Religious polarisation, its impact on elections, and the challenges before the Congress in dealing with the politically thorny issue are expected to be at the heart of the discussions at the party's three-day Chintan Shivir to be held in Udaipur, Rajasthan from tomorrow.
A strong sentiment that has been expressed in the discussions held in the party is the need for the Congress to outline a clear-cut strategy on how to deal with the issue of Hindu majoritarianism coming to the aid of the ruling BJP, even when it is bogged down by bread-and-butter issues of economic distress, inflation, unemployment and farmers' woes. Preliminary talks ahead of the Chintan Shivir have revolved around how the issue of communal divide can be linked to inadequate progress on developmental indices.
AICC Communications Department head Randeep Surjewala said the Modi government, in order to put a lid over the “unfathomable challenges beyond its grasp or comprehension”, “promotes toxic religious divisions and bigotry to target India’s minorities, particularly the Muslims, Christians and the Sikhs.” He alleged that the BJP “sows the seeds of lethal religious divisions between Hindus and Muslims and uses this terminal politics in its quest for electoral victory”. He said that instead of focusing on issues of development, the BJP is driving a narrative that is based on topics such as "shamsan/kabristan, bulldozer, loudspeaker, mandir vs masjid vs church vs gurudwara, changing names of roads and monuments, creating division on the basis of clothing and food habits".
This trend driven by the ruling party is the biggest challenge before the country and before the Congress, he said. “As India is plagued by the painful lines of division and hatred, it is obligatory on the Indian National Congress to defend the ethos of the Indian Nation and find lasting solutions for peaceful co-existence.”
Surjewala said the essence of the Nav Sankalp Chintan Shivir was to live up to the expectations of the people by reviewing the party's organisational dexterity, capacity, capability and to adapt it to the current situation and challenges.
A long-running discussion in the Congress has revolved around what should be the party's stance on Hindu majoritarianism. It has often been perceived that the party has been wary of adopting a strident stand owing to the fear that it may end up accentuating the polarisation and giving the BJP a reason to accuse it of indulging in appeasement of minorities.
The party has chosen six subjects and constituted groups to examine and submit their primary reports on actionables for the same. These groups are Political, Social Justice and Empowerment, Economy, Congress Organisation, Kisan and Khet Mazdoor and Youth. These groups will present their first impressions for a conclusive discussion during the Chintan Shivir.
The 430 invitees to chintan shivir will be divided amongst different groups and they shall discuss and deliberate over a period of three days in order to lay down a road map. The conclusions will be presented to the Congress President, and thereafter to the Congress Working Committee, for final shape and approval.
