'Hindutva' takes center stage at BJP's meet

The ideology of staunch nationalism, also termed as 'Hindutva', was the bone of contention at a three-day brainstorming meet of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Shimla.

Attended by top leaders, the chintan baithak (introspection meeting), against the backdrop of party's poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls, critically deliberated on the usage of Hindutva "for better performance and progress" - whether to tone down or make it more rigorous.

The conclave was attended by 25 top leaders including members of the BJP parliamentary board, leaders and deputy leaders of the parliamentary party, general secretaries, key organisation men and chief ministers and deputy chief ministers.

Recently, the party leaders had indicated that the BJP would follow "inclusive Hindutva", leading to questions that it would go for an "ideological dilution". However, the party denied any such move and maintained, "In the chintan baithak, we would discuss steps that need to be taken to check any chances of this happening."

The party insisted, "Hinduism or Hindutva is not to be understood or construed narrowly, confined only to religious practices or expressed in extreme forms."

It contended that Hindutva was "inclusive, representing the finest imprints of our cultural and civilisational ideas. This profound concept is the real inspiration for a resurgent India with which the BJP is proud to be associated."

Nevertheless, senior BJP leaders like L.K. Advani feels the party cadres must follow a more tolerant version of Hindutva, while still continuing to maintain its ties with RSS.

The Hindutva forces - mainly the Sangh Parivar organisations - portray Christians as a threat to India's unity, social harmony and national security and has been leading massive anti-Christian campaigns across the country that are both vicious and dangerous in nature.

In Hindutva–produced DVDs, videos, tracts, books and speeches Christians are described as separatists and subversive agents of Western imperialistic forces that seek to weaken India.

Because of this, persecution against Christians has dramatically escalated, Mangalore and Kandhamal where Christians were attacked and churches burnt being the recent.

In Karnataka, the Ram Sene's activities also gave Hindutva an anti-woman image, after the incident of beating up of guests at a pub in Mangalore.

In addition, the Malegaon blasts investigation for the first time indicted saffron activists in terror activities. Varun Gandhi's hate speech against Muslims in Pilibhit also rendered an image of a communal BJP.

Incidentally, on Wednesday, the BJP sent out a message of assertion on the issue of ideology when it expelled its senior leader Jaswant Singh for praising Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah in his book, 'Jinnah -- India, Partition, Independence'.