Destroyers Of Sanatan Dharma Vs The Protector: Has BJP Already Set Its Agenda For 2024 Lok Sabha Campaign? (Image: twitter.com/MrsGandhi)
An X (formerly Twitter) post BJP did today morning shows what will be the nature of the right-wing political party’s campaign in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the country, according to political observers.
“BJP has sent its clear signal to its followers, the election agenda for 2024 will be based on Hindutva narratives,” said a political observer.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led party, that has set its ideology as a mix of Hindu nationalism, conservatism, and economic liberalism, took the X platform on Wednesday and posted: “Destroyers of Sanatan Dharma vs The Protector. Bharat Mata will judge us for where we stand…”.
Destroyers of Sanatan Dharma vs The Protector.
Bharat Mata will judge us for where we stand… pic.twitter.com/TMcgeMlIuK
— BJP (@BJP4India) September 13, 2023
The post carried a collage of images in which Opposition alliance members MK Stalin, Udhayanidhi Stalin, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are seen, along with PM Modi who is wearing saffron robes, meditating at the Rudra Caves, a kilometer from the Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand, in the final days of the 2019 general elections.
The post refers to the recent comments made by Tamil Nadu minister and actor Udhayanidhi Stalin. He stated that “Sanatana (Dharma) ought to be eradicated like malaria, dengue, and mosquitoes and not opposed” while speaking at a “Sanatana Abolition Conference” held by a writer’s forum in Chennai.
Since then, Udhayanidhi has stood his ground on the comments, and many from the Opposition alliance have supported his freedom of speech, while some have emphasized “all religions should be respected” statements.
However, the BJP has left no stone unturned in using this opportunity to amplify its offensive against the INDIA alliance, of which MK Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi are also a part.
“It’s an inflated issue,” says Dr Ardra NG, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Christ University, Bangalore, while adding that, from BJP, this is nothing new or creative as they try to polarise the electorate ahead of upcoming elections, along communal lines.
“It’s in continuation of their historical efforts at undermining the cultural diversity of the land, while countering the waves of democratic revival created by “INDIA”,” she observes.
Since the 2014 general election campaign days, the nationalistic party has portrayed PM Modi as the protector of Dharma and a revivalist of India”s past glory.
“The widespread discontent among the general public towards the hardships in their daily life will be pushed back and once again election gimmicks such as reclaiming the lost glory of the country and claims on the Hindu Rashtra will come to forefront,” said the observer.
He added that the usage of Bharath instead of India in the G20 meeting will be cited across the political rallies and BJP understands that this will appeal to the emotions of the people.
“Neither persisting inflation, farmer”s problems, widespread unemployment, nor the worsening position of the country in different global development indexes will be brought up for discussion by the BJP, no matter how hard the opposition attempts to draw people’s attention to these issues,” he said.
