionist and more of nuisance by nature irresepective of which party is in power
As some wise person said, politicians are amazed that voters believe in their promises when they themselves (politicians) do not believe in it. This is a universal trait and cuts across political circles. It’s only because present day journalists/opinion writers are partisans themselves, that they are unable to see the truth. It’s a choice between Tweedledee and Tweedledum, take your pick.
India is a strange country with implosions (nuclear tests) and imploding citizens who act on impulse (josh) more than hosh. We were fools to be born here but maybe we are only ones attaining Moksha world over! Here is why…
My Cigarette Supply Man, Munnabhai in Calcutta has an explanation which I now find an opportunity to share through PRINT media if only to bring the poor man’s logic to the forefront as neither Parliament nor the Legislative Assembly here in Calcutta will permit Munnabhai’s logical philosophy to be drummed to the gullible public of India.
His logic went thus- “Dada, you know why we were born in this disgraceful country?”, he asked one day of me. I put up my saddest face and said no, eager to hear what the Young Master (a natakhat Tendulkar in his own trade) had to say.
“Well,” he continued, ” you see, just at the point when we had to be born, us current Indians went all over-England, America, France, Russia, Japan and Australia etc.etc. but everywhere the ‘Qs’ to get in were huge, miles and miles! Only in India there were no’ Qs’ at all and quick responsive as we are, we opted in, and popped out of our mothers’ wombs, only to regret ever having made the decision. Look at you and me, Dada. With best of brains we are just stuck in this Indian jam.”
Sound logic Justice? Almost as good as your assessment! Indians are a separate cheeeeeezzzz, unique specimens across class, caste and creed, religion notwithstanding . Best Regards!
Justice Katju has hit the nail on the head. Casteism can only removed through eductaion. However, no political party, especially when in power, wants to irradicate illiteracy since a literate mind would be a thinking mind, capable of questioning. Sad but true!
How this comedian ever became a Judge is a one of the real wonders on the world!
I don’t think Hindus are with BJP just because BJP projected itself as a Hindu party rather opposition quite strongly projected BJP as a Hindu party and they are doing it now too. Secondly, a big fraction of the Hindu got really bored with the Muslims appeasement by the oppositions. In a secular society you can’t appease a particular community just for the shake of vote, rather every citizen of the country should be treated equally.
So what is the way out of this conundrum. Caste will not go away even after 1000 years. In fact caste will divide the Indian population in water tight compartments even more rigorously . Lower castes will just grin and bear it. The other option of lower castes stop procreating altogether is not possible. As we see it now lower castes and Muslims bulk of them are Dalit converts any way will procreate with renewed vigour and will be a steady source of manpower for the dirty and low paid jobs notwithstanding the reservations. BJP is here to stay and we better reconcile to this bitter truth.
Shivam Vij and Katju are on same team , but Katju doesn’t like attention Shivam is enjoying as big writer here on print. They both don’t like modi. Their views are basically same same. This is just ego tussle between two anti modi people. Please understand this.
This the truth all this assholes are interested in their own ego battles.Bas lecturebazzi.
Dear Justice Katju, Mr Shivam Vij’s article may have been without depth but your rebuttal is hardly of a high caliber either. Dare I say; superficial!
It may surprise you to also know, Indian voters across the country do vote increasingly for candidates that work in their constituency. Voters look at roads, lights, other services etc and if you’re not aware of this shift, you are regrettably uninformed on modern india and it’s youthful population of voters, in particular in the metro areas though it others areas as well.
Further, it is a more complex interplay between their various identities, wether regional, religious, linguistic or caste than you’ve very superficially superimposed as a merely “Hindu” one. The 80% Hindu figure is misleading as most of these Hindu’s do not follow any central authorities, text and even have separate Gods (or Demons!) to whom they worship.
I wish to conclude by saying I find both Mr Shivam Vij and Justice Katju’s articles as ideologically motivated and both are lacking the main ingredient that Indian Voters pay attention to today; plain common sense!
Well said.And for “THE PRINT” to put this writeup in “PRINT” is indeed sad and bad.
Sir – you wrote ‘Most Hindus, who constitute 80 per cent of India’s population, will keep voting for the BJP.’ True, however BJP got only 37% popular votes (NDA 45%) in their best performance. It shows a significant percentage of Hindus, about half still do not vote BJP . The ‘truth or lies of politicians’ affects only a small percentage of enlightened Indians like you & me, that may constitute 10% of voters (just an assumption). Shivam is addressing only those 10%. And even a 5% swing can make a huge difference in a election.
Enlightened Indians also know which side of his caste is buttered and go accordingly. BJP is 20%+?+?+?+?.
