Parties must work for an inclusive society

Rather than paying lip service, BJP and Congress could follow Basava’s teaching

As political parties tripped over themselves to pay tributes to Basaveshwara, the 12th century poet-philosopher and social reformer on his birth anniversary, most seem to have forgotten what he fought for. His dream was the establishment of a casteless society which renounced the rituals of Hindu society. He stood for openness and democracy and for the right of people from all castes, classes, gender and creeds to express themselves. Today, his followers, the Lingayats, have become sought after as a votebank to the extent that the Congress government in the state has proposed minority status for them.

But while many leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, garlanded Basava’s statue, the message of inclusiveness is not reflected in ticket distribution. Muslims constitute 13% of the state’s population, but the BJP has not given them a single ticket in the list of 154 candidates announced so far. The JD(S) has given Muslims four tickets out of the 126 candidates and the Congress has offered 15 seats. Basvanna’s philosophy enabled women mystics like Akka Mahadevi, Neelagangambike and Kethaladevi to fight for an equal society, but parties which pay lip service to his ideals hardly give women any representation. Only 22 women are there among the 500 candidates who have been given tickets by the three parties. Here again, the Congress leads with 15.

The scenario was no different in the outgoing assembly. Of the 224 seats, there were just six women and 11 Muslims legislators. Political parties should follow his most famous saying “kaayakave kailasa” or ‘work itself is worship’. The choice before all parties is clear. They can go to the polls promising a just, inclusive society based on Basava’s philosophy or propagate a divisive one. So far, unfortunately, the latter has happened.