Since the campaign began for 2019 Lok Sabha elections RSS and BJP have often said that these elections are contested on the idea of nationalism. During last 5 years of BJP rule lot of thrust is being given to change the idea of Indian Nationalism. The kind of ultra-nationalism being promoted by BJP and RSS is creating more and more hatred between Hindus and the minorities, especially Muslims. Even after 72 years of Indian independence Muslims in India are seen with suspicion and are labelled as Pakistani “stooges”. New-York based Human Rights Watch in its 2018 report on India said that with rising threat of vigilante violence aimed at religious minorities, marginalized communities, and Government critics are often carried out by groups claiming to support the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The detailed report said that the ruling BJP hardly did anything to protect its minority instead it “publicly promoted Hindu supremacy and ultra-nationalism at the expense of fundamental rights for all Indians.”
Sadhvi’s shocker
BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal Sadhvi Pragya during her recent statement saidthat Gandhi Ji’s murderer Nathuram Godse was a true patriot (deshbhakt) and will remain so forever. Sadhvi wasreacting to Kamal Haasan’s remarks that the first terrorist in IndependentIndia was Godse. When asked about Kamal Haasan’s comment on Hindu terror andGodse, Sadhvi Pragya said : “Nathuram Godse was a deshbhakt, is adeshbhakt and will remain a deshbhakt. People calling him a terrorist shouldinstead look within. Such people will be given a befitting reply in theseelections ”
Sensing trouble during election time Sadhvi later-on tendered an apology on the insistence of BJP high command. BJP must feel ashamed of giving Lok Sabha ticket to such a person who is considered to be the main accused in Malegaon bomb blast. After her release from jail on bail she did not stop to spread venom. Only recently Sadhvi Pragya said that she had cursed IPS officer Hemant Karkare during her prison term, after which he got killed in firing during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. Sadhvi also said that she herself had climbed on top of the Babri Masjid to demolish the mosque and was very proud of it.
Re-enacting Gandhi’s assassination
While people of India were marking the 71st deathanniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on January 30th this year a right-wing group,Hindu Mahasabha, shockingly re-enacted his assassination in Aligrah city ofUttar Pradesh. Pertinently Gandhi’s killer Nathuram Godse happened to be amember Hindu Mahasabha which was founded in 1915 by Madan Mohan Malaviya. Avideo had gone viral on social media showing Hindu Mahasabha National SecretaryPuja Shakun Pandey shooting the effigy of Mahatma Gandhi amid cheers. She later told reporters that her organisationhas started a new tradition by recreating the assassination, and it will now bepracticed in a manner similar to the immolation of demon king Ravana onDussehra. Puja and her supporters later-on garlanded Godse’s statue anddistributed sweets to hail what they claimed was a watershed moment in Indianhistory.
Conclusion
Hindu Mahasabha and many right wing extremist organizationsregard the day of Mahatma Gandhi’s death (January 30th) as Shaurya Divas (Bravery Day), in honour ofNathuram Godse. What Sadhvi uttered about Godse few days back during herelection campaign might have shocked ordinary Indian citizens but for BJP, RSSand its affiliated organizations Gandhi continues to be hated. Imagine ifpeople like Sadhvi Pragya enter Indian Parliament what will happen to thenation of 1.35 billon people ? If thishate and ultra-nationalism campaign of BJP is not plugged, I personally feelthe day is not far when Gandhi Ji will be officially declared as Anti-Nationaland Godse will be India’s nationalhero….