By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Varanasi: Like earlier elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has promised Ram Mandir in its election manifesto for the ongoing Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections also, but it is clear that the Hindu right-wing party is not finding many buyers of its communal products in this election. The reason is that young voters – who constitute about 60% of total votes – are more interested in education and good job than any communal issue, says Dr. Mohd. Arif, chairman, Centre for Harmony & Peace.
“It is true that BJP has failed to polarize and communalize Hindu voters this time, and this is because its face has been exposed. People have now got to know that what BJP says does never act. People want livelihood. This is real issue,” says Dr. Arif.
“More importantly, the young voters are not much interested in Ram Mandir issue or such communal issues. They talk about development, education and job. This is the reason BJP’s position is not very impressive in this election,” says Dr. Arif who has been holding workshops on peace and harmony for several years in different parts of the state and country.
“Take the case of Varanasi itself. Communalism is not in the minds of people who are going to polling booth. Yes, of course, development is an issue. Here roads are not good. Electricity is an issue. Sewer lines are not many. Markets have gone weak. Weavers are in bad condition,” he adds.
Once BJP would talk about Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi. Kashi is in Varanasi. Is it an issue here? “Not at all, such issues are just history. Here development is an issue,” says Dr. Arif. Communalism is not a topic in the ongoing assembly election in Uttar Pradesh or in other words, BJP has failed to communalize atmosphere this time.
Advocate Jahangir Alam, executive member of Babri Masjid Action Committee agrees and says due to communalism at lower level this time, there is a free contest among several political parties.
“There is a contest among several political parties. The atmosphere is not communally charged this time. The communal card always played by BJP is now at lowest level. This is resulting in free voting. People are coming out in good number to vote,” says Adv. Jahangir.
A BJP election campaign rickshaw in Jaunpur
Dr. Arif, however, is not agree that communalism is not an issue at all. Though it is not a poll issue, but it is an issue, he says.
“On the surface, communalism or any communal issue is not playing any big role in this election. But to say communalism is not an issue is not true. Sangh Parivar outfits are distributing pamphlets on 4.5% minority quota. The texts in those pamphlets are provocative and against Muslims and Christians. They are calling Hindus to wake up,” he says.
He further says that manifestation of communalism is very much prevalent in the state machinery though BJP is not in power.
“Communalism is promoted by people in the government machinery. Only because BJP is not in power, and so communalism is not an issue, is not true. In Eastern UP, Yogi Adityanath is a big store of communalism. He calls for snatching the voting rights of Muslims. He calls to take over Muslim graveyards. Aren’t these communal issues?,”asks Dr. Arif.
Whoever in power, when Muslims want their rights, jobs and bank loans, and development of their areas, the people in the state machinery become communal and show blatant discrimination against them, he adds.