BJP bullish on Modi govt 3.0, rhetoric shows that with reforms, Hindutva to remain on agenda

Although the Covid-19 pandemic that broke out in early 2020 slowed down some of its proposed projects, the BJP government stepped up its legislative reform moves in its final year. It passed the constitutional amendment legislation to grant 33% reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and Assemblies besides passing three Bills aimed at revamping the country’s criminal justice system — the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill – which replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act, respectively. The party mixed these legislative measures with political messages.

The BJP faced electoral or political setbacks in Maharashtra, Bihar – in both these states it regained upper hand after ensuring a political realignment – West Bengal, Kerala, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana, but they were overshadowed by its resounding triumphs in Hindi heartland states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pardesh and Rajasthan.

The BJP suffered setbacks on the CAA – which had sparked widespread protests across the country, culminating in riots in the national capital – and over the farm Bills, which it had to repeal, but the party has also managed to fight that back by raising its pitch on ideological issues. Its numerical supremacy means the BJP does not have to dilute its hardline stance on this.

The BJP dispensation has also not run into any major judicial roadblock. The Supreme Court Constitution Bench’s unanimous judgment in the Ayodhya matter led to the construction of the Ram Temple, which is likely to yield long-term political capital for the party.

Significantly, the BJP has managed to push all its legislative measures through even in the Rajya Sabha despite not having a majority in the Upper House.

Now, the party has started rolling out its Uniform Civil Code (UCC) agenda, one of its earliest core ideological issues along with Article 370, going back to its Jana Sangh days. After the Uttarakhand Assembly recently clearing the UCC Bill, it is set to be introduced by other BJP-ruled states.

The BJP top brass has been claiming that the Modi government 3.0 would focus on major reforms to “lay the foundation for India’s glory for a millenium”. At the same time, the last session of the 17th Lok Sabha ended with the incumbent party sounding the bugle of Hindutva to set the tone for the elections. The Chairs of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha praised PM Modi for playing an “unparalleled role” in uniting the entire nation on the “auspicious occasion” of the Ram Temple’s consecration, which was discussed by both Houses. The PM said the adoption of a resolution on it will give constitutional strength to the future generations to feel proud of the country’s values.

Several BJP leaders admit that the party would not slow down on its Hindutva push even if it returns to power with 370 seats – the target set by PM Modi. The pitch from its core base would significantly determine the party’s roadmap, which has already started raising the slogan, “Ayodhya taiyar hai, ab ki baar Kashi Mathura (Ayodhya is done, it is the turn of Kashi and Mathura now)”.

While the RSS has yet to take a stand on the Kashi and Mathura disputes, many in the Sangh Parivar have been saying that like Lord Ram, Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva also define the identity of the country.