Hindutva push in BJP-ruled states
A look at some of the new rules in ‘saffron’ states shows a growing inclination towards RSS ideology
Uttar Pradesh is bustling with activity as the new BJP government has started a crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses and so-called Romeos, leading to jubilation among fringe Hindu groups.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has announced zero-tolerance towards communal violence but many say the appointment of the Goraknath temple chief in the top job might boost the Hindutva agenda in India’s biggest state. In other BJP-ruled states the push is visible. These states have changed policy to “correct distortion” of the Congress with the opposition terming it propagating RSS agenda.
“What is happening in UP or any other BJP-ruled state is not surprising for me. This is what one can expect from the RSS. They will like to change everything rational and modern that has been created in the last 65 years,” said former DU history professor DN Jha.
Although it is too early to say if something similar would happen in UP, here is a low down on the growing saffron stamp in some other BJP-ruled states.
RAJASTHAN
Textbook change: Termed as cultural reform, the BJP government has revised text books to remove chapters on Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination and introduced chapters on the emergency, RSS
ideologues Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Deen Dayal Upadhyay. New school uniform: From the next academic year, students in government schools will have to wear brown trousers in place of khaki.
Surya Namaskar: The Hindu ritual of Surya Namaskar, is now part of morning prayers in all government schools. Education minister Vasudev Devnani had said a community (read Muslims) which follows the moon cannot disrespect the sun.
Cow vigilantism: The only state to have a department for cow protection has seen a spurt in bovine vigilantism with so-called protectors stripping alleged smugglers in Pratapgarh district in June 2016 and Sadhvi Kamal getting a Muslim-owned hotel closed in Jaipur this week.
MADHYA PRADESH
Stringent punishment on cow slaughter: The government amended the law on cow slaughter in 2010, enhancing the jail term for killing of cows and their progeny from three to seven years. The accused will have to prove himself innocent rather than the prosecution proving him guilty.
RSS Shakhas apolitical: The government lifted a ban on state employees on participation in RSS shakhas. The government’s view is that the RSS is an apolitical organisation, and hence, employees could freely take part.
Dress code: Salwar and kurta for girls in all colleges is a must from the next academic year. Pilgrimages: A new scheme offers public money for pilgrimages. Though members of non-Hindu communities too can avail the benefit, the opposition sees it as the BJP government’s Hindutva agenda. Yoga and Surya namaskar: Yoga to be a subject in all schools with a teacher in a state where student learning level is considered poor. Surya Namaskar every year in January to mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
HARYANA
Cashing on cows: A special wing has been created under a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer to catch those taking cows allegedly for slaughter. A permit is needed to export a cow from outside the state. Searching Saraswati :A project started to rejuvenate river Saraswati, which finds a mention in the Rigveda and the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Ecology given the job of track it.
Name change: Gurgaon was renamed Gurugram, because mythology states Dronacharya in the Mahabharata used to train Pandavas and Kauravas there. Mustafabad, a town in Yamunanagar district, was rechristened as Saraswati Nagar on the grounds that it was linked to the mythological Saraswati river.
Curriculum curve: Government floated the idea of introducing ‘Bhagavad Gita’ for students but after opposition, tweaked it to include a book on moral education with Gita and holy texts of other religions.
GUJARAT
Changes in textbooks: In 2014, the government mandated books by RSS education wing member Deenanath Batra that credits ancient India for many scientific
discoveries in all government primary and secondary schools. Stringent punishment for
cow slaughter: In 2011, the state government made cow and progeny slaughter and transportation illegal and introduced 3-7 year imprisonment for offenders. It now proposes to enhance the punishment to 10 years.
Cow vigilantes: Only state to give cash incentives to cow protectors with top performer getting ₹3.75 lakh.
JHARKHAND
Cow Slaughter Act: The government has strictly enforced a law to prevent cow slaughter enacted by previous BJP government of Arjun Munda. It now plans to make cow slaughter a non-bailable offence. Renaming institutions: Ranchi University recently mooted a proposal to rename the famous “Ranchi College” after “Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay”. The proposal has been stalled fornow. Change in conversion law: Chief minister Raghubar Das recently said a penalty for alleged forceful conversion by Christian missionaries will be enacted and started a helpline for people to register complaints of religious conversion.
BJPRULED STATES HAVE CHANGED POLICIES TO “CORRECT DISTORTION” OF THE CONGRESS WITH THE OPPOSITION TERMING IT AS PROPAGATING THE RSS AGENDA