How well does the BJP understand politics?
You would perhaps be asked to go get your head examined for even asking that question. Of course, it understands politics better than any others in India by a distance, as much as the gap between 303 and 52 Lok Sabha seats.
Then, you finesse the question. How well does the BJP understand the politics of Punjab? The answer will be, I am afraid, very poorly. Definitely the Modi-Shah BJP does not understand Punjab, Punjabis, their politics, or even more specifically, the Sikhs. Or, they wouldn’t have dug themselves into such a hole (pun intended) over their handling of the Punjab farmers’ protests.
They’ve continued to dig it deeper rather than extricate themselves over what are, in all honesty, a fine set of reformist new laws on agricultural economics.
Before we dive into some of the more complex issues involved here, let’s check out some basics. Punjab was the outlier that defied the Modi magic in the north. Even when Narendra Modi himself was in contention, as in the general elections of 2014 and 2019, the Punjabis were not impressed. This, despite the BJP having a formidable ally, Shiromani Akali Dal, the pre-eminent Sikh party.
For evidence, watch how in both elections, the BJP failed to get two stellar candidates, Arun Jaitley and Hardeep Singh Puri, respectively, elected from Amritsar despite Akali support. It is also the only state in the north where the Modi wave was stopped in both elections. And no, the Punjabis did not even have to dig moats in the highways, throw boulders or raise barricades to stop it.
Election after election, with the 2017 state assembly polls thrown in, Modi addressed rallies dressed in saffron turbans. But it failed in Punjab while he dominated next-door Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
If three reversals of their almighty waves over five years haven’t convinced Modi and Shah of the need for a rethink, the shambles over this farmers’ protest should. And if even this doesn’t, then it shows a lack of political intellect, as well as humility.
The BJP dismisses its critics as the deracinated, English-medium Lutyens-wallahs, and takes pride in its native smarts. It should then learn from that oldest heartland wisdom: You cannot snatch a sugarcane from the field of a farmer (Jat), but can easily charm him into gifting you a full slab of jaggery (gud). With a big smile, a hug, and may be some lassi too. You just have to begin with your head bowed, not in submission, but politeness and friendship. On the farm bills, this BJP has done the opposite.
Also read: Worried about 2022, Punjab BJP wants Shah & Nadda to quickly resolve farmer protests
The Modi-Shah BJP’s fundamental politics runs on four wheels: Modi’s personal popularity, polarisation (Hindutva), non-corrupt image and nationalism. Why has it failed in Punjab?
Even on the farm bills, there is hardly a buzz in the other major farming states. Maharashtra, with massive agricultural population and an established record of farmer politics and protests, is calm. Why’s Punjab angry? Because the state is different, as are the Sikhs.
One of the four wheels of the BJP’s juggernaut is polarisation. Now, that option is missing in Punjab in the conventional, Hindu-Muslim sense. This is difficult to explain to a BJP/RSS mind, but the fear of the Muslim among the Sikhs is nothing compared to what you might find, or be able to build, in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, the Brahmaputra Valley or north Bengal.
The few Muslims who live in Punjab, in the tiny enclave of Malerkotla, have enjoyed the Sikhs’ affection and protection since the times of the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, because the nawab here tried to protect the Guru’s sons from Aurangzeb. It isn’t just revenge that the Sikhs have a long memory for. It is also for gratitude.
Traditionally, the RSS and the BJP, in that order, have seen Sikhs as fellow Hindus, although turned out differently. That the Gurus fought and sacrificed their lives to protect Hindus, that the Punjabi saying that Hindus and Sikhs are inseparable parts of one body like fingers and nails, and that Punjab is the sword arm of India, are all correct. Yet, Sikhs are not Hindus. They are not impressed by Hindutva. If they were, they would not have rejected Modi at his peak thrice.
We learnt this in Bhindranwale’s heyday. The RSS then wouldn’t believe that the Sikhs could turn on Hindus in Punjab. Balasaheb Deoras, then Sarsanghchalak, made a statement that there was no difference or dispute between Hindus and Sikhs, who were, after all, keshdhari (hair-bearing) Hindus.
