Bal Thackeray's Version of Militant
Hindutva
N.P.Phadnis
SHIV
Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray has come a long way from the days
when he fought for the Asmita ethos of Maharashtra and supported
the sons of the soil theory. Ever since he joined hands with the
Bharatiya Janata Party he began a new journey in propagating Hindutva.
After
winning the state legislative assembly elections and forming the
alliance government in Maharashtra, Thackeray slowly changed his
track and began advocating militant Hindutva. That was the time
when terrorists' activities across the border had reached its
peak and Pakistan trained saboteurs wreaked havoc in the country.
Thackeray
appears to have become impatient and little disillusioned with
the BJP-led NDA government in Delhi though the Shiv Sena is also
part of the ruling set-up at the Centre. He has been criticizing
the Union government for using kid glows in handling most dreaded
terrorist outfits.
As
expected, the Dassara rally of the Shiv Sena turned out to be
a stormy affair as Sena chief Bal Thackeray hit out at the Vajpayee
government for failure in tackling the ISI-sponsored terrorism.
Ultimately he gave a call for organizing Hindu suicide squads
to tackle cross-border terrorism spreading its tentacles in the
remote parts of the country.
Thackeray's
speech at the Shivaji Park rally evoked strong reaction and put
his friends as well as enemies in a difficult position. The BJP
was quick to distance itself from Thackeray's appeal to describe
India as `Hindu rashtra' on the plea that the party does not believe
in a theocratic state. The Congress-led government in the state
also reacted sharply and filed a case against Sena chief for making
a provocative speech.
Thackeray
remained cool throughout the uproar against him on the issue and
addressed a press conference reiterating his stand once again
about the suicide squad and declared that the state government
can go ahead and arrest him. I am not going to seek bail, he thundered.
Deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal had tried to arrest Thackeray
but failed as the court did not accept the government's plea to
put him behind bar.
The
Bharatiya Janata Party knows that its saffron partner, the Shiv
Sena, is not happy with the Vajpayee government, as Thackeray
has decided to oppose the disinvestments policy and also the new
labour laws. He is not happy with the kind of portfolios the Sena
ministers have got in the Union government.
Even
before he spoke at Shivaji Park, Thackeray has been writing in
the party organ Samna newspaper criticizing the government's policies.
Thackeray urged Sainiks to be ready to die for the Hindu Rashtra
to save it from the terrorist attack.
Responding
to the Section 153 (a) of the Indian Penal Code for fomenting
trouble and provoking one religion against other, Thackeray pointed
out that he had not spoken any word against any minority community
or religion. I have spoken against the terrorism across the border
and made an appeal to Shiv Sainiks to be ready to die for the
country by forming suicide squads. What is the objectionable in
that? he asked at his press conference held next day.
In
his emotional speech, Thackeray asked the Sainiks to pick up a
pinch of Shivaji park soil (likening it to an ember) and take
it home. ``Take an oath to save the country at the cost of your
lives as the onus of safeguarding the rights of the Hindus falls
on Maharashtrians who should rise to the occasion. Take that ember
with you and be ready to die for a Hindu cause'' said Thackeray.
Referring
to the recent terrorist attacks on Akshardham and Parliament house
by Pakistan-aided terrorists, he lashed out at the BJP-led government
for taking no action at all. The police had warned that JaisheMohammed
had threatened to create trouble at Shivaji Park but despite such
threat, many people turned out at the rally.
Deputy
chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal had initially taken the rally and
Thackeray's speech lightly. Unlike last time when he was in the
forefront in issuing an arrest warrant against Thackeray, he appeared
to be mellowed down and not very keen to take action against Thackeray.
Later he said, there is a public anger against authorities as
Akshardham temple of Swaminarayan sect was attacked by terrorists
where many religious people died. If we do any thing, then it
will benefit Thackeray, he had observed.
While
the Sharad Pawar-led NCP was more cautious, the Congress Party
appeared to be very eager to go ahead and arrest Thackeray for
making a provocative speech. Bhujbal remained in the background
while the chief minister's office took interest to ensure that
the police register a case against Thackeray under Section 153
(a) of the Indian Penal Code which deals with the offence of promoting
enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, language
and race.
Before
the state government actually initiated action, Congress spokesperson
Jaipal Reddy had demanded action against Thackeray at a press
conference in Delhi. Since chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is
camping in his hometown of Latur due to death of his father, his
office instructed the police machinery to act and initiate action
against Thackeray. Sonia Gandhi was also kept informed about the
action against Sena chief for his provocative speech.
Unlike
last time, there is jubilation in the Sena camp when the government
filed a case against Thackeray. Party workers know that such kind
of action will ultimately help Thackeray and his party. Thanks
to the case, Thackeray got nationwide attention and organizations
like VHP and Bajarang Dal came out openly in his support making
him a hero. So the Sena did not mind when the BJP distanced itself
from the Sena's idea of setting up Hindu suicide squads to deal
with growing threat from the Pakistani terrorists.
Thackeray
got support from former minister Ramrao Adik, a senior Congress
leader and former advocate general of the state said that the
speech made by Thackeray does not attract provisions of the IPC.
It will be difficult to book Thackeray in this case as there is
no case at all, he said. However, Bhujbal has already sent tapes
of Thackeray's speech to prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and
Union home minister L.K.Advani.
There
is no possibility of immediate arrest of Thackeray in this case.
The police have merely registered an offence but it will take
time and lot of legal work before they actually start proceedings
against Thackeray. The DF government is not surprised with the
kind of reaction they received when they filed the case against
Thackeray. So far no Congress government in the state has been
able to take action against Thackeray for his provocative speeches.
In
fact, people throng Shivaji Park during his Dassara rallies to
listen to his hard-hitting provocative speeches. Senior leaders
like Sharad Pawar, Shankarrao Chavan, A.R.Antulay, and Shivajirao
Nilangekar Patil had resisted the temptation to arrest Thackeray
during their tenure as a chief minister since they knew that if
he were arrested it would be difficult for them to maintain the
law and order in the state.
Ultimately,
Thackeray is trying to expand his support base. He is now assuming
a pan-Indian image of militant Hindutva and many elements disillusioned
with the BJP performance are being attracted towards Thackeray.
This may lead to a friction between two saffron friends but the
ground reality will force them to remain together as they can
afford to part ways at this juncture.
Thackeray
has also said that he may withdraw from the government but will
not withdraw support to the NDA, as there is no alternative.
