People's Democracy

EDITORIAL

Act Firmly: Foil VHP's Anti-National Activities

THE Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Praveen Togadia, walking out of prison in Ajmer, far from showing any remorse for the patently illegal and inflammatory activities that led to his arrest, spewed venom and vowed to continue the struggle for a "Hindu Rashtra". Openly defying the Constitution and the law of the land, he thundered that the distribution of trishuls by the VHP will continue.

Like the Ayodhya dispute, the distribution of trishuls  has nothing to do with religion. It is a blatant exercise aimed at rousing communal passions and polarisation to reap political and electoral benefit.  In this context, it needs to be reiterated that the person who gave this  term `Hindutva', V D Savarkar, himself has stated unambiguously that Hindutva is not synonymous with Hindu religion. It is a political slogan coined for capturing State power.

The issue, therefore, in this public distribution of trishuls is not centered around religion. It is a pure and simple issue of upholding the secular democratic foundations of the Indian Constitution and the law of the land.  It is an issue of safeguarding the fundamental tenets of the modern Indian State from those who openly violate and defy these. 

As repeatedly stated in these columns earlier, the RSS octopus, bolstered by its electoral success in Gujarat, has embarked on the process of Modification of India. The distribution of trishuls is aimed at recreating Gujarat-like situation on the ground, particularly in those states that are slated to go to polls later this year, so that the BJP can draw electoral benefits.

Over the past four years, the VHP has been indulging in the ceremonial distribution of trishuls accompanied by fiery speeches made in carefully selected minority or tribal areas in  Rajasthan. The method is to take trishuls to areas of potential conflict to trigger a communal conflagration. The Congress state government in Rajasthan has rightly banned the carrying or distribution of trishuls. But this commitment has to be firm and uncompromising. The VHP has now threatened to distribute over one lakh trishuls  in Chattisgarh, another state that is due for elections later this year.

The BJP has unambiguously risen in support of the VHP. The BJP state chief in Rajasthan, alongwith the VHP heavy weights was there at the Ajmer central jail to welcome Togadia.  Far from upholding the Constitution of India, under whose oath this BJP-led government is in office at the Centre,  the deputy prime minister and the home minister, L K Advani, has reportedly stated that trishuls are not dangerous weapons!

It should, by now be clear that the BJP, the political arm of the RSS, is utilising its being in government to patronise such patently illegal and unconstitutional activities. 

The Indian Constitution and the law of the land are not negotiable. No one can be allowed to violate these.  Firm and timely action is essential to foil the anti-national activities of such forces of the RSS octopus, who are determined to undermine, if not negate, the secular  democratic foundations of the modern Indian Republic. If this BJP-led central government continues to act as an accomplice and provide state patronage to these efforts, then the people must ensure that they are kept as far away from the reins of power and government as possible.