Fishing for Votes

Fr. Gaurav Nair Fr. Gaurav Nair
06 May 2024

The BJP, seemingly oblivious to the ancient adage 'Once bitten, twice shy', continues to recycle its tactics. Despite the ample response to Mr Modi's diatribe in Banswara, Rajasthan, one would have expected a change in approach. However, the BJP's repetitive behaviour has stripped it of any class, as it persistently resorts to crass narratives, further tarnishing its image.

Recently, the PM swiped at Tejashwi Yadav for eating meat during the Chaitra Navratri when, in fact, nobody even bothered to look and blamed him for hurting Hindu sentiments. He then blamed Congress for distributing the nation's wealth to "infiltrators" and "those who have more children" and snatching away the women's mangalsutras (a necklace worn by married women) if voted to power. He was also kind enough to expound on the theory of the Muslims' priority claim to the nation's wealth, where he maliciously slanted Manmohan Singh.

Things did not stop there. Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath have set off a tug of war for who will emerge victorious in slandering the opposition. While Amit prophesied the implementation of Sharia, Adityanath was sure of Congress promising cow slaughter to be allowed.

Even before considering that Tejashwi consumed fish on the eve of Navratri, the nation is a melting pot of cultures. As Shashi Tharoor wonderfully puts it, true Hinduism does not micro-manage its adherents. If so, what is Mr Modi and his ilk preaching?

Modi's misquoted statement is from a speech Singh made on December 9, 2006, at the 52nd meeting of the National Development Council in New Delhi. The speech was about the Approach Paper to the XI Five-Year Plan, titled 'Towards Faster and More Inclusive Growth'. The paper elucidates that minorities (including Muslims) were falling behind the national average, and the focus was to bring them to par with the rest of the nation. So much for Muslims taking away the opportunities of the Hindus!

The latest in Modi's litany of sorrows is his attribution of Pakistani discipleship to Congress. Hilariously, his imagination has turned Chaudhry Fawad Hussain's post praising Rahul Gandhi into an unintentional exposé of Pakistan's wish for Shehzade to be in power. He fails to realise that his shenanigans will not win him any fans. Truthfully speaking, it is not improbable that these exploits have cost him some votes.

A quote attributed to Otto von Bismarck suggests that only nincompoops learn from their mistakes, while the wise learn from others'. Instead of fostering unity and progress, the party's leadership indulges in fear-mongering and polarisation, undermining the Indian democracy. As the electorate witnesses these tactics, the BJP risks alienating its traditional supporters and those seeking genuine governance and inclusivity. It's time for everyone to heed the lessons of its past missteps and embrace a more dignified and respectful approach to politics that genuinely reflects the nation's aspirations.

Recent Posts

From collapsing public institutions and shrinking academic freedom to corruption, communal polarisation, and attacks on constitutional rights, the nation's deepest crisis is not administrative failure
apicture Cedric Prakash
20 Jul 2026
Governed by a mix of national coalitions and state-level regional forces, its massive electorate engages in vibrant, highly contested elections to balance local aspirations with national governance.
apicture Pachu Menon
20 Jul 2026
May I seek your kind permission to apply for the post of Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra? Having gone through the eligibility conditions, I have reached the conclusi
apicture A. J. Philip
20 Jul 2026
Women's empowerment cannot coexist with political patronage that confines women to kitchens while celebrating them as voters. Anandiben Patel's remarks expose that the ruling establishment does not se
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
20 Jul 2026
Barely weeks after the BJP assumed office, West Bengal has witnessed a disturbing surge in attacks on Christians and Muslims. Majoritarian politics is fast replacing the State's long tradition of plur
apicture Fr Soroj Mullick, SDB
20 Jul 2026
The relentless assault on Rahul Gandhi has become a political industry. By echoing narratives crafted by the ruling party's propaganda machinery, influential critics have done more to weaken the democ
apicture Mathew John
20 Jul 2026
In the agricultural fields, You are the owners Of land our ancestors tilled Without ever seeing a deed.
apicture Dr Suryaraju Mattimalla
20 Jul 2026
Then we organise our own match, lock out the referee, remove the opposition, announce the final score and declare ourselves world champions.
apicture Robert Clements
20 Jul 2026
Courts speak through evidence, not the religion of judges or the accused. Once judicial decisions are judged by identity instead of reasoning, the blindfold of Lady Justice falls, and with it, public
apicture A. J. Philip
13 Jul 2026
Religion loses its soul when it becomes a vehicle for power and profit. The Ayodhya donation controversy exposes how faith is exploited for political capital and commercial enterprise. Democracy deman
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
13 Jul 2026