The Maturing of India’s National Parties

India’s national parties, the Congress and the BJP, have shown distinct signs of maturing in the past 10-15 years. For one, the top leadership in both the parties has a pan-India vision, they are well read and have a well-articulated stand on international issues, there is broad consensus on important policy issues like defence, international relations, foreign policy and internal security. This is a good sign and shows that there will be continuity on important issues irrespective of the party in power. This is an indication of the fact that the ensuing 2014 elections will be fought on regional and local issues especially since regional parties have gained prominence in the last decade. However, there are still areas where we need to go a long way. For one, the ruling party must avoid using the CBI to ‘settle’ scores, pressurise or armtwist opponents, and there should be a complete elimination of politically influenced violence by behaviour or actions on individuals or entities.  

However the maturity levels need to be fine tuned and tweaked a wee bit more. This was most apparent after Hon’ble Shri Rahul Gandhi’s CII address, the many pot shots by the BJP spokespersons and the counter strikes by Congress spokespersons on Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi. We need to go beyond personal attacks on individuals and focus attention on their policies and actions. To see both sides sparring over two speeches does not befit a ‘great’ democracy like India. However, what is a good thing is that over the decades there is a great deal of tolerance and acceptance of either parties stance and philosophical tilt. For the BJP to have a greater pan-Indian acceptance, it should build itself on inclusiveness of castes, religions and regions, and promote Hindutva more as a way of life, like Hon’ble Advaniji’s cultural nationalism minus some aberrations, with its main political plank being ‘good governance’ and ‘strong Indian identity’.

WE NEED TO SALVAGE THE PRIDE OF INDIA; WE NEED TO SALVAGE THE PRIDE IN BEING INDIAN.