BJP’s new found strategy of speaking up for Christian and Muslim minorities in Kerala and the party’s move to induct Anil Anthony, son of veteran Congress leader A.K. Antony, and nomination of former VC of Aligarh Muslim University to Uttar Pradesh Legislature do raise questions. Is the party wooing minorities for 2024? Is it going slow on its Hindutva philosophy? Or is it an intentional strategy as its ideological parent RSS celebrates its centenary in 2025?
Beside PM Modi’s oratory that won hearts of Christian minorities in northeast assembly elections, there are at least three occasions when he has sent out a strong message underlining the change that’s underway in BJP’s approach.
First, in a message to Kerala Christians, the PM acknowledged a change in their hearts and voting. Second is him meeting the Pope in Vatican. And third, his suggestion to members of BJP national executive in Hyderabad to listen to the voices of the Pasmanda Muslims.
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What’s also helping the BJP’s minority outreach is the disenchantment of leaders such as Ghulam Nabi Azad in opposition ranks. Azad blames Rahul Gandhi for his exit from the Congress. He said “once you are in Congress, you are spineless”.
An endorsement by the RSS is learnt to be at the centre of the Yogi government’s move to get AMU VC Prof Tariq Mansoor nominated to the state’s legislative council, highly placed sources in the BJP said. Prof Mansoor would be the fourth Muslim after Mohsin Raza, Bukkal Nawab and Danish Azad to be routed to UP’s upper house by the BJP.
An emotional AK Antony called his son Anil joining BJP a wrong decision. ‘The decision is really painful. Till death, I will be a Congressman. I am 82 years old. My life is in its last lap. I don’t know how I will live. After he (Anil) quit the party posts, I have not discussed or reacted to that. This is my first and last reaction to this (son’s entry into BJP),’ the former Kerala chief minister observed.
Even a regional party like Samajwadi Party has just two Muslim MLCs — Shanawaz Khan and Jasmir Ansari — in the UP legislative council. BJP has more. What does it indicate?
Mansoor, a decorated medical professional, has the backing of a senior RSS functionary who has been active in UP since 2017.
Since its return to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2022, the BJP has been emphasising on Muslims. The Triple Talaq move by the party clicked among Muslim women in the state. And Modi is a darling to many Muslim women.
Sensing the mood of the nation, the PMO quietly released a 45-second video clip of Modi and Padma Shri awardee Rashid Ahmad Quadri, who can be seen praising the PM. The video went viral and ignited many TV debates. The renowned Karnataka artist Quadri thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi after receiving the highest civilian honour. He said he had lost hope of getting the award during Congress rule, but the honour came when a BJP govt is in power. He said PM Modi proved him wrong.
BJP seems determined to woo minorities — Be it the UAE-India investor summit that was hosted in Kashmir that created a hype in diplomatic circles or the Tulip festival in the valley.
Is there a change in policy in the RSS-BJP towards minorities? In June last year, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, commenting on the Gyanvapi case, had said ‘Why look for Shivling in every mosque?’
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AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi is also an agent of change for minorities. Owaisi is helping the BJP in an indirect manner. Recently, he mocked Rahul Gandhi, asking if the Congress leader had killed himself when he said a certain version of him only lives in people’s heads. “This is the condition of the Congress. A 50-year-old says he has killed cold, he has killed himself. Tu kya hai phir? Jinn hai? If you have killed yourself then who is this person? Had I told something like that, people would have thought I was having fits,” Owaisi said. This is also a hint on how Muslims view a BJP opponent who is frequently criticising the RSS.
At a time when the BJP has started taking up minorities’ issues, the regional parties such as the Trinamool Congress, the Samajwadi Party, JD(U), BRS and even the AAP have begun to celebrate Hindu festivals such as Hanuman Jayanti. Mamata Banerjee visits Hare Krishna Temple. But the likes of DMK are steadfast in not greeting Hindus on Diwali, which is an irritant for Right wingers in Tamil Nadu. Looking at a broader perspective, 2024 elections are likely to be fought around the game of appeasement politics. This time, by the BJP.
The author tweets @RAJAGOPALAN1951. Views are personal.
(Edited by Anurag Chaubey)