'We Need Not Ever Be Confused About Hindutva'

The BJP president mouths the usual platitudes and pieties about 'Hindutva'leaving many wondering what exactly he - or his speech writers - mean by "Hindutva is such a geo-cultural concept which has a sense ofrespect and a place for everyone and it is a concept of co-existence"

A warm welcome to everyone in this meeting of the National Executive in Delhitoday. We had met in Nagpur. We fought the 15th Lok Sabha elections with ourfull political strength. I would like to personally thank each and every one ofthe millions of supporters and voters as well as our Karyakartas who supportedus in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The results were not upto ourexpectations. The people have once again given us the mandate to sit inopposition. We accept the verdict with humility and will once more resume ourwork. While we may be surprised by the results, we are certainly not demoralizedby them. Why have such results come? This is definitely a subject of seriousintrospection and analysis for us. At every step we will undertake introspectionand analysis. The conclusions that emerge from this process of churning of ideaswill become our guiding light, and keeping that in mind, we will untiringlyproceed further on our path by taking everyone along. We will neither stop norget tired. I am fully confident that in the end, we will be victorious. But inorder to realize this dream of victory in the true sense, it is incumbent on ourpart that we should have a feeling of Nishkaam Karma and dedication. In myopinion, there might have been some shortcomings in our dedication and action.With time we need to do away with these shortcomings.

The Results of the Lok Sabha Elections

Friends, the results of the Lok Sabha Elections have not been upto ourexpectations. We accept these results. However, there is a widespread propagandathat the BJP has got defeated nationwide. I do not accept this, because ifwe analyze the results regionally, then the results are varied and not uniformfrom state to state. At some places our performance has beenspectacular, in some places we have substantially improved as compared toearlier, in some places it has been as it is and in some states our performancehas been disappointing.

Yet the reality is that in totality we have lost 22 seats from what it was inthe previous Lok Sabha.

We all are aware that over the last five years we emerged victorious in themaximum number of states that went to the polls across the nation. We defeatedthe Congress in Jharkhand, Bihar, Punjab, Himachal and Uttarakhand. In Gujaratwe got elected once again. Not only this, by forming the government inKarnataka, we hoisted our flag in the south. This was a historic day in thepolitical journey of the country.

No doubt we were unsuccessful in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. But weonce again formed our governments in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.On account of the BJP’s increasing strength and the UPA’s unpopularity, theatmosphere appeared becoming favorable for us. No one can deny this that evenone day prior to the election results, the Congress leadership was in search ofsupport from allies. Even the leaders of the Congress were not expecting so manyseats. In any case, the political situation favored them and the Congress wassuccessful in getting over two hundred seats.

The Meaning Behind the Results

If we analyze the results of the Lok Sabha results not from the point ofvictory and defeat, then one can find some intrinsic positive indications inthem. The results have given a big jolt to those parties that used the politicsof pure opportunism and had made it a fashion to unnecessarily pressurize thegovernment to display their strength. All such parties who followed this type ofunprincipled politics that had emerged over the last 15-20 years, sufferedheavily in these elections.

On the one hand, the dreams of those parties who pursued caste based politicsgot shattered, and on the other hand, several candidates having the image ofmusclemen were also badly defeated. So at least on this account, the results ofthe 15th Lok Sabha have given an indication that our democracy is becoming moremature.

This election has virtually demolished the politics of despotism and absoluteopportunism. In West Bengal and Kerala the people have not only taught a lessonto the communists by defeating them, but have also put a stop to their politicalblackmailing.

In this Lok Sabha, not only has the Congress emerged as the largest party andthe BJP has the second largest party, but the parties which are at the thirdposition like the Communists, SP, BSP and DMK, their strength is about 1/5th(around 20 seats) of ours. The big difference between the second largest andthird largest parties clearly indicates that the people’s confidencein the country is increasing towards bi-polar politics. That is why we can claimthat if in the forthcoming years we properly expand our organization and takeeffective steps to get the people’s mandate, then tomorrow will definitely beours.

In contrast to many political parties who never hesitated in taking the helpof caste, creed and religion for the sake of votes, there we placedgreater emphasis on the nation over votes. Not only me but all of you believethat for us the nation is bigger than votes and we can draw satisfaction fromthe fact that the issues that we have raised was our national duty. Weare not burdened by guilt. How can any nationalist support reservation onreligious lines? How can one justify the allocation of budgetary support onreligious lines? Politics and backwardness should not be viewed on communalangles, rather it should be viewed from a humanitarian angle. Be it the SaccharCommittee recommendations or the headcount of muslims in the armed forces, allthese are a blow on the secular fabric of the nation. Even today I believe thatconstitutionally and morally, we are on the correct side. Eventually,even the country will accept that like social justice, National Justice is aconcept and politics cannot be above the national interest. In myopinion, the BJP stands for national justice, and in the future we will presentthis aspect in a more effective way before the people and get their support.