Industrial society accepts secularism as only acceptable way because people from all the communities are interacting constantly in the workplace but humans by nature are suspicious of ‘others’. It simply requires a clever politician to ignite hatred of each other. As for lies , we educated always believe what we want to believe.
For MAD librandus all Hindus are communal. OK. Happy now.
Katju is right Modi has made Hindus electing Hindutva ppl to power.On the other hand muslims inherent religious fanatism over last 70 yrs had been their undoing.
Yes India was always religious both Hindus and Muslims. But BJP’s entry with flag of Hindu resurgence blurred the line between religiousity and communalism. Politics in Gujarat 80s onwards was given a Pan India turn with the Rath Yatra.To disagree with the wise Judge, the Jumla of minority appeasement was cleverly spread by the BJP to discredit the Congress and increase its own appeal to the majority, as a reaction.
Appeal to a fragmented dispersed minority of Muslims may have won a few votes but could never have been an election winning strategy. Not only would be foolishness but political suicide.
And does the Judge mean that the Congress won all its elections because of appeasement? Certainly majority of Muslims preferred INC over BJP for reasons of history. Did Congress ever need to appease Muslims! Certainly successful management by BJP of public and media who were already so inclined as mentioned by Justice Katju.
What jumla ?killing and raping all kp in Kashmir is Jumla?When this muslims get in power they try to behave like Mughal kings and Arabs ridiculing other communities when faced with backlash they try to behave like victims.They should know they are just a part of society like other every other community and not to behave like Arab sheikhs.
I think you conveniently forget ‘Shahbanoo’ case judgement, which was opposed by Muslim community in 1985 and because of this opposition, Supreme Court judgement was reversed by innocent INC government. In turn it was termed by Hindu as Muslim appeasement. In order to appease Hindu innocent INC government open locked door of Mosque at Ayodya. BJP as a political party take advantage and started movement for temple building
Katju is cent per cent right. We are Hindus are communal. And racist too. And liars. That’s my experience. In fact lying is appreciated and encouraged.
Yeah other communities are doyens of peace and we should throw flowers on them.What a ridiculous statement.Others out there are just to mock our beliefs and do a show off of their religion they don’t have good intentions towards our communities.Get over this bug about appearing progressive and your urge to get acknowledgement from them.Stop looking inwards when you are fighting bullies .when you are strong people start liking your bad ,regressive habits as well.Stop being sorry for being Hindu.
Tell me a single person owhor body who is not communal in one way or the other.
Why personal views of anybody even if he has once been a judge of the Apex Court should be published. If it it is personal view let it be personal. No need to make it public. Or the news media should commit that they are in support of those views. Why such hyprpcracy? Also, it amounts to giving unnecessary and avoidable publicity to undeserving people. News media should carefully consider this point.
India is no longer a peaceful country where development can play a key role in body politic. We are bound to end as a fractious polity. Certainly our collective future is dark!
‘Garibi Hatao’ was not a lie but a slogan, just as ‘Swachcha Bharat’ is a slogan. You can’t call a slogan a lie. Everyone takes it with a pinch of salt and does not believe it fully. But this government’s lies are of a scale that is unmatched.
Very tactical answer,Sir! You should call a spade a spade !! By balancing the entire issue you have cleverly avoided the Modi issue.Your fear for exposing Modi is clear from this writing,Sir.This prime minister, may be the prime minister of some fool Indian..but .Indian did’t want a liar PM.That is it!!!
This composition , far from rejecting what SHIVAM VIJ postulated, actually constructs the same narrative with not so clever reasoning of why their hypothesis fails to deliver.
The flawed vision of dividing every issue on communal lines ( HINDU-MUSLIM-HINDU MUSLIM) is at the root of such simplistic thinking.
New India is a country mostly of young voters, who are confident of their future and proud to be citizens of this great nation and do not see every issue in religious prism. Sure most are aware of their religious identities but cannot be fooled in the name of such identities
The old foggies steeped in the old politics of ‘once upon a time a grand party’, now in ruins find it hard to unlearn time tested tricks..
Pathetic but funny !
What a bullshit observation.the section opposed to modi bjp always have same narrative. Plain&predictable.congress ruled for almost 70 yrs.on which basis??? Caste or religion… No.if religion mattered, that was only for muslims. Who was benefitted of all perks &whose all demands were met. Shah bano to films to books everything needed muslims consent.ppl voted congress for education, health &science. But one religion vetoed everything for religion. Then one charismatic leader rose ,who showed his administrative skills (even false or exaggerated), but opposition failed to prick his bundles.then he was also witch hunted for not appeasing to muslims. &there was also not a strong opposition. This way he wins d elections. Even historically since royal time, this pattern works. But only for electing govt for 2 terms(2nd has even nationalist emotion involved),u ppl declare Hindus of oppression, violent, bigot what not. While it is vice versa.that Hindus r subjugated, Muslims r universally oppressors&historically.yet Hindus live in apologetic manner his not to surrender his beliefs to a aggressive &firm opponent.
