The prominent pillars of BJP’s ideology are Hindutva, nationalism, development, and direct transfer of social welfare benefits to the people without involvement of middlemen. It has worked hard on these fronts and its electoral victories have been achieved on this basis. However, the theft of donations that has taken place in the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi Temple have made it difficult for the party’s claims on representing the essence of Hindu dharma and philosophy. As such, when it embarks on its next election campaign in Uttarakhand and UP, there will be considerable difficulty in claiming ‘spiritual superiority’ over the ‘appeasement’ politics of the ‘secular’ parties. In fact, the coming session of Parliament promises to be a stormy one on this and the NEET exam issue.
It has become obvious that it is a mistake to place trust on individuals when there is an opportunity for corruption. While the entire facts about the Ram Temple thefts have not yet come to the fore – particularly the level at which there was complicity – it is evident that the system failed. The same is the case with the NEET paper leaks. After all, those obtaining the papers were from among the very students and parents who are presently demanding Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. These incidents highlight the fact that, eventually, security can only be ensured through use of technology. A rethink may also be required on the methodology of competitive exams and the levels at which they are held.
A larger question is being raised about the management of Hindu temples – whether these should remain in the hands of government run trusts. It has long been pointed out that India cannot claim to be a ‘secular’ nation even while maintaining control of Hindu temples. It is because of this that what has happened at the Ram Temple is casting a shadow on the BJP governments in the state and the Centre.
So, the BJP’s Hindutva plank has been temporarily weakened and its political focus will need to shift more towards its other priorities. The opposition, if it wishes to benefit politically from this development, should be very careful regarding how it goes about it. It should not be about claiming to be more Hindu, but a sincere expression of the pain and disappointment at what has happened. Merely trying to embarrass the BJP may end up rebounding in unpredictable ways.
