A six-point checklist steeped in megalomania
2. Hail us
3. Get the resolution checked from us
4. Organise press conferences in ‘every district’
5. Explain Article 370
6. Conduct programs every Mandal hailing –How the duo fulfilled the promises of Syama (Shyama) Prasad Mukerjee (Mookerjee)
Deadline: 2-3 days
The abrogation of Article 370 is not only deadly but planned meticulously –for political aggrandisement– by the duo, Amit Shah and Narendra Modi. The country’s Home Minister Amit Shah has now, reportedly, directed BJP- led state governments and local bodies to pass resolutions and felicitate prime minister Modi and himself for their “determination, firmness and courage” in scrapping the Article 370 provision that accorded a special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
He has also directed all the party units to hold press conferences and “enthusiastic programmes” to propagate how “Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Home Minister Shri Amit Shah and the central government have fulfilled the dream of Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee”. The deadline given to the units is “2-3 days”. Syama Prasad Mookerjee was the founder of the Jana Sangh. This when historical documents clearly stablish that Mookerjee who was part of the Constituent Assembly along with stalwarts like Nehru and Patel did not even formally oppose the inclusion of Article 370 for special status for Jammu and Kashmir.
Per Telegraph, “The BJP governed states to pass a resolution felicitating Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Home Minister Shri Amit Shah and the Central Government for repealing Article 370. A copy of the resolution to be sent to Prime Minister’s Office and to the BJP Central Office,” the letter says. The letter demands the resolution to be passed “as per the direction” of Shah.
As per a BJP politician, “The resolutions will be passed by the legislative assemblies.” All the BJP-governed local bodies should pass similar resolutions, the letter says.
Party cadres across states have already hailed the move to abrogate the Article which gave special powers to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, as “courageous” and they feel that it will “boost” the party’s popularity.
The letter to the state units from the country’s home minister, Shah, reportedly, says: “The firm determination, firmness and courage of our Hon’ble Prime Minister and Home Minister has led to this historic otherwise impossible looking task. The entire nation is in a jubilant mood after this historic decision.”
It asks the party to tell the people how the “revered leader” Syama Prasad had “sacrificed his life years back with a dream to end Article 370”, and how his dream had now become reality.
Even as the Article 370 was abrogated on August 5, and the state of Jammu and Kashmir forced into a state of complete shutdown since days before (August 3-4), there have been expressions of jubilation among BJP cadres. The move has also been welcomed by a vast section of Indians, fed on an insidious propaganda that the existence of this Article was( or is) an impediment to ‘integration’ of the state. The issue has sharply polarised the country with many Indians refusing to acknowledge the plight of the Kashmiri people. Emotions run high on the issue. Political pundits have predicted political dividends for the ruling BJP in the forthcoming state assembly elections, namely Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand, even Delhi. This ‘directive’ of strongman Shah feeds into these predictions.
The abrogation of Article 370 has been a part of the BJP’s objectives for decades, along with the enactment of a Uniform Civil Code and the construction of a Ram Temple. As soon as the party was elected for the second term, in May 2019, several ‘news’ television channels –known to be influenced by the regime –even launched a full-fledged campaign around the abrogation of Article 370.
The decision has already made some senior Congress leader switch sides. Congress’s chief whip in Rajya Sabha, Bhubaneswar Kalita, a senior leader from Assam, resigned from the house last Monday on the grounds of his difference on Article 370 with the party and joined the BJP four days later, on Friday. Several other MPs from the Opposition have also resigned from the Rajya Sabha and joined the BJP since Modi swept back to power in May.
Per Telegraph, a BJP politician also reportedly said, “More Congress leaders will join us over Article 370. The Congress will disintegrate and Amitbhai’s call for a ‘Congress-mukt Bharat’ will be fulfilled soon”.
Sangh parivar outfits are also gearing to organise a string of events to mobilise the public sentiment in favour of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.