Timing of comments is bad for the party.
By Rajiv Theodore
NEW DELHI: Just when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) thought that it was on a roll as all predictions forecast a huge win for the Hindu right wing party in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, two incidents within a span of 24 hours could take away some of the sheen from the rather pre-mature celebrations.
The latest incident allegedly happened in Bhavnagar in Rajkot district of Narendra Modi’s Gujarat, and was mouthed by Praveen Togadia, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader.
According to reports, Togadia asked a Muslim businessman to vacate his house within 48 hours, otherwise threatening him with dire consequences, including his house being possessed by right wing Hindu workers.
Togadia warned Muslims to not buy property in Hindu dominated areas. The BJP has issued a statement rubbishing the report. But other political parties have questioned the BJP’s lack of action and Muslim leaders have sought the intervention of the Election Commission.
Prior to the Togadia incident, there was this bomb again from a BJP member, Giriraj Singh from Bihar.
“I stand by my statement that those trying their best to stop Modi from coming to power have no place in India and should go to Pakistan whose interests these Modi-baiters have sought to espouse by opposing him in the polls,” a defiant Singh said, reiterating his speech.
Rival parties have condemned it as a gross violation of the model code of conduct. Senior Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi termed the statement “irresponsible” and said the party does not approve of it.
“BJP doesn’t approve of irresponsible statement given by Giriraj Singh,” he tweeted.
The Election Commission has ordered an FIR against Singh.
India’s Communist party, CPI (M) has sought Togadia’s immediate arrest, saying that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who also holds the Home portfolio, should not remain silent.
“As the Home Minister of Gujarat, Modi should himself act (against Togadia) for his hate speech. If he doesn’t, then it is clear that Togadia said all this with his blessings,” CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury said.
Togadia and Singh‘s direct threats to members of the minority community come at a time when the BJP is again preparing to launch itself as a governing party, shaking of its image as an outfit with narrow short-term partisan goals.
Also, when the party is gaining new heights riding on the crest of the popularity whipped up by the charismatic Modi, who has quite electrified the nation with his promises of better governance than the Congress led UPA, these incidents do not augur well for its future. Many say that the popularity of Modi skyrocketed more due to the dismal performance of the UPA.