Emphasis on Nationalist Policies
 
This time in our election manifesto we reiterated, our commitment for building agrand temple on the Shri Ram Jananbhoomi, our clear views for abrogating Article370 and our appeal for implementing the Uniform Civil Code. Even today we arefirm on these issues because we believe that they are the core issues of theunity and integrity of the country.

All these issues are in national interest. In the coming years we need tomore effectively convince the people about these issues.

Our Role as an Effective Opposition
 
The responsibility entrusted upon us by the people is not ordinary. I would liketo make it clear that the Congress now cannot shirk from its responsibilities.It can no longer take the alibi of its allies. We will continue our fight forthe cause of India’s poor, farmers, labourers and the common man.

Here I would also like to make it clear that on all issues of nationalinterest and those connected with the welfare of the average citizen, we willfully support the government. However, for this the government will also have tostep forward. As is expected in a democracy, it will be the responsibility ofthe government to show that it is continuing with the tradition of buildingconsensus on all important issues.

Hindutva / Bharatiyata / Cultural Nationalism

Friends,

after the results of this Lok Sabha election, some people have started togive us this advice and in many newspapers it is being propagated that the BJPshould now leave the issue of Hindutva, because the BJP has for the second timenot won the election.

Firstly, Hindutva has never been a political issue and the BJP has never madeit an issue that now it should discard Hindutva. A propaganda is being made thatthe defeat of the BJP symbolizes the rejection of the ideology of Hindutva bythe people of India. I would like to ask whether this election was a referendumon Hindutva? If not, then how can the adverse results symbolize the rejection ofour ideology? Since we have emerged as the main opposition party, how can it besaid that we or our ideology has been totally rejected by the people?

Whenever anyone questions the BJP as to what we have to say about Hindutva,in this context I would like to state that Hindutva is not only ours but is aneternal way of life. In its famous judgement of 1995, the Hon’bleSupreme Court had ruled that Hindutva is not a religion but it is a way of life.

Friends, Hindutva is such a geo-cultural concept which has a sense ofrespect and a place for everyone and it is a concept of co-existence. It is thiscultural consciousness imbibed with the concept of co-existence which has madeHindutva so benevolent and flexible. That is why Hindutva is eternal. Hindutvais the national essence of India. It is the natural flow of India’s nationalconsciousness. Hindutva has not emerged out of a political resolution from theparliamentary board or executive of a party or organization; it is the nationalidentity of India. On account of this very identity, the political nature ofIndia is inherently democratic.

When we won, then also these people had propagated that Hindutva is behindthe BJP’s progress and expansion. To associate a vast concept such as Hindutvawith the politics of power, is nothing but one’s own lack of understanding.That is why we should not be confused by any such talk. Ideology is a perpetualflow. This flow can reduce or increase but it can never stop. Therefore, onlythose who are confused should think about this, we need not ever be confusedabout Hindutva.

Many reasons behind the defeat in the elections are being identified. We are analyzing them. We are not conservative in a negative sense. We welcomeadvice from society as "Amrit Prasad". However, if someone advices us tosever ourselves from our very roots and remain attached only to the stem, in myopinion they are themselves confused and have not been able to understand thebasic core of the BJP.

Any political party has four dimensions – ideology, organization,leadership and strategy. In my opinion, organization, leadership andstrategy play a more significant and immediate role in determining victory ordefeat in elections. Ideology is a constant which is a perpetual guidingforce for a party over and above victory or defeat in elections.

Hindutva / Bharatiyata / Cultural Nationalism occupies the sameesteemed space in the politics of the BJP as the Constitution of India occupiesin the politics of the country.

Our political power emerges out of both, the policies and programmes of theparty. Though we may not have got the expected success in the elections, buteven today I am not willing to accept that our policies based on the feeling ofstanch nationalism are faulty. Even today we are firm on all the issues raisedby us, be it related to external and internal security of the country, foreignpolicy, terrorism, appeasement or disrespect to the cultural symbols or thoserelated to the plight of the common man or farmers, as these issues are relevantfor the country.

Yes I accept that we may not have been able to disseminate ourposition on these issues among the people as effectively as it was required inthe present context. Perhaps we need to present our views in a better and morecontemporary context.

For this, it is necessary that we evaluate our organizationalstructure, campaign and strategy.

As the President of the party I would like to make it clear that as per theBJP’s tradition and ideology, success is a collective credit andfailure is a collective responsibility. Therefore, we must collectivelyfind out the solution. Yes, if anyone feels that any person should take theresponsibility, then as the President of the party, I am willing to take thisresponsibility.