Why surrender be firm and headstrong about Hindu identity. All this so called minorities(sikhs, muslims, Christians)mock our beliefs and live under self delusional grandeur about their religion.They never look inwards but lecture us on looking inwards.Obivously they don’t like Hindus who are outward directed at them and can see through their intentions after all how will they bully this kind of Hindu who doesn’t look inwards and raises legitimate questions on their own religious practice ,double standards and hypocracy.Dish out as good you get.
Only Muslims abuse other religions, Sikhs and Christians do not. An isolated case here and there cannot be taken as a judgement.
I agree with most respondents here, and the basic premise of the article that India is casteist and intolerant. It pains me a great deal to see a country of such marvel and it’s fabric deteriorating with such haste. Of course most people with my views are labeled as leftist, communist, anti-national, and the omniscient disparage of the right, Go Back to Pakistan!
What nonsense. While I agree that Vij’s original piece is distanced from reality, so is this one. Just because the author has bigoted relatives who vote for other bigots doesn’t mean the whole country is like that.
Anecdote and beliefs lazier than Vij’s (90% of Indians vote on religion and caste, not issues) are not a convincing argument.
Mr Katju, if Indians only care about religion when voting, then why did the BJP only start winning elections in 2014?
The article is complete rubbish. Katju is just another old guy who airs his prejudices and thinks he is smarter than everyone else. MIllions of uncles like him all over the country.
In general it is true that Hindus and Muslims have generally kept their distance from each other. But BJP has injected a venom and violence into Indian society that wasn’t there before. And please, where did you get that figure of 90% of Hindus voting according to caste and religion? If you have write an article at least cite your source. Don’t conjure figures out of thin air. Most Hindus, and for that matter, most Muslims too, are not communal. Most of those who vote for BJP do so because at the center, there is no other choice.
BJP(LIES), CONGRES(DAMN LIES), MULAYAM,LALLU,CPI,CPM,ETC.(STATISTICS).
No , we do not think Modi is a liar . He presents a vision , a direction , a will to do something — very much expected from a good leader. Yes , we know some of them do not materialize to full extent . As to fulfill these need dedicated team s at each level of hierarchy in administration combined with people’ cooperation and involvement . For a country with huge heterogeneous population, is a very difficult task . but still does not give up and has been successful to some extent .
To be perfectly honest, I like Shivam Vij a lot more than Justice Katju. However, enjoy reading Lordship’s acerbic tweets, especially about Mr R Gogoi, MP.
I understand and appreciate the points raised. While I agree that most Indians are communal , the BJP has now institutionalised this form of separation. It has made it acceptable and encouraged it.
Are we Intolerent? Correct.
The fact will be validated by the virulent comments that will come.
One of the few media which presents the truth.
Keep up the good job people.
#indianmediabikchukahai
Yes India was always religious both Hindus and Muslims. But BJP’s entry with flag of Hindu resurgence blurred the line between religiousity and communalism. Politics in Gujarat 80s onwards was given a Pan India turn with the Rath Yatra.To disagree with the wise Judge, the Jumla of minority appeasement was cleverly spread by the BJP to discredit the Congress and increase its own appeal to the majority, as a reaction.
Appeal to a fragmented dispersed minority of Muslims may have won a few votes but could never have been an election winning strategy. Not only would be foolishness but political suicide.
And does the Judge mean that the Congress won all its elections because of appeasement? Certainly majority of Muslims preferred INC over BJP for reasons of history. Did Congress ever need to appease Muslims! Yes India was always religious both Hindus and Muslims. But BJP’s entry with flag of Hindu resurgence blurred the line between religiousity and communalism. Politics in Gujarat 80s onwards was given a Pan India turn with the Rath Yatra.To disagree with the wise Judge, the Jumla of minority appeasement was cleverly spread by the BJP to discredit the Congress and increase its own appeal to the majority, as a reaction.
Appeal to a fragmented dispersed minority of Muslims may have won a few votes but could never have been an election winning strategy. Not only would be foolishness but political suicide.
And does the Judge mean that the Congress won all its elections because of appeasement? Certainly majority of Muslims preferred INC over BJP for reasons of history. Did Congress ever need to appease Muslims! Certainly successful management by BJP of public and media who were already so inclined as mentioned by Justice Katju. successful management by BJP of public and media who were already so inclined as mentioned by Justice Katju.