Shiv Sena fails to retain its stature

There were news reports that the Communist Party of India has extended its support to the Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena for the forthcoming Andheri east assembly constituency byelection. Photographs of Communist Party’s leader Com. Prakash Reddy calling on Uddhav Thackeray at his Matoshree residence were also released. Interestingly, Uddhavrao also promptly took the support extended by the Communist Party of India. Seeing how things are unfolding for the forthcoming elections, it becomes pertinent to mention some facts from the history which took place exactly 52 years ago.

On June 6, 1970, news about the murder of Communist Party of India’s leader Com. Krishna Desai spread across Parel, Lalbaug areas that was known as the Girangaon area in those days. As a result, the workers working in various mills in Girangaon called for a work stoppage. The Maratha daily had reported this news as an eight-column headline titled ‘Com. Krishna’s murderers – Bal Thackeray and Vasantrao Naik’. During a meeting that was held at the crematorium, leader of the red flag organisation Com. Yashwant Chawan had publicly accused Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and the then chief minister Vasantrao Naik for Com. Krishna’s murder. Balasaheb had refuted the allegation. In this murder case, Dilip Hate, Ashok Kulkarni and Vishwanath Khatate were sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.

During the byelection held after this murder, there was a straight fight between Com. Krishna’s wife Sarojini and Shiv Sena’s Vamanrao Mahadik. The Left movement had made this election a prestige issue. Com. Shripad Amrut Dange, United Samajwadi Party’s Baburao Samant, Praja Samajwadi Party’s Sadanand Varde, Shetkari Kamgar Party’s TS Karkhanis and Lal Nishan Party’s Datta Deshmukh held group meetings and staged strong attack against the Shiv Sena. The Shiv Sena had also exerted all its might. During a meeting at Parel, Balasaheb Thackeray had criticised the left parties calling them the antagonist of nationalism. Vamanrao Mahadik had won that election. Balasaheb Thackeray had always considered the Communist Party leaders as the antagonists of nationalism. He would always refer to the Leftists as ‘Red Monkeys’. Seeing the photographs of Prakash Reddy and Uddhav Thackeray share the same screen, it was obvious to have reminded of this history.

Uddhavrao without hesitation accepted the support extended by the leaders of the Communist Party only to oppose the Bharatiya Janata Party. There was absolutely no hint of guilt on Uddhavrao’s face while accepting the support. He conveniently forgot that his father had always opposed this congregation. Of course, you do not feel guilty once you have accepted that you are a brazen. For the mere thirst for power, Uddhavrao does not mind sacrificing his stature.

The Shiv Sena’s race for power began since the victory in the 1987 Vile Parle Assembly Constituency by-election. It is not that I am saying it, even Uddhavrao and those thousands of Shiv Sainiks who revered Balasaheb Thackeray are aware about this fact. ‘Garva se kaho hum Hindu hain’ (Say it with pride that we are Hindus) was the slogan Balasaheb had coined while contesting this by-election.

Shiv Sena’s Dr. Ramesh Prabhu had won this byelection. Later, the court had cancelled his selection as the ideology of Hindutva was used during campaigning for Dr. Prabhu. The equation –- Hindutva and Shiv Sena –- was formed from this election. A few years later, the Supreme Court had refused Balasaheb Thackeray the right to vote for using Hindutva ideology during the election campaigns. Hindutva was Balasaheb’s breath and even for those who had firm faith in him. Unfortunately, Uddhavrao choked this breath for joining hands with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party, to remain in power and to oppose the BJP. Sharjeel Usmani, who was against the Hindus, was protected by Uddhavrao when he was the chief minister. Even on the issue of loudspeakers on mosques, Uddhavrao opted to remain silent. Uddhavrao also did not show the courage to question Rahul Gandhi who had criticised Swatantryaveer Savarkar who was highly revered by Balasaheb Thackeray. In order to retain his chief ministerial position, Uddhavrao had adopted one-point agenda – to appease the leaders of both Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party. It is not known when the Shiv Sena lost its Hindutva ideology while being in alliance with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party during their two-and-a-half-year tenure in the government.

Along with Hindutva, Uddhavrao seems to have given up on the ideology of ‘nationalism’ especially now that he has struck closeness with the Communists. Balasaheb Thackeray had always opposed the Communists throughout his life but today his heir, who wants to exercise complete control over the Shiv Sena, has readily accepted the ‘red salute’. The activists, intellectuals and journalists who believed in the ideologies of the Communists and the Samajwadi groups during the decades of 80s and 90s had opposed Balasaheb Thackeray and his Shiv Sena, and there are many evidences to prove this. And today, all those supporters of the Left and the Samajwadi ideologies will feel glad that Uddhavrao has joined hands with them and opposed the BJP. This is nothing but destiny taking its revenge.

Communists’ ideology about nationalism and their opposition to Hindutva is well known. They have never concealed this fact. Probably Lalbhai must have agreed to back Uddhavrao on the condition that he does not pronounce the ‘H’ of Hindutva. Both Lalbhai and Uddhavrao’s pretence of showing support to each other will expose them in due course. Uddhavrao’s constantly changing stance – Lalbhai and Samajwadi vis-à-vis Bharatiya Janata Party’s genuine desire to be righteous towards its ideologies is very evident. Since 1951, i.e since the establishment of the Jana Sangh, the Bharatiya Janata Party has always fought for Uniform Civil Code and for the abrogation of Article 370. The party never deviated from its stance and it is expanding its base in national politics.

Implementing non-Congress ideologies, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya’s disciples during the 1990s with the support from the Congress established power in some states. The Left that had opposed the Congress in Kerala, stood with the Congress while forming the government in West Bengal.

Bharatiya Janata Party never compromised on its ideologies. The moment the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power on its own, Article 370 and Article 35A were repealed. ‘Ek desh main do vidhan, do nishan, do pradhan nahi chalenge’ (Two constitutions, two flags and two Prime Ministers will not be allowed in one country) – the slogan by Dr Shyamaprasad Mukherjee was implemented. ‘Mandir vahin banayenge’ (the temple will be constructed at the same place where Shri Ram was born) – slogan was implemented. The concept of Antyodaya proposed by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay has been implemented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi since the last eight years through the various schemes like Jan Dhan Yojana and the Ujwala Yojana for the crores of underprivileged sections of the people across the country. By staying loyal to its ideologies, the Bharatiya Janata Party has succeeded in gaining the trust of the common man.

 

(Article Pre-Published in Times of India online – 17 OCT. 2022)

Keshav Upadhye, Chief Spokesperson