)
Congress member in the Rajya Sabha Dr Bhalchandra Mungekar was involved in deciding the party's campaign strategy in Maharashtra. Mungekar, a former member of the Planning Commission, is a prominent Dalit leader who is campaigning extensively to retain the party's traditional vote bank. In an interview with Sanjay Jog, Mungekar talks about the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s attempt to woo Dalits and Muslims and simultaneously pursue Hindutva agenda. Edited excerpts:
BJP’s prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi has attacked the Congress for being anti-Dalit. What is your comment?
Ever since the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was formed in 1925, Dalits never figured in its agenda. Even in his home state of Gujarat, Modi is not serious in implementing some of the welfare policies meant for the community. This amounts to de-recognition to the substantial contribution, which the Dalit community is making to the building up of the economy and the nation at large. In fact, at one place, Modi has described the Dalit community as mentally retarded instead of calling them economically and educationally disadvantaged section. It shows Modi's mentality towards the Dalits. Again, according to scheduled castes sub plan, the Modi government is supposed to allocate 14 per cent of the Plan fund for the development of the Dalits, as the community constitutes 14 per cent of the state's population. However, his government has earmarked only 5.5 per cent. This shows he has a totally negative approach towards the economic uplift of the Dalits.
Also Read
Does it show BJP's desperation?
From the beginning, there has been a contradiction between the BJP's theoretical position and its practical behaviour towards the Dalits. When his so-called Gujarat model of development, which doesn’t exist in reality, was demolished, Modi projected his image as a strong administrator. He was compared to Sardar Patel by terming him Chhota Sardar. When all these efforts failed, he turned to Dalits and Muslims as a last resort because both the communities constitute one third of the total population of the country. Modi has realised that without seeking their votes he simply cannot imagine to assume power at the Centre.
The Congress has got the support of Imam Bukhari. Against this back drop, Modi and BJP President Rajnath Singh are reaching out to Muslim leaders. Is it a calculated move?
Seeking votes from the Muslim community shows the greatest amount of hypocrisy on their part. Right from 1952, the entire politics of the erstwhile Jana Sangh and now BJP is based on hatred towards Muslims (also Christians). It is immoral on the part of the BJP and Modi to speak about the development of the Muslim community. People will never forget what had happened after the Godhra incident. The talk of Article 370, uniform civil code and the construction of Ram Mandir at the place where the Babri Masjid stood, all show the BJP is not at all willing to give up its Hindutva agenda, which is basically against the interests of the minorities, particularly the Muslim community.
Why the Congress is unable to reach out to its traditional vote bank during the campaigning? Has Modi wave overshadowed the party’s secular image?
I do not think so. The Congress is not at all defensive about its secular agenda or will it compromise on the development of and protection of minorities, particularly the Muslim community. The Congress strongly believes in its actual work done for the development of minorities and Dalits through a slew of welfare and development schemes. The Congress believes these communities will never forget this work and will stand by the party in this election also for its inclusive and social economic and political agenda. This will burst the balloon of the so-called ‘Modi wave’, which has been systematically created by the BJP and the entire Sangh Parivar.
