So Rahul Gandhi has equated the RSS with SIMI and understandably so, the BJP is up in arms. Though there are many points to argue the case either ways, we will focus on the political aspect. We all know that the RSS has often praised the young Gandhi behind closed doors for his simplistic style and him sporting a teeka everywhere he goes. But what led to Rahul going the whole hog to discredit the RSS. The key to this as usual lies in the politics of Uttar Pradesh.
It all started with the Ayodhya verdict on 30th September this year. When the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court decided that the disputed land in Ayodhya belongs to both Hindus and Muslims. It also said that idols will not be removed from the sanctum sanctorum and that portion should be given to Hindus, while Muslims can be alotted land apart from the inner courtyard, Sita ki Rasoi and Ram Chabutra. Hindus were given two thirds while Muslims got one third of the land at the disputed site.
While there was almost no violence reported and an uneasy calm led to peace in Uttar Pradesh courtesy the BSP Govt and the Centre. But Mulayam Singh Yadav had other plans. While most legal eagles were still reading up on the Ayodhya judgement in its entirety, the Samajwadi Party chief beat all of them to it. The very next day on 1st October, Mulayam trashed the High Court's verdict. He went on to say that this decision was taken on the basis of faith and not law, and that Muslims of the country are feeling cheated. This ofcourse did assuage the feelings of the Muslim community in general, but created a headache for other political parties.
BSP supremo Mayawati had already asked the Centre to implement the High Court's verdict. She has shrewdly put the ball in the Congress' court. What she also managed to do with all the flag marches and security forces on the move during this period, was to instill a sense of security amongst the people at large that she will not led any violence happen. But she too realised that Mulayam may run away with the minority advantage with his provocative statement. And her managers got down to work quickly.
The result was the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board calling an emergency meeting on 5th October and decided that they will move the Supreme Court challenging the High Court verdict. This ofcourse was done before the meeting of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the highest decision making body for Muslims in India. Reason gbeing that the Waqf Board is the main plaintiff in the Ayodhya case. But its interesting to know that the UP Central Sunni Waqf Board has 13 members. Eight of them are elected while five are nominated by the State Govt. Out of the eight elected members on the Board, two are BSP MP's while another three are BSP MLA's. That takes the strength of the BSP Govt to 10 out of 13 members in the Board, hence the political angle comes into play. Mayawati had played her cards right.
So where did that leave the Congress ? Mulayam was busy playing his tape that he's been playing since 1990 and hoping the same record will bring him back to power in 2012 UP Assembly elections. Mayawati earned kudos for her handling the security apparatus during this episode in which no harm came anyone's way. She also blunted Mulayam's move by asking the Waqf Board to appeal against the High Court verdict. The grand old party had to quickly reinvent itself and position itself as the savious of Muslims, otherwise SP and BSP would run away with the advantage.
The gains made by the Congress in 2009 Lok Sabha election in UP was mainly due to the minority vote swinging its way instead of the usual SP and partly BSP. Now it appeared all the hard work of weaning them away from regional forces would be frittered away. No one understood this better than Rahul Gandhi who was watching this entire scenario unfold. So what does he do ? He travels to Madhya Pradesh, a state ruled by the BJP for the past seven years. A state that has earned notoriety for its anti minority policies. Rahul was interacting with University students in Tikamgarh on 5th October and he candidly equated RSS with the banned Muslim outfit SIMI. By putting both RSS and SIMI in the same boat, Rahul tried to assuage the feelings of Muslims as well as Hindus. That extremism of any kind does not figure anywhere in his brand of politics.
Rahul realised that he would earn brickbats from the Sangh Parivar for his comments. He also knows that his grandmother had once praised the RSS during her regime for their commitment. But for a person who believes that 'bread and butter' issues matter more to our people than painful old memories, he decided to take on the RSS. And as the countdown to 2012 begins, Rahul Gandhi and his position on matters of faith will be a defining moment for the Congress in the Hindi heartland.
It all started with the Ayodhya verdict on 30th September this year. When the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court decided that the disputed land in Ayodhya belongs to both Hindus and Muslims. It also said that idols will not be removed from the sanctum sanctorum and that portion should be given to Hindus, while Muslims can be alotted land apart from the inner courtyard, Sita ki Rasoi and Ram Chabutra. Hindus were given two thirds while Muslims got one third of the land at the disputed site.
While there was almost no violence reported and an uneasy calm led to peace in Uttar Pradesh courtesy the BSP Govt and the Centre. But Mulayam Singh Yadav had other plans. While most legal eagles were still reading up on the Ayodhya judgement in its entirety, the Samajwadi Party chief beat all of them to it. The very next day on 1st October, Mulayam trashed the High Court's verdict. He went on to say that this decision was taken on the basis of faith and not law, and that Muslims of the country are feeling cheated. This ofcourse did assuage the feelings of the Muslim community in general, but created a headache for other political parties.
BSP supremo Mayawati had already asked the Centre to implement the High Court's verdict. She has shrewdly put the ball in the Congress' court. What she also managed to do with all the flag marches and security forces on the move during this period, was to instill a sense of security amongst the people at large that she will not led any violence happen. But she too realised that Mulayam may run away with the minority advantage with his provocative statement. And her managers got down to work quickly.
The result was the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board calling an emergency meeting on 5th October and decided that they will move the Supreme Court challenging the High Court verdict. This ofcourse was done before the meeting of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the highest decision making body for Muslims in India. Reason gbeing that the Waqf Board is the main plaintiff in the Ayodhya case. But its interesting to know that the UP Central Sunni Waqf Board has 13 members. Eight of them are elected while five are nominated by the State Govt. Out of the eight elected members on the Board, two are BSP MP's while another three are BSP MLA's. That takes the strength of the BSP Govt to 10 out of 13 members in the Board, hence the political angle comes into play. Mayawati had played her cards right.
So where did that leave the Congress ? Mulayam was busy playing his tape that he's been playing since 1990 and hoping the same record will bring him back to power in 2012 UP Assembly elections. Mayawati earned kudos for her handling the security apparatus during this episode in which no harm came anyone's way. She also blunted Mulayam's move by asking the Waqf Board to appeal against the High Court verdict. The grand old party had to quickly reinvent itself and position itself as the savious of Muslims, otherwise SP and BSP would run away with the advantage.
The gains made by the Congress in 2009 Lok Sabha election in UP was mainly due to the minority vote swinging its way instead of the usual SP and partly BSP. Now it appeared all the hard work of weaning them away from regional forces would be frittered away. No one understood this better than Rahul Gandhi who was watching this entire scenario unfold. So what does he do ? He travels to Madhya Pradesh, a state ruled by the BJP for the past seven years. A state that has earned notoriety for its anti minority policies. Rahul was interacting with University students in Tikamgarh on 5th October and he candidly equated RSS with the banned Muslim outfit SIMI. By putting both RSS and SIMI in the same boat, Rahul tried to assuage the feelings of Muslims as well as Hindus. That extremism of any kind does not figure anywhere in his brand of politics.
Rahul realised that he would earn brickbats from the Sangh Parivar for his comments. He also knows that his grandmother had once praised the RSS during her regime for their commitment. But for a person who believes that 'bread and butter' issues matter more to our people than painful old memories, he decided to take on the RSS. And as the countdown to 2012 begins, Rahul Gandhi and his position on matters of faith will be a defining moment for the Congress in the Hindi heartland.
