Call it strategy or politics of survival, but the Congress party is peddling soft Hindutva in Gujarat. It’s not just the doublespeak of two manifestos, one for the English press one for the Gujarati. Sonia Gandhi’s decision to avoid Godhra, kick off the campaign from the pilgrim centre of Ambaji, and a clear effort to avoid being seen as pro-Muslim — all point to such a strategy at work. I WILL NOT: ‘I’VE LOST FAITH’ It was terrible. My brother-in-law, he was so young, was dragged out of a bus and stabbed to death during the communal riots in Khedbrahma. He used to run a kirana shop in the township, he was just an innocent businessman but the murderers didn’t even consider his age. “My husband is yet to get over it and so am I. I have lost faith in the administration and the country’s political system. I won’t vote. All political parties are the same, they make promises but fail to protect you. There’s no point in voting.” — Khedbrahma Resident Husenabanu The tactics are simple: Congress leaders take care not to be seen with Muslims in Hindu localities affected by recent violence. Muslim leaders of the Congress are not called for canvassing in Hindu areas; in areas like Kalol, Halol, and Godhra, all in the Panchmahals, they are not even visiting Congress offices. The strategy is founded on the belief that Muslims will vote en masse for the Congress, so what needs to be done is garner as many Hindu votes as possible. Therefore, while campaigning in Hindu areas, Congress leaders take care not to rake up the post-Godhra violence and, instead, accuses the BJP of having failed to protect Hindus. One of the Congress posters shows Akshardham and comments, ‘‘The Chief Minister is safe, Hindu devotees are not.’’ When they campaign in rural areas, Congress leaders ask Hindus, ‘‘They provoked you to take part in riots and left you behind bars.’’ Some posters scream, ‘‘Hindus suffered economically the most. Those who lost their lives in Akshardham were all Hindus. Why are Hindu traders committing suicide with their families?’’ The Congress candidate from Devgadh Baria, Tusharsinh Kanaksinh, openly proclaims, ‘‘Yes, I am pro-Hindu, but not anti-minority.’’ Asks BJP general-secretary in charge of Gujarat, Ramdas Agrawal, ‘‘They ask Muslims to get united and divide Hindus among Kshatriyas, OBCs, and tribals. Is it not communal politics?’’ He adds: ‘‘It’s our tradition to begin campaigns from temples; it has become a compulsion for the Congress; it is their behaviour since Godhra that they have to do all this.’’ The Congress has also roped in Chhote Morari Bapu and such preachers who question the BJP’s Hindu credentials. In Tejgadh, Chhotaudepur and Kawant areas of Vadodara district, party leaders ask tribals to decide who benefited from the riots, highlighting the fact that only two tribals had been killed — in police firing — when communal riots broke out there. Though largescale arson loot was reported from these villages, no other life was lost here. Sources in the Muslim community from Kalol to Ahmedabad admit they were aware of the Congress’ ploy. No Congress leader has visited Naroda Patia, the scene of the biggest massacre in Ahmedabad. The local Muslims don’t even know the name of Congress candidate, but are ready to vote for him because they say they have no option. The party has fielded four Muslim candidates but only in Muslim-dominated localities. AICC treasurer Ahmed Patel met Muslim leaders recently and convinced them to sink differences and vote for the Congress. His meetings were a closed-door affair. Although many Muslims feel the Congress let them down during the riots, some Delhi-based NGOs who have been active in Muslim areas for quite some time asking them to vote against communal parties. Despite a large Muslim population in Godhra, Congress candidate Rajendrasinh Patel has not visited Muslim localities yet. ‘‘Dushman to dono hain, jo chhota hai usko chunenge. We will vote for the Congress,’’ says Zafar Makrani, a Chhotaudepur-based leader who ran a relief camp. He says the Congress activists tell tribals that they were the ones who suffered the most. In Kalol, Randhikpur and Halol areas of central Gujarat, Muslims have told the Congress leaders not to campaign in their areas. They live in small pockets in these localities, going there won’t help the Congress’ cause because that will amount to antagonising Hindus. But Congress spokesman Himanshu Vyas says, ‘‘We are pro-Hindu but it’s the BJP, especially Modi, who is out to prove us anti-Hindu and pro-minority. He tells people that if Congress comes to power it will release Godhra accused and book those involved in post-Godhra riots. Hindu dharma ka theka sirf BJP key paas nahi hai (BJP is not the sole protector of Hinduism.’’ Vyas denies the party is following a strategy in Muslim-dominated localities. He says Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mohsina Kidwai are expected to arrive for campaigning.
