[ad_1]
In its determination to not attend the Ram Mandir pran pratishtha in Ayodhya, is the Congress opposing the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP)’s day of political domination or standing up for an ideological precept?
The query turns into related as a result of a number of well-respected public intellectuals on the ideological Left have hailed the Opposition’s response as a stand that takes the get together again to its Nehruvian secularism roots.
Let’s for a second put apart the query of whether or not Nehruvian secularism — as distinct let’s say from Gandhi’s embrace of religion — is politically counter-intuitive for the instances. The reality is that you simply can’t invoke each Nehru and the Shankaracharyas to clarify your place after which argue that you’re ideologically distinct from the BJP.
And that’s what the Congress — and several other different Opposition leaders — have carried out.
The 4 Shankaracharyas, who’ve declined to attend the Ayodhya ceremony, head mutts established by the Eighth-century Hindu thinker Adi Shankara. Primarily based in Uttarakhand, Odisha, Karnataka and Gujarat, these pontiffs are seen because the custodians of the scriptures, particularly the Vedas.
But when faith is a private matter, which is what the Congress press assertion argued when asserting that its leaders wouldn’t be in Ayodhya, then politicians shouldn’t be quoting seers to rationalise their alternative.
Congress supporters and BJP critics — not essentially the identical individuals — have hailed the Opposition’s stand to argue, as one good friend stated to me, that “it’s the proper alternative, even when for the incorrect causes”.
However whether it is Hindutva politics that the Opposition is rejecting, how are you going to buttress your view by falling again on feedback by the Shankaracharyas? Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Puri, as an illustration, has lengthy advocated for India to develop into a Hindu rashtra. In latest tv interviews, he additionally bolstered the place of caste within the social order. The purpose is that you would be able to’t make a case for the separation of politics and faith if you’re going to rely on spiritual seers to make that case!
The mandir second has revealed ideological chaos throughout the INDIA bloc and the Opposition ranks. Uddhav Thackeray’s get together desires to take credit score for being one of many early architects of the Ram Janmabhoomi motion. His colleagues will remind the media that he provided one crore rupees in his private capability “as a bhakt” to the mandir belief in 2020 when he was nonetheless chief minister (CM) of Maharashtra. The Delhi CM, Arvind Kejriwal, has led the Sunderkand recitation at a temple within the Capital forward of the consecration ceremony. Sunderkand is a chapter from the Ramcharitmanas devoted to the prayer of Hanuman. The Aam Aadmi Social gathering has introduced that such recitations shall be organised throughout all 70 meeting segments of Delhi, with a particular get together group devoted to the trigger.
Udhayanidhi Stalin of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, pulling the ideological band within the actual other way, has successfully questioned the Supreme Courtroom verdict by declaring that he can’t settle for the temple the place a mosque as soon as stood. This may add higher grist to the mill after his contentious remarks on sanatana dharma. Sharad Pawar and Akhilesh Yadav have been understated of their responses, solely saying they are going to go to with their households at a later date.
After which there’s the Congress whose leaders are maybe probably the most confused. Do they wish to declare credit score for Rajiv Gandhi opening the locks in Ayodhya or enabling the primary shilanyas to happen — as Kamal Nath did throughout his (failed) Madhya Pradesh marketing campaign — or disassociate from these years of enjoying each the Hindu and Muslim communities? The go to by the UP Congress leaders to Ayodhya forward of the consecration tells you that the get together is fearful about being seen as anti-Hindu after the choice it has taken.
Now, after all, the Opposition is appropriate about one factor. The day could also be a deeply spiritual and nostalgic one for hundreds of thousands regardless of their voting alternative, however it’s also an epochal political second. It marks the fruits of 1 part of the BJP’s Hindutva undertaking. And naturally, the get together will look to maximise the political advantages in an election yr.
There’s no query that the Opposition would have been within the lengthy shadows of the Prime Minister had they attended the occasion.
However, in battle, you additionally duck some bullets, so that you’ve ammunition to battle one other day.
It will have been a lot smarter for the Opposition’s personal electoral fortunes to take part within the mandir ceremony and inevitably be the also-rans on a day that politically belongs to the BJP. In turning down the invite, they’ve revealed vacillation, contradictions, and inconsistencies and have additionally ensured that Hinduism and Hindutva develop into the central speaking factors within the election season.
Barkha Dutt is an award-winning journalist and writer. The views expressed are private
[ad_2]
Source link
