For a Mumbai base TV news programme I was asked what would be the reaction of the VHP if the BJP gave up issues relating to Hindutva, viz., Ramjanambhoomi, Article 370 and uniform civil code. The question was based on the pressure or compulsions frcm the alliance partners of the BJP. As President of the Mumbai VHP, I have replied as follows:
Firstly, ... the BJP has in any way diluted or given up the core ethos of Hindutva, nor does it have any rethinking on its own on the three issues mentioned above. The manifesto of the BJP has come out after the alliances were finalised, including that of the seat adjustment with specific constituencies to be contested by each partner. Hence, the BJP's allies are fully aware of the views of the party ...
Secondly, the BJP has clearly stated that the issues will be discussed not only with the alliance partners but also with the whole society. Solutions to contentious issues have to be put in place only by taking all the sections of the society along ...
Thirdly, the issues are being mixed up at the level of electoral politics, and the merits are deliberately muddled up. Each of the three issues has to be first determined on the basis of the logic of the case, and once the consensus on the issues is on the table, then it is easy to find solutions ..
The fact that the VHP had made an attempt to get the (Ayodhya) site back in a peaceful manner through negotiations is also hidden from the people. This was as far back as December 1990. It was only when the negotiations were frustrated that the tension on the issue increased ... This is not an anti-Muslim issue, but one of the Hindus establishing their legitimate claim on a holy site. Similarly, Article 70 and uniform civil code are not communal issues but secular ones. They have been turned into communal by those opposing the ideology of Hindutva for purely political purposes ...
UCC is not a legal issue but a social issue. One should discuss whether it is desirable to have a UCC. Any sane person will not dispute about the desirability, and that there are infirmities not only in the Muslim law but also in other laws ... it is also hidden from the people that the way to go about it is not to make the Hindu Code Bills applicable to all, but to ask the Law Commission to come out with a new law that would meet the requirements of today.
The advantage of having a BJP government in place is that there will be sane discussions at non-political level ... For example, when it is accepted that a UCC is desirable, then the issue also becomes why UCC should VHP from undertaking a programme to educate to the people. We have done it when there was no BJP government at the Centre, and we have no hesitation on taking the programme forward. After all, we are separate organisations with our own programmes.
