Pre-poll tomfooleries

The path to 2019 general elections is clearly visible now. The way the political parties are scheming and devising issues for pitched battles is nothing but the story of our society - 'samaj'. The glorious differences amongst the people of India and their cultural conundrums are fully going to be exploited by all the political parties irrespective of their ‘mukhoatas’ - secular, liberal, progressive, developmental or any other mask or ideology. The target is the same - cooking up a win in the elections. The ingredients that go into the broth of success are the same - caste, creed, region, religion, traditions or customs. Cow has already started playing its role. Beef eating is always there.

Love Jihad is bound to make a comeback. Honour killings will be talked about. Ram Mandir/Babri Masjid issue is bound to impact us irrespective of the SC hearing of the same and its verdict. Sabarimala must be a pointer to the tide of things to come shortly. The RSS has ‘urged’ the government to complete the promised temple shortly. Shiv Sena is talking of giving a clarion call for the temple from Ayodhya itself.

The other side of the coin is being played by the anti-BJP parties perfectly. ‘Jeneudhaari Shiv Bhakts’ who oppose Ram Mandir at Ayodhya are egging their cadres to attack women pilgrims at Sabarimala. The discussion is already set around the Hindu vs non-Hindus - and the BJP loves it and laps it up.

Ghulam Nabi Azad realised that he is a Muslim only the other day while addressing Aligarh Muslim University and lamented his identity is shutting doors on bigger glory for him. Shashi Tharoor is trying to identify the difference between a good Hindu and a bad or ordinary Hindu. He feels a good Hindu would never go for a temple in the site of a mosque. Perhaps, a good and devout Muslim would just do the opposite as far as Tharoor is concerned. (He never talks about a good husband and a bad husband anyway). Identity politics are already roiling several States.

Telangana Chief Minister gave a call to the Andhras living in Telangana State to forget their roots and transform themselves into Telanganites. Andhra Chief Minister wants all Telugus of the world to oppose Narendra Modi as he is ‘hunting the TDP leaders down using probe agencies”. Mamata Benerjee wants to change the name of her State into Bangla and the Union Home Ministry is opposed to it. She feels the English nomenclature must change. But, she does not contemplate to changer her name back to Mamata Bandhopadhyay. Temple hopping and Dargah dropping and pandal parking have become the norms.

No one talks about the plight of Kaliyug ki Sita. Today you may 'padao a beti' but you can certainly not ‘bachao’ her. But we have seen the #Me Too placards since ages in this country through Ramayana and Mahabharata times. Is not it so? What a glorious tradition we have and what a glorious culture. Is there unity in this diversity? Are these Indian elections?