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Playing the Sethu card

Bratatee Barman

India is not ready for another movement motivated by Hindu religious nationalism after the communal riots of 1992 and the Godhra episode of 2002. Unmindful of stirring the hornet’s nest further, the VHP organised an all India motorcycle rally which was flagged off on March 5, in Delhi. The rally comprising several youths on two-wheelers shouting pro-Hindutva slogans, drove to Raj Ghat.

According to the VHP president, Ashok Singhal, they plan to launch the three-day long rally across the country as a protest against UPA government’s affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court seeking clearance for the Sethu Samudram Canal Project. This rally brings to mind the ekatmata yagna and silapujan of 1989, the L K Advani led Rath yatra of 1992 and the religious tension peaking on the day of the demolition of Babri Masjid. These rallies were also organised by the VHP and BJP.

In order to garner mass support, the VHP has already moved fast on its ‘Save Ram Sethu movement,’ by floating unempirical theories about ‘floating stones from Rama Bridge’. Many VHP workers are campaigning at the rural level in North India for the ‘Save Ram Sethu movement’ by showing villagers, blocks of floating stones, allegedly pieces taken from the Rama Sethu. The villagers were told that the stones were magical and were used by Rama to build the bridge.

This seems to be VHP’s endeavour to incite and also create religious fervour at the mass level. It is a dangerous trend as we have already seen in the case of Ramjanmabhoomi episode and this may again lead to unnecessary communal dissention in the country.

Singhal had critically commented on the UPA government’s apathy to Hindu sentiments with regard to the ‘Sethu Samudram Canal Dredging’ which will destroy the mythical Rama’s bridge. The ones who do not join the movement would be marked as a pseudo secularist and anti-Hindu ideology.

He has also suggested an alliance with other political parties for the ‘Ram Karmabhoomi,’ and ‘Chalo Rameshwaram’ movements. It is obvious which of the political parties would support the mass rally.

With the forecast of an early general poll next year the BJP will earn extra votes, which will help them capture power at the Centre by keeping the ‘Save the Rama Sethu movement,’ buoyant.