Political Diary
New Delhi, 9 August 2016
Cow: Political
Ping-Pong
PULPING A RELIGIOUS
BONE
By Poonam I Kaushish
“Gau mata” is once again becoming a convenient
political tool for our Hindutva brigade. They are back to their favourite pass
time: Minority bashing and protection of the cow. Having re-discovered the holy
cow’s brand equity as the best vote-catcher, no matter, if it becomes a hot
potato!
Predictably, all hell broke lose last month when the public
flogging of four Dalit men in Gujarat’s Una town for allegedly killing the cow
they were skinning went viral on social media. And naturally, politicians of
all hues rushed there to milk the political fallout of the incident. Democracy
and secularism in danger, the favourite whipping boys were freely bandied about
by the Congress, JD(U) etc.
Disconcertingly, the gau
rakshaks have taken the cue from their political mai-baap BJP which is the driving force behind the spread and
hardening of cow rights legislation across the country. Whereby, any action taken
to protect the cow is justified, even if it means taking the law into their
hands. That the rakshaks arrogance
finally did them in is another matter.
In fact, Una is the latest in a series of vicious incidents
of people being forced to eat cow dung, Dalit men being stripped, tied to a car
and beaten by cow vigilante groups. Recall, the horrific lynching of a Muslim
for consuming beef in Dadri last year which marked the revival of cow politics
in India.
Undeniