Basis Paper for meeting on 28th Feb09.
Gujarat was perhaps the chosen state by BJP and Sangh-parivar to experiment with the communal agenda and making it the launching pad for spreading “Hindutva” across the country by displacing the “secular forces” led by Congress.
This choice of Gujarat became more a compulsion by the end of 1990 since the “Hindutva” thrust in the cow belt ( UP,Bihar) was possiblyfaltering due to Mandalisation of the cow-belt politics. The other backward classes like Yadav etc. who were the beneficiary of the Mandal commission recommendations, promptly separated from the Hindutva camp, rendering a blow to the consolidation of Ramjanma Bhoomi Movement. The pro-Mandal forces consolidated under the leadership of Shri Lalluprasad in Bihar and Mulayam Singh Yadav in U.P. These forces with the support of the minorities and dalits became a formidable challenge to the BJP led Hindutva forces.
Mandal’s award had however little or no impact in the caste politics of Gujarat as the major land owning community, namely the Patel community, which made up for almost 28% of the population of Gujarat, were outside the OBC classification. Despite being a powerful upward mobile community having a substantial economic clout in Gujarat, it lacked in political and social status and power. Sangh Parivar fulfilled these apparent shortcomings of the Patel community by handing over the political leadership to Keshubhai Patel .and also the leadership of VHP to the Saurashtra Patel lobby headed by Pravin Toghadia, Gordhan Zadapia etc. The empowerment of the Patels through these two mechanisms gave the Sangh Parivar a great impetus in their quest for the Political power in Gujarat and Shri Keshubhai became the Chief Minister. Since then the Sangh –Pariwar had made enormous gain in State of Gujarat till 2001.
But after earthquake of January 2001 BJP suffered in the state elections held in the North Indian States and Kesubhai’s handling of the earthquake relief and rehab work also came in for sever criticism. As the 2002 Gujarat State elections were fast approaching at that stage, the Sangh Parivar decided to call in their ace pracharak Narendra Modi to lead them in 2002 elections. That was the time when Godhra happened. The tragic death of 59 passengers of the Sabarmati Express on 27th February, 2002 was promptly converted into a communal contradiction and the entire Muslim community of Gujarat was put in the accused box painted as “Islamic terrorists”. On this emotive issue alone, the Modi led BJP stormed into power in the 2002 elections.
It is however required to be firmly remembered that whatever be the political slogans by which the rightist parties come to power, the primary task is to work for the ruling classes and serve their economic interest. Modi ingenuity lies in the fact that he could displace the class contradictions in the secondary position by pushing up the religious contradictions as the primary contradictions for the time being. Soon however, the real color of the BJP led Government became obvious when they unfolded the ultra-rich oriented vibrant Gujarat policies and the objectives of the Global onvestora meets since 2005. We now find industrial houses of the large dimensions, from the country as well as from outside, lining up to invest in Gujarat. The drive of Tatas in theie Nano from WB to Gujarat is just one example of the urge of the big capitalist to come over to Gujarat. Why is this urge?? This is perhaps the only State in India that can amend any lawor bend it if cannot be amended to suit the interest of the Industrial houses at the cost of the ordinary people of Gujarat.
During this period when the BJP was communalizing the politics to corner the State power, the role of the Congress, the only opposition party in Gujarat was miserable. Due to their class allegiance, they did precise little to counter the communalization of the Gujarat politics. Ultimately both these parties have the interest of the big bourgeoisie in their mind and in case the interest of this class was being protected by communal tactics, so be it! Congress can therefore never be a force to counter the communalization of the politics.
Due to the complete failure of the political opposition, the life and liberty of the working people, peasantry, dalits, adivasis, minorities and all other marginalized sections of the society are in great danger and jeopardy. The left and democratic forces must therefore discharge their historical responsibility of coming together for the protection of the interest of the working people, peasantry, dalits, adivasis, minorities and all other marginalized classes. At this stage of history, as there is no single party which can lead the struggling masses, all political organizations which uphold the interest of any section or class of the struggling masses, must come together on the basis of a common agenda to resist and defeat the designs of the ruling classes.
Short term Agenda:
- A common declaration expressing the intention of the coalition partners to unite for the purpose of resisting and fighting the economic policies of the ruling classes.
- Holding a common rally and meeting to announce the declaration to the people.
- Chalk out a common program to participate in the coming central election to campaign against the BJP-Congress policies and make every effort to support common candidates to defeat the aforesaid combination.
Released by Gujarat Jan Abhiyan
