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CONTENTIOUS POLITICAL ISSUES AND NDA
Prof. Jangkhongam Doungel
The mandate of the electorates of India in the sixteenth Lok Sabha election of 2014 ensured the return of BJP led NDA to power with absolute majority after a gap of a decade. There are certain differences between NDA II and NDA III with regard to formation and composition of the government. Both the short-lived NDA I and the full term NDA II coalition government was led by Atal Behari Vaypajee. The NDA I and NDA II led by Atal Behari Vajpayee was a real coalition combination of BJP without majority of itself, depending upon the support of its allies; however the NDA III led by the Narendra Modi is a coalition structure with BJP as the single majority party which can also survive for the whole term without the support of its allies. The credit for this resounding victory of the BJP should go to none other than Narendra Modi who toiled hard without rest to achieve this magnificent fate. It is evident that the electorates have high expectation from Narendra Modi and the newly installed NDA III government at the Centre. However, the credibility and tactfulness of the NDA III will be judged on the basis of how it tackle and solve the contentious political issues!
There are certain contentious political issues which always involved the BJP either directly or indirectly, such as, Ram Janmabhomi Babri Masjid issue at Ayodhya, Uniform Civil Code and Article 370 of the Constitution of India. Further, the BJP’s identification with Rastriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) has also doubted its credential as a progressive party of the nation from different circles. As such, this very aspect of its relationship and the role which it accorded to the RSS also seemed to be one of the important measuring rods of BJP performance in this term by the critics. Over and above that, the statesmanship of Narendra Modi and the performance of his government may also be judged on tackling the above mentioned issues.
Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site controversy dated back to medieval period and it still remains unsolved political issue till today. The first recorded communal clash over the site was in 1853. It was the bond of contention between the Hindus and the Muslims even in colonial era and this very issue caused many communal riots in post independent era too. The issue became more controversial after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) laid foundation for construction of Ram Temple at the site in November 1989 which was followed by rath yatra of Lal Krishna Advani in the next year where he was arrested in Bihar during the yatra on 23rd October 1990. Subsequently, the Babri-Masjid was demolished by a gathering of about 2 lakh Karsevaks on 6th December, 1992. Ten days after the demolition, the Congress Government at the Centre, headed by P.V. Narasimha Rao set up a commission of inquiry under Justice Liberhan. The Allahabad High Court too adjudicated the case and judgment was pronounced on 30th September, 2010, however, it was stayed by the Supreme Court for maintenance of status quo on 9th May 2011. Thus, the issue is sub-judice now.
Uniform Civil Code is another legal and political controversial issue which rocked Indian political system since the colonial period. Taking the religious divide of the Indian society into account, the British authority gave autonomy to certain religious groups, such as, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian and Parsee etc so as to let them govern themselves by religious law to lessen their administrative problems. Thus, the Muslims Personal Law began to be effective with the enactment of the Sharia Law since 1937. The Sharia Law began to be questioned with the emergence of Shah Bano case in 1985, as such, the Uniform Civil Code which has been raised from before become stronger. There are many arguments for and against the Uniform Civil Code and it is ongoing critical political and legal issue.
Every conscious Indian is aware of the autonomy accorded to Jammu & Kashmir by the constitution of India. Article 370 of the constitution of India laid down certain provisions which accorded special provisions to the state of Jammu & Kashmir. As a matter of fact, many provisions which are enforced in other states are not enforceable in the state of Jammu & Kashmir till now. This special status of Jammu & Kashmir under Article 370 has begun to be questioned from certain circles and it happened to be one of the most controversial political and constitutional issues. The Kashmiris do not want to be a part with this special provision but some intellectuals, civil societies and political parties questioned its feasibility.
The above mentioned three core issues, such as, Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid, Uniform Civil Code and Article 370 happened to be the three sensitive political issues with which the BJP have been identified for the past many years. Indeed, the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue became more controversial with the rath yatra of L.K. Advani in 1990 and the indictment of some top BJP leaders by the Liberhan Commission. Over and above that, construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya is regarded as hidden agenda of the BJP. Therefore, all eyes are looking towards Narendra Modi how he will tackle this contentious issue! Uniform Civil Code is also problematic because the Muslim population stiffly opposed any move to put an end to the Sharia Law and to unify all communities under the same law. In fact, the promise of implementing a Uniform Civil Code is one of the core issues of the BJP and it is also mentioned in its manifesto. So, it is the query of many conscious citizens how Narendra Modi will pursue the issue? Article 370 happened to a sensitive and emotional issue, with which, every Kashmiri is conscious. Over and above that, Jammu & Kashmir is always identified with Article 370 and this very provision indeed made the accession of Jammu & Kashmir to India a possibility. The RSS and BJP raised certain question with regard to irrelevance of Article 370 in the present context and it is also identified as the political agenda of the BJP. So, the question now is how will Modi deal with this critical issue?
The BJP which is the first non-Congress party to secure absolute majority of its own in the history of electoral politics in India is highly expected to bring some constructive changes in governance and economic development by the public. Of course, the Janata party had obtained absolute in 1977 but it was a conglomerate of different ideological grouping not like the present BJP. The quality of eloquency in campaign speech, good governance and economic development work of Gujarat model and the articulated election promises of Narendra Modi which convinced and won the heart of the electorates will now be put to test in dealing and tackling with these three contentious political issues. The query arises whether Narendra Modi will be guided by tall talks and promises of the BJP and RSS which were raised before or will he deal with the issue pragmatically and realistically? Therefore, it is to be waited and watched how the New Government deal with the contentious political issues!
The author is the Head Department of Political Science, Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram.