Today, the manner in which the comments and propaganda is being made aboutthe defeat of the BJP, it can create confusion in the minds of our workers andsupporters as to what were the reasons that we were unable to get the requisitesupport. According to one theory, we were unable to get the requisite supportbecause we were unable to maintain our character. According to another theory,we were unable to get the requisite support because as per the politicalterminology in fashion, we remained right wing and could not emerge as moderateas was required today. 

Even though many learned persons have commentated on this, nevertheless aclarification on this subject is required to create clarity in the minds of ourworkers, voters and supporters.

The Direct and Indirect Effect of Hindutva on the Politics of India 

The ideology of staunch nationalism, which is also termed as the ideology ofHindutva, has always played a decisive role in the politics of independentIndia. The rise of the BJP in the decade of the 1990s  was not only due tothis but if we analyze it then the great popularity of Indira Gandhi after the1971 Bangladesh victory was also a subtle expression of this staunchnationalistic ideology.  At that time the people of India attached thisideology with Indira Gandhi. If we analyze carefully, the uninterrupted supportwhich the Congress enjoyed for about one full generation after 1947, basicallyoriginated from a reaction in the sub conscious psychology of the common man dueto partition in which the Congress emerged as a symbol nationalism in contrastto the Muslim League.

If we delve into the history of the country, the politics of the socalled right wing as described by today’s political analysts always had adefinitive space not only in the politics but also history of India. This spacenever got vacant though it’s context kept on changing.

At the time of the freedom movement, in the eyes of the British rulers, theCongress was a right wing party.  After independence, the Congress becomemore centrist and the Bharatiya Jan Sangh and today’s BJP subsequentlyoccupied this space in Indian politics and ultimately changed the politicalconfiguration of the polity in independent India by making it bi-polar. 

When we study the pre-independence Congress, then the division of theCongress in 1907 into "Naram Dal" and "Garam Dal" actually germinatedthe seeds of a full fledged freedom movement. In 1905 when Tilak demanded totalfreedom, then he was termed as a right wing leader and the Britishers consideredhim as the cause behind the discontent in India. But from here itself the seedsof the freedom movement were sown which ultimately led to our independence.

Even when we read the views of the Viceroy of India Lord Dufferin at the timeof the establishment of the Congress in 1885, it reflects that the formation ofthe Congress at that time was a right wing thought. The moderate thought at thattime was to see more rights and concessions from the Viceroy and not theformation of a separate party.

Prior to this, in the first war of independence in 1857, which actually laiddown the foundation of our struggle for freedom, its architects Nana Saheb Peswa,Rani Laxmi Bai and Mangal Pandey who are considered hero’s by the nationtoday, at that time symbolized the right wing staunch nationalist thought in thepolitics of the kings and princes of that period.

Even before this, the rise of Guru Govind Singh in the north and ChhatrapatiShivaji in the south of the Vindhyas against the despotic rule of Aurangzeb whoat that time had the most powerful army in the world, also symbolized thatstaunch nationalism could never be suppressed by might.

Prior to this, the diplomatic politics of Akbar under the influence of whichmost of the Rajput kings at that time opted for a moderate path, then MaharanaPratap raised the flag of nationalism. By doing so, he became immortal in thehistory of India. If one views him through the eyes of modern analysts, thepolitics of Maharana Pratap would be today’s so called right wing nationalistor Hindutva politics.

What I am trying to say is that what is called right wing today, its contexthas kept on changing not only over the last 40-50 years but actually over thelast four or five centuries, and the historical changes were brought about bythis. From Maharana Pratap to Shivaji, Guru Govind Singh, Nana Saheb Peswa,Tilak and India’s independence emerging out of their efforts, the entirehistory is a proof of this. I am giving you these examples of history becausewithout understanding the politics of the past, the foundation of futurepolitics cannot be laid down. The past indicates that this so called right wingpositions in Indian polity never left vacant. We are the natural flag bearers ofthis legacy. In this is imbibed our pride of past, the strategy of the presentand achievement in the future.

Political Reality of Today

Leaving aside the historical facts, if we look at the hard political realityof today then in the states where we are a political power, where we are ingovernment on our own, where the chief minister belongs to BJP or where we havehad a BJP chief minister earlier, in all such states like Gujarat, MadhyaPradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Jharkhand andKarnataka, if we are in a direct fight with any single party then it is theCongress. In Uttar Pradesh also we had our government earlier and in theseelections if any party which has registered the maximum success then it isCongress. It means that our political power would be assessed in standing on thepole opposite to Congress. Therefore, the political reality of today indicatesthat we should be seen clearly on the pole opposite and different to theCongress. Otherwise any kind of confusion not only in principle but also inpolitical terms would be detrimental to us.

If we look at the results of this election for instance, then indications arethat the political parties relinquishing their basic character in Indianpolitics had to bear losses.

In Indian politics there are mainly two political parties with respect toideology, first the Bharatiya Jansangh / BJP considered to represent right wingideology and second the Communist parties considered to be representing leftwing ideology.