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Journalism of Courage
“The BJP will take minorities to a Gujarat that will be free from riots, free from discrimination, where justice will be done and they will be free to pursue their religious activities.’’ This was what the BJP promised way back in 1998 in its poll manifesto.
Now, after the Godhra carnage, the BJP’s manifesto offers to ‘‘provide opportunities for peace as well as development and progress to religious and linguistic minorities.’’ The differences between the two manifestos are glaring:
The 1998 manifesto began with the words: ‘‘We have finished anti-national elements. We have eliminated goondagiri (hooliganism) and offered safety.’’ The new one projects the BJP as the ‘‘saviour of the interests of five crore Gujaratis.’’ Terrorism and safety are high on the agenda.
The focus of security in 1998 was mostly on creating safe villages by setting up armed Gram Salamati Dals. The new manifesto has a host of security measures like starting an anti-terrorism movement and training youths in counter-terrorism.
The BJP has done away with some of its earlier promises and slogans like bhay, bhookh and brashtachar or parivartan. It no longer says ministers will come clean on their properties. No minister has declared his or her property in the last four and a half years.
