Click to play videoA day after the Assembly election verdict, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is introspecting why the terrorism issue did not deliver votes for them in the polls.
Despite an advertisement a day after the Mumbai terror attack, the BJP couldn’t capitalise on its pet poll plank and just three days after 26/11, Delhi did not vote BJP.
Terrorism was the big campaign issue for the BJP in these Assembly elections. In speech after speech BJP leaders emphasised that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government could not tackle terrorism because of its so-called vote bank politics.
So is the Indian voter disenchanted with politicisation of terror? CNN-IBN debated the issue on Face the Nation with a panel comprising Congress leader and Haryana minister Randeep Surjewala; Editor, Manushi Madhu Kishwar; BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh and President of the Professionals Party of India, RV Krishnan.
Siddharth Nath Singh was clearly in the line of fire and was asked if the party underestimated the sensibilities of the voters. Did it really think the voters would read adverts and go out and vote against the Congress – and in the favour of BJP? Many say the party scared the electorate and therefore was not voted in.
Siddharth defended the party and said terror was a national issue and that the BJP raised it only because of it was required to be raised. "We felt it was the right time and therefore we did it. There’s nothing wrong with it as terror is and will remain a national issue. How to handle terror is part of good governance," he said.
Tired of terror?
Madhu Kishwar put the public mood in perspective and said the days of "anti-campaigning” are over. "People want to know what parties stand for, what’s their vision and track record rather than pointing fingers," she said.
In fact, Kishwar even said the people did not care if a party was pro or anti globalisation and for or against Pakistan. She said it was all ideological fluff. "Just show us if you are pro-citizen," she said.
Siddharth and Kishwar got into a heated argument at this statement. While Kishwar alleged the BJP hadn’t itself done much to curb terror and, therefore, shouldn’t be complaining, Siddharth said the issue was an issue pertaining to national governance.
While many say BJP’s allegations are tantamount to a pot calling the kettle black, it’s also beyond doubt that the Congress has shown little leadership in tackling with the problem.
In fact Kishwar alleged the Congress too tried to capitalised on Gujarat riots and that there were allegations of several party workers being involved in the riots along with BJP cadres. "You saw Congress and BJP cadres were seen together on streets. And that’s why Congress can’t stand in Gujarat and look at the people in the eye," she said.
But Congress’ Randeep Surjewala refuted all allegations. "You can’t play vote politics on terror. There’s a message coming out of these elections: Get your act together, put your heads together and ensure the country is secure," he said.
Siddharth immediately countered that and said Congress too played vote politics – minority appeasement – with controversial reports like the Sachar Report.
But what is the voter is looking for? RV Krishnan of Professionals Party of India agreed with Kishwar and said the voter was fatigued and that the political parties had run out of issues. "We must talk about good governance, which is a very serious issue. Where are issues like poverty, hunger and squalor," he argued.
Wooing the voter: The hows and whys
Siddharth stuck to his stand and said that governance also included – apart from price rise, employment, infrastructure – national security and terrorism. Kishwar argued the image of politicians also mattered. "In Rajasthan, Gehlot’s win is a direct result of a much cleaner image than Vasundhara Raje," she said, adding, "India wants police reforms to start with”.
Krishnan said it was time to look for solutions and it lay in good governance. "Get the middle class involved and get the professionals of India, the highly-qualified ones to stand in elections. Not just terror, every issue in India is politicised," he said.
When the argument was put to the politicians, Siddharth said the verdict had thrown up a great message: If you have credibility, we will vote for you. "Look at Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, they have voted for good governance," he argued.
But Kishwar insisted dealing with terror meant strengthening the police force.
She pushed her case for police reforms by saying the terrorists landed the RDX for Mumbai attacks by bribing policemen. "The police are inefficient, ill-equipped, poorly motivated, poorly trained and can’t combat terror," she argued.
Therefore, police reforms, institutional reforms and political reforms emerged the three issues which needed to be dealt with.
So while the Congress may have walked away with a 3-2 victory in the so called semi-final, there are lessons for all parties to be learnt before the finals on what to say and also what not to say. But the real star is the voter – giving a verdict that’s mature, sober, forward-looking and with a vision.
Result of SMS/Web poll: Is the Indian voter disenchanted with politicisation of terror?
Yes: 78 per cent
No: 22 per cent
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