So many somersaults

Newspaper and magazine columnists have written articles on the English-language media8217;s failure to predict the results of the recent po...

Newspaper and magazine columnists have written articles on the English-language media8217;s failure to predict the results of the recent polls. Yet a glance through the archived editorials of some of these writers reveals much worse 8212; about-turns without a word of apology or explanation.

Such volte-face is not dissimilar to the circus tricks performed regularly by politicians. A record was set by Atal Bihari Vajpayee recently. In fact, the drama underlined a disturbing trend 8212; the complete absence of consistency among the so-called Centre politicians or the media in addressing Far Right elements in government.

On June 1, Vajpayee denied any link between the Gujarat riots and NDA8217;s defeat. Ten days later, he acknowledged that 8220;one impact of the violence was we lost the elections8221;. A couple of days later, he promised to 8220;discuss Gujarat with an open mind8221; at the BJP8217;s national executive meet. Then, on a Sunday morning, Vajpayee informed reporters that Modi8217;s removal is now 8220;an issue of the past8221;. Time must pass quickly for the former PM.

The media interpreted this as a long-standing conflict between the centre-right and far-right faces of the BJP. But the fact remains that the 8216;8216;moderate8217;8217; faction has proved incapable of taking a firm stand on any issue. Vajpayee8217;s waffling amounts to an evasion of responsibility. It reflects either the absence of commitment to any ideology or the view recently expressed by Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, namely that issues of ideology 8220;are not political issues for us8221;. This begs the question, if ideology is not the cornerstone of political thought, what is? Poetry?

No one can deny the necessity for mainstream parties to occupy a moderate political space, in order to engage with the concerns, not merely of those who have voted for them or more likely, voted against the alternative, but also of those who haven8217;t. But the apparent ease with which some of our most highly-placed politicians whinge, waver, and compromise with the whims of the radical Right moves one to wonder if 8220;open-mindedness8221; in the political lexicon translates as 8220;the happy hand-over of one8217;s mind to another, preferably of inferior intelligence8221;.

With reference to the latest tamasha, one will only say this: despite Vajpayee8217;s reassurances that the BJP stands united and 8220;we say only one thing8221;, it would be impressive enough if he 8212; as a former PM 8212; could bring himself to 8220;say only one thing8221; without adding in seconds, 8220;but I meant something else8221;.