Some of us journalists happened to be sitting in Bhindranwale’s durbar at the Golden Temple, as was customary. He said, with a smirk the width of the Sutlej in flood, if that “knicker-dhari” says we Sikhs are keshdhari Hindus, what will he call the Muslims? Sunnat-dhari (circumcised) Hindus?
To understand how complex and different Punjab is, stay with me. Bhindranwale and his people now demanded distinct minority status and a separate personal law for Sikhs. A delegation of the richest Sikhs came to his durbar with folded hands. “Don’t do this, Sant ji,” they pleaded. “We shouldn’t lose our tax benefits under HUF (Hindu Undivided Family).”
Also read: How rising Centre-state friction is chipping away at Modi’s ‘cooperative federalism’ mantra
The Sikh-Hindu divide was deepened during the Akalis’ Punjabi Suba movement in the 1960s, when the RSS/Bharatiya Jana Sangh opposed it. The first time the two sides came close to each other was when Indira Gandhi locked them up in the same jails during the Emergency. After 1977, the Akalis and the former Jana Sangh elements (then in the Janata Party) joined hands. But the breakup came soon enough, on linguistic, cultural and religious lines. Then followed the decade of terror. The RSS/BJP were among the targets.
The resurgent BJP under Vajpayee and Advani understood that the only solution to stabilising Punjab, and to also make the BJP grow there, was to bring the Hindus and Sikhs together again. They picked up the thread from their conversations in jail with Akali leaders of similar thinking, now chastened by the Bhindranwale shock.
That is how the SAD-BJP alliance came up. The BJP was happy to be the junior partner. In national politics and the Union cabinet, the Akalis, especially Parkash Singh Badal, were given the pride of place. Madan Lal Khurana was specifically assigned to keep the relationship smooth. This BJP has arrogantly broken that bond.
Rather than be a respectful partner, this BJP has tended to patronise Punjab and the Sikhs. This involves many errors of judgement. One, Punjab is not a monolith. Second, nor are the Sikhs. They have their divisions of caste and clan. In fact, most of the prominent Sikhs you see in the BJP’s ranks are not from the Jat (or Jatt as the Punjabis say) community, which dominates the land-owning peasantry and will defy all cordons and moats to reach where it wishes. And third, Sikhs are not Hindus. Not like the Hindus in Vadodara, Varanasi or Vidarbha.
The Sikh peasantry, especially Jatts, also revel in agitation. This goes back to the ‘Pagdi Sambhal Jatta’ movement in the early 20th century, launched by Sardar Ajit Singh. Its slogan also became the anthem of his nephew’s incredibly brave revolution. The nephew was Shaheed Bhagat Singh, whom everybody swears by, Left, Right and Centre. During the Emergency, the largest contingent in jail after the RSS’ was the Akalis’.
The Sikhs love a good fight, and that’s what the Modi government has given them. It won’t work. You have to reason with the Punjabis. They are entrepreneurial, they might see the merit of these reforms. But if you want to thrust it down their throats, see you at the barricades.
The final point: Punjab is not part of the Hindi/Hindu heartland. Your usual Hindu-Muslim polarisation is not available as a strategy here. You can polarise though, again on Hindu-Sikh lines. Nobody should want it. But, if you do, press on with the canard the farmers are influenced by Khalistanis. Go ahead, paint the devil on the wall.
Also read: Why Akali Dal leaving NDA marks a big fundamental shift in Indian politics
Muslims can be believed .
But Never trust the sikhs wrote Ajit vadakayil.
