Now that the Sangh Parivar has emerged as the more acceptable alternative to rule the country, those of us who have been consistently opposed to it (amongst whom I count myself), I venture to offer a few suggestions to make it more acceptable to people who share our view. I can assure them that our opinions do matter. If they are acceptable to the Parivar they can count on our support Our first and strongest reservation is against their attitude towards religious minorities, chiefly Muslims and Christians. We do not accept their assurance that breaking mosques at Varanasi and Mathura are not on their agenda. The wording "not on our agenda" smack of lordly condescension. They must give a categorical assurance that never again will they allow the destruction of a place of worship, whatever be its historical background. And not fool the people by using expressions like "disputed structure" or dhancha (edifice) to justify acts of vandalism.
Another item on their manifesto is total ban on cow slaughter. This too is unacceptable to Muslims, Christians and tribals who are beef-eaters. The matter should be left to the different States to decide for themselves. If they feel that they should respect Hindu sentiment against slaughter of kine, it would be a happy solution. If they do not, no Central law should be imposed on them. It will not be possible to enforce it on an unwilling people ...
The Parivar has also declared it will abrogate Article 370 giving special status to Jammu & Kashmir. This was a solemn undertaking given by the Government when the State acceded to India. Succeeding Central governments are honour-bound to stand by the commitment and there should be no abrogation until the people of Jammu and Kashmir agree to it ... The Parivar should put this matter on the shelf for the time begin.
The Parivar is in favour of having a uniform civil code. I am entirely in its favour but advise it to first win over support of the more enlightened sections of the communities concerned before legislating on it.
Many leaders of the Parivar have strongly criticised Christian missionary presence in the country. Some foreign missionaries who had spent the best part of their lives working among tribals totally neglected by others have been expelled. This is unfair and smacks of ingratitude towards people who have given us the best of schools, colleges and hospitals. If Hindu, Muslim and Sikh missionaries have the right to convert people to their faiths, so have the Christians who do much more in the way of social service than all other communities put together. If our new rulers wish to gain our support, they must give serious consideration to the points I have made. If in the flush of victory they brush them aside, we will continue opposing them till we bring them down. (Source: The Hindustan Times, 7 March, 1998)
