People's Democracy

Saffron Brigade: A Hopeless Anachronism

THE will-he-won’t-he resign charade of Mr L K Advani appears all set to continue for some more time. As we go to press, it seems that he has decided to continue as the BJP president, ignoring the RSS directive. In all likelihood, this is merely an extension of time that he is seeking from his RSS masters. 

As pointed out on many occasions in the past, the BJP is nothing but the political arm of the RSS. The RSS invented the mode of outsourcing (currently practiced with great vigour by neo-liberal economic reformers) way back in 1951 when it set-up the Jan Sangh as its political arm. This was following a ban on the RSS consequent to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. 

As the legitimate owner, who has outsourced a particular function to Mr Advani as the BJP president, the RSS can also withdraw this when it so pleases. Clearly, Mr Advani functions as the BJP president on contract whose duration will be determined by its master – the RSS!

The seemingly apparent controversy, or difference of opinion, between the RSS and the BJP on “ideological deviation from core RSS beliefs” only masks the real crisis that has engulfed the saffron brigade. The crisis lies its inability to rouse public opinion in its favour or to mobilise the people on its issues. 

Apart from everything else, the last one year of the UPA government has significantly contributed to changing the character of national discourse in the country. People are no longer debating whether the Pakistani cricket team should be allowed to play in India; whether Deepa Mehta should be allowed to film on the banks of the Ganga; whether M F Hussain’s paintings are to be displayed, or whether Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali should be allowed to perform in India. All such issues with the potential to deepen the communal divide, which were brought to the centre-stage by the saffron brigade, no longer engage the people’s attention. Instead, people today are debating the quantum of foreign direct investment to be allowed in the country; they are debating and protesting against the hike in petroleum prices; they are moving into action in the defence of India’s public sector; and the working class is pressing ahead with strike actions to protect India’s national wealth from being looted by foreign capital. In rural India, millions are struggling to survive braving natural calamities and man-made situations leading to suicides by farmers who are unable to cope with the usurious moneylenders. 

On all such issues which affect the day-to-day existence of the millions of Indians, the RSS/BJP is clearly seen on the side of the exploiter who only heaps greater miseries on the people. On matters of economic policy, they unabashedly support ‘reforms’ that mortgage our economic sovereignty and heap burdens on the people. Their silence on issues such as petroleum products price hike; starvation deaths and distress suicides are more eloquent of their complete lack of concern for the welfare of the people.  They have forfeited their right as the opposition to use the parliamentary forum to champion the people’s interests. Instead, they disrupt parliamentary proceedings due to their lack of any issue that is of concern to the people. 

This is the real crisis for the saffron brigade today. Mercifully, for India and its secular democratic republican character, they have failed miserably to sharpen communal polarisation, despite all their efforts, after the recent terrorist attack in Ayodhya. Clearly, the Indian people are engaged in more serious issues that will determine the content and character of the country’s future. The RSS/BJP, under the saffron brigade, focus only on the past and have a blank agenda for India’s future. The RSS/BJP is today an anachronism. This cannot be cured by a change of personnel.

In this unfolding drama, one personality has emerged as being more loyal than the king. Mr Advani has found a loyal spokesman in Mr George Fernandes who has finally nailed his past socialist coffin to emerge as the BJP’s voice. It is indeed a shame that people claiming socialist ideals today advance the communal cause which thoroughly negates the foundations of modern India.

It can only augur well for the country and its future if the communal forces and their agenda can be consigned to the sidelines while the country and the people set out to work for strengthening the modern Indian republic and improving the livelihood of its people.