To translate nationalism into votes, BJP takes out Vijay Sankalp Yatra in UP

With an aim to translate war hysteria into votes, the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh took out a Vijay Sankalp Yatra in all the 403 Assembly constituencies on Saturday, with a message how Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a “befitting reply” to Pakistan post-Pulwama.

The rally had a nationalistic tone and tenor as the workers carried sound systems blaring patriotic songs, while party workers carried the tri-colour.

The yatra was planned in a systematic way to cash in on the nationalistic feelings of people, which is high after aerial and ground exchanges between India and Pakistan post-Pulwama. The in-charge of the  Vijay Sankalp Yatra, Vijay Bahadur Pathak, said that five motorcycles from each booth had taken part in this rally.

Senior party leaders and ministers, too, took part in this yatra. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath led the yatra in Gorakhpur, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya in Varanasi, national general secretary (organization) Ram Lal in Ghaziabad, former union Minister Kalraj Mishra in Deoria and national general secretary Arun Singh in Ghazipur.

Incidentally, it is not the first time Saffron parties have made an attempt to translate the nationalistic wave into votes post Pulwama as on February 20 Vishwa Hindu Parishad took out Vande Mataram rallies asking its volunteers across the state to highlight the sacrifice of the martyred jawans of the Indian paramilitary forces.

Opposition parties have questioned the timing of BJP workers to take out such an elaborate Vijay Sankalp Yatra. “This blatant politicisation of soldiers’ sacrifice and valour to garner votes is unfortunate. That any political party can stoop so low is unthinkable,” senior Congress leader Amarnath Agarwal said.

“Our national flag was used in this political rally where patriotic songs were played. India is still waiting for clarity on attack on JeM camps. Instead of furnishing all details, the leaders of the ruling party are busy fanning nationalistic embers. They want to keep the issue alive till elections,” he added.

Pathak defends his party’s decision and said that the Pulwama attack was a challenge to the country. People are angry with Pakistan and wanted Indian Government to teach a lesson to our rogue neighbour. “PM acted on the wishes of people and took action on Pakistan. What is wrong if we are honouring the sentiments of the people?” he asked.

Pathak, who is also party’s state general secretary and a MLC, said that this programme was planned months back. It is just a coincidence that Pulwama happened in between.