Letters: With or without the Sangh

This refers to A K Bhattacharya's column "The myth about own goals" (New Delhi Diary, December 24). The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should not prioritise the larger political goal of spreading its Hindutva agenda if India has to have a prominent place in the global arena. Opposition parties cannot oppose the BJP's development agenda but can thwart the legislative process when BJP's leaders pursue their political motives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is worried about the process adopted by the Sangh Parivar and not about its contents. He has always pursued the bigger picture of getting into the world arena. Even the segment that has been supporting the BJP's saffronisation agenda wants it to be achieved without compromising the development agenda.

Modi's worry, therefore, is justified when he feels that the BJP's political agenda may push it to a wrong place. Even after mustering a majority in the Upper House, the BJP's Hindutva agenda should be played out silently, not aggressively. While it is true that Modi requires the Sangh Parivar's support in a big way, the opposite is also true.

K V Rao Bengaluru

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