Madhya Pradesh: A torrent of communal content floods the state

With a large number of communally provocative literature flooding the state ahead of the assembly election, it is a puzzle why law-enforcing agencies and the Election Commission have paid scant attention to the booklets, posters and pamphlets.

Now that the election has been notified and the Model Code of Conduct has kicked in, the Election Commission can hardly shirk its responsibility, especially in cases where the publishers have been brazen enough to publish their addresses and phone numbers as well.

Spreading communal hatred and campaigning on religious grounds are offences and at least on paper, may lead to disqualification of candidates and parties. But the publishers are likely to deny any political affiliation although they are known to have affiliations to the RSS and the BJP.

A booklet called ‘Love Jehad—Bharat ke khilaf Islamic saajish’ is circulating in the state. It has mischievously printed an objectionable statement and falsely attributed it to Swami Vivekananda, additionally placing a portrait of the Swami to leave nothing to imagination.

The booklet is scurrilous and is a fit case for criminal proceedings. The publisher, Dr Kailash Kabir, has boldly owned up having published 5000 copies of the booklet. The message is loud and clear—the Sangh would brook no legal or moral restrictions.

Besides the provocative booklets and pamphlets, BJP admits to have collected data on temples, Mutts and priests deputed in them. They will apparently be drafted ahead of the polls to distribute the provocative literature. A clever ploy because any action against the priests by the police or the Election Commission can only work to the benefit of the BJP.

While BJP has fine-tuned a multi-pronged strategy and centralised the distribution of campaign material, BJP president Amit Shah is consulting the RSS in the selection of candidates.

Three gentlemen besides Shah have been busy poring over names and feedback received from various sources. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Suhas Bhagar and Deepak Vispute. The chief ministers in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, say insiders, have been sidelined in the selection of candidates.

The party is said to have identified 50 areas in the state which are vulnerable. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being drafted to address at least 50 election rallies in these places to turn the tide of anti-incumbency in the state. The other strategy is to turn the Assembly election into a Presidential-style popularity contest between Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi.

But BJP insiders, while hoping that the Congress would walk into the ‘trap of soft Hindutva’ also admit that Rahul Gandhi’s relentless focus on core poll issues have been unsettling. That some prominent members of the BJP have started joining Congress in the state, they admit, is a pointer that the BJP strategy is not working out.

While the Congress is unable to match the BJP in resources, there are other positive signals emanating from the state. The Gondwana Ganatantra Party which had decided to go it alone and threatened to field candidates in over 50 constituencies, appears more receptive to an alliance. But then Hardik Patel also wants a large chunk of seats in Mandsaur district for his supporters. The Patidar-dominated area could test the Congress leadership again.