Click to play videoBangalore: BJP candidates have become prominent faces at Hindu samajotsavs, a new saffron experiment in Karnataka. It is a platform provided by the Sangh Parivar for the Godmen from various religious institutions to polarise Hindu votes, based on caste lines.
“Those who are contesting in your constituencies please ask them to declare boldly and emphatically they will stand by the goal of making Indian nation once again an akhanda Hindu rashtra. If the Constitution is not accepting that, we'll change the Constitution,” saffron activist Sadhu V Rangarajan said.
Daring words like these have, however, raised the hackles of other parties but it seems Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa's penchant for sanctioning funds to religious institutions is yielding results in a state where temples and mutts (ashrams) hold considerable influence.
Yeddyurappa gave more than Rs 100 crore as grants to mutts in his latest budget last month. Opposition parties now believe mutts are involving themselves in backroom campaigning.
“100 per cent they're involved. They're writing chits, telephoning. I request them to restrain from involving in politics. This government has spent more money to please mutts than help the poor,” Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge said.
Opposition parties including JDS and the Congress have complained to the Election Commission that the BJP is indulging in caste-based propaganda.
“I raised the issue at the Election Commission meeting. I'm hoping the EC will not allow rallies in future,” JDS Spokesperson YSV Dutta said.
The party could bank on a sympathy wave to return to power in the Assembly elections last year, but this time it's trying to shore up its Hindutva vote bank to fight anti-incumbency.
(With inputs from Parvathy Nair)
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