Siddaramaiah Vs BJP On Hindutva Vs Hindu
In a recent development, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ignited a political debate by drawing a distinction between Hindutva and and who is real Hindu. His remarks have prompted a sharp response from BJP”s CN Ashwath Narayan, with both leaders engaging in a war of words over the sensitive issue.
Siddaramaiah, Addressing the Congress” Nagpur meet in which the party has launched its 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, asserted, “Hindutva is Hindutva. I am a Hindu. Hindutva is different, and Hindu is different. Don”t we worship Ram? Are they (the BJP) the only ones? Haven”t we built Ram Mandirs?”
He also asked that, “Don”t we sing Ram Bhajans? People sing bhajans during the last week of December… I used to partake in that tradition in our village. This is practiced in other villages too. Are they (the BJP) the only ones? Aren”t we Hindus?”
The Chief Minister”s remarks did not go unnoticed, and BJP”s CN Ashwath Narayan promptly responded, accusing the Congress of perpetuating divisive politics.
Mr Ashwath Narayan remarked, “Congress always practiced divisive politics… they don”t respect the law of the land. Why get into these religious aspects? They have no moral rights to talk about Hindutva. Congress never had any clarity of issues with regard to Bharat or Hindutva and accusing them of appeasement politics.”
This is not the first time the Karnataka Chief Minister sharing his five cents on the hot topic in which BJP and its ideological parent RSS has built their political capital on. In remarks made in February, he said that, “Hindutva is against the Constitution. Hindutva and Hindu dharma is different. I”m not against the Hindu religion… I am a Hindu but I oppose Manuvad and Hindutva.”
“No religion supports murder… but Hindutva supports murder and discrimination,” he added then.
Siddaramaiah’s comments are significant as the BJP and the union government is going out all the way to promote the inauguration on Ram Temple in Ayodhya to promote its political campaign. Many Congress leaders including Shashi Tharoor and Sam Pitroda have come out in open against the BJP move and criticised the party by saying to keep the religion out of politics.
Tharoor, in a social media post, contended that the upcoming 2024 elections will witness a strategic shift in the BJP’s narrative. Reflecting on the past, he recalls how Modi was presented to the Indian electorate in 2009 as the harbinger of economic development, the CEO of Gujarat Inc., promising prosperity for all. However, with the narrative faltering after the controversial demonetization move in 2019, the Pulwama terrorist attack provided an opportunity for Modi to shift the focus towards national security during the 2019 elections.
In 2024, Tharoor suggests that the BJP is returning to its core message, projecting Narendra Modi as a ‘Hindu Hriday Samrat’ – a leader with a heart for Hindus. This shift prompts Tharoor to raise pertinent questions about the unfulfilled promises of “achhe din,” the commitment to create 2 crore jobs annually, and the pledged economic growth that was meant to uplift the socio-economic status of the masses.