He may be right and time will tell
it is now more than 2 months after the protests started. few lessons learnt.
first,modi does not need tutorial and definitely not from shekar gupta as to how to run the country. after all from just a rss pracharak to 3 time chief minster to 2 time prime minister – all this was achieved without tutorials from shekar gupta. so shekar gupta may as well drop his idea of starting an online tutorials for prime minisrerial aspirants.
second, about 3000 and odd mob in the name of farmers are trying to hold the country to ransom and the citizens of india has seen through this game despite repeated attempts from part of the media to whip up sentiments.
third, mob protesting seems to be well financed and provided with all sorts of luxuries at the protesting ground. they may as well continue. people care three hoots about them.
fourth, supreme court is using this protest to attempt a coup in taking over the administration which should be condemned by all.
The writer of this article is just spreading hate on internet , and Kudos to The print , this internet has now disaster , I mean they don’t allow postive journalist to write here but the ones they choose. It’s such as disaster
Nice perspective SG !! But some comments
a) It seems like you are not against the farm bills/laws. Then what is the solution/trade-off.. that central govt should propose to the protestors in punjab.?
b) good summary on the fundamentals of modi-shah politics. But I think u missed out one of the main reason for people supporting BJP – their Intention/effort to Make India Great !!
‘But I think u missed out one of the main reason for people supporting BJP – their Intention/effort to Make India Great !!’
You are wrong. Hindus support the BJP and that is for beating up the Muslims in Gujarat in 2002. ‘Make India Great’ again means only that for Hindus. That is why you support the BJP. That is also why SG slips into supporting the BJP. In this case, he feels the Sikhs are becoming uppity.
The answer is simple
1) Get “X” number of wise men from Govt of day
2) Get “Y” number of wise men from farmers.
Put them in a room together for 10 days with a task to solve the present agitation.
The nation can then move on with its normal life.
I fully agree !
Certain sullen minds here are angry with SG. They protest that he has brought a Hindu-Sikh angle in this agitation which does not exist.
SG has only warned Hindus that the BJP is Hindu chauvinist and unless they tone it down, what started as a farmer’s agitation will turn into a Sikh-Hindu conflict.
In the 1970s, the RSS told the Sikhs that they are Hindus, and Hindi and not Punjabi, is their language. The RSS thinks it is the Hindu Big Brother that owns India. Sikhs, Buddhists must accept they are Hindus; Muslims and Christians are non-nationals. That led to the Khalistani movement.
In the 1984 riots, not only Congressis, but also RSS fellows attacked Sikhs under the Congress cover. The RSS mentality caused some Muslims to demand partition in 1947.
At the start of the farmer’s agitation, there was no Khalistani factor. The RSS brought that to discredit the farmer’s agitation. They do the same with Muslims – they instil in the Hindu mind that there is a tukde-tukde gang, there is ISIS out to get Hindus, Muslims are carrying out love jihad etc.
At the start of the farmer’s agitation, there is no Khalistani factor, but by the RSS fabricating it, eventually they will come. The RSS is anti-Sikh and it is agitated that the Sikhs supported Shaheen Baghees, and Sikh politicians said they would come to fight for Kashmiris when Hindus said they can now grab fair Kashmiri women. It is quite clear that the Sikhs are not with the Hindus, when they are ready to defend Muslims. I know Sikhs and they do not like the RSS-BJP , they do not accept they are Hindus, and they know after Muslims, the Hindus will come after Sikhs. The Sikhs have a much better and indeed impressive tradition of social service (their langars; they have sent medical help to Syria), which Hindus do not have. The Sikhs know where possible, they have to stand with Muslims and Christians.
The Hindus should not fool themselves. SG has warned the Hindus to be careful. I am explaining it bluntly. India is a fragile tinderbox, it will disintegrate if Hindu fascists are allowed to run amok. Who put the Hindu fascists in power ? Hindus.
The Hindus need to be aware that their doublespeak will not work : they constantly say they are proud of the Sikhs, but they plot against them, and try to assimilate them, and extinguish their culture and language.
