BJP’s biggest challenge – integration of Hindutva in India with high tech prosperity and impoverished country side 
Sudhir Chadda, Special Correspondent
January 10, 2005

With internal troubles manifesting itself in Manmohan Government like disgruntled communists and annoyed allies like Lalu Prasad Yadav, BJP is gearing up for the next election, which may come in 2005 or 2006.

The biggest challenge for BJP is integrating Hindutva with high-tech India and impoverished countryside of India. The contrast becomes even more glaring with recent Tsunami victims who are poor fishing families in the India’s southern coastline. 

Communism is on the rise in India because of tremendous disparity of high-tech urban enterprises and the countryside farmers who struggle every day. If any party can stop the communists, that is BJP and its various religious affiliates like RSS and VHP. 

BJP in the last term failed to bring the essence of Hindutva in the country and integrate the same with high tech prosperity while showing genuine compassion for the poor and struggling country side.

Congress came with a lot of promises but till today they could deliver almost nothing to the poor people of India. Congress is running the country very well but there is nothing much left that can save Pandit Nehru’s party. If BJP fails at this critical juncture, communists will gain power in India and that will be devastating not only for India but for the whole world especially Asia.

BJP must be able to bring the essence of Hindutva among high tech engineers. They must also bring in Hinutva among people in the countryside. They have to promise and implement compassion for the poor and the minorities.

Championing Hindutva does not mean discriminating against Islam, Christians, Jews and the Sikhs. Great King of India Ashoka thousands of years back said something, which is true today but is followed by very few people in the world. He said, the best way you can respect your religion is by respecting others religion.

Bringing Hindutva to limelight really means making Hindus aware of their religion. The only way BJP can glorify Hinduism is by providing examples of tolerance and love for all. Hindutva can unite the country against communists who will try to use communal forces in the country to snatch power at the center and in individual states. These communists will try to make BJP look as if they are religious zealots. BJP’s work is to counter this in cool mind. 

BJP needs to take lesson from the Republican Party in America and George Bush. George Bush won because he held his base and then expanded the same into the Hispanic voters and made the conservatives come out in big numbers to outlaw gay marriages. It does not matter whether you agree with Bush or not, the tactics worked.

BJP similarly needs to strengthen the Hindutva base, bring in other minorities with a policy of inclusion and nor exclusion and urge the Hindu voters to come out in big numbers to vote.

In next election, it will be the regional parties and the communists that will challenge BJP. Congress will still be there. BJP needs to focus on getting its act together.