An Interesting Article By The Old Hand Journalist Mr S Gupta Remembering The Old Punjab Bread Basket Of India Back Then The Richest State Of India, Hes Missed Out Totally The Place Has turned Into a Bankrupt S..tHole From 1997 Onwards Because Of Partys Like The Badal Dal Which The Bjp Helped Get Elected 3 Times And Two Govts Led By a Finished Congress Not Forgetting The Dishonest Greedy Two Faced Population Some In The Urban/Rural Areas Who Elected Them. The Sikh Peasant Farmer Protests are a Direct Result Of The Last 24 Years Of Greed/Corruption And Loot and Playing The Faith/Religion Card By Degenerate C.Ms Like Mr Badal And Capt Singh And There Crony Yes Men .
Punjab’s contribution to India’s GDP is quite low. It is mostly based on agriculture economy. No wonder Punjabis migrate out to just about any where in India and out of India. They need atleast some capital infusion in the Agri sector and more capital infusion into industries. These protests may deter investors. Kerala, West Bengal have already shown. Columnists just report what happened. I hope they write a column, offer constructive criticism. Who may be trying what to do here, who has good intentions etc. We will not know by reading this article any of that. We are left in the dark with questions, so do the protesting farmers. Quite sad……
The issue is about farmers wanting MSP to be included in the bill. Why is the writer making it a Sikh vs Hindu issue and jatt vs non jatt issue and instigating people. It’s highly irresponsible writing.
Its not just Sikh farmers who are protesting,
farmers from Haryana and UP are protesting too.
SG is warning Hindus that this farm agitation can turn into a Hindu-Sikh issue. It has happened in the past. The RSS told the Sikhs that they are not Sikhs, they are Hindu, and Hindi and not Punjabi is their language. That led to Bhindranwale and the Sikh assertion of separate identity.
Caste Hindus believe that they own India, and they demand non-Hindus should accept this. This stems from the Hindu insecurity and inferiority complex. The caste Hindus have an insecurity because they are a minority, and they fear the low castes will leave them, and that will be the end of their domination and privileges. Hence, caste Hindus are into their machinations : Muslims are enemies, and Sikhs etc. are Hindus. The inferiority complex stems from the fact that Hindu beliefs and practices such as cow worship do not measure up to world standards; so Hindus are bound to have an inferiority complex.
In 70 years, Hindus have not been able to transform India into a top class nation. It is even more foolish to imagine a chai wallah with a murderous record, an uneducated Yogi, Hindu mobs and cow lynchers will make India a first class nation. There is now a question mark whether the current set of destructive Hindus can hold India together. They have destroyed the economy, brought social fragmentation with Hindu-Muslim, Hindu-Christian conflict(Hindu-Sikh and indeed inter-Hindu will follow in due course.), and instead of resolving the conflict with Pakistan over Kashmir, they have created another one with China .
Modi’s policies emenating straight from those paid for EBs.
It is not a purely farmer’s issue as Hindus want to believe.
SG has indirectly told Hindus that the BJP has turned Sikhs against Hindus (as they have done with Kashmiris, other Muslims, Christians).
Hindus see it that SG has instigated the Sikhs. All SG has done is to warn Hindus that the BJP ‘s handling will turn it into a Sikh versus Hindu issue. Hindu versus Muslim worked at least in terms of electoral dividends. But it will not work with the Sikhs.
The BJP has alienated Kashmiris, other Indian Muslims, Christians and even the Sikhs. That paves the way for disintegration of India. The question needs to be asked ‘why are Hindus divisive like this ?’ Hindus are supposedly the majority, but the desire to show their primacy actually stems from low self confidence, insecurity and inferiority complex.
Instead of the majority showing understanding and care for the minorities as in successful nations, it demands the minorities to show care and understanding to the well off majority !
i read yesterday that there were khalistan slogans at the protest. how does khalistan come into farmers’ protest?
Journalists like you especially when you claim fair journalism, owe it to the nation to condemn such acts of seperatism and nip it at the bud or else we as a nation have to pay a heavy price like in 1984 – may be much bigger than that.
let not antipathy for modi blind the intellectuals of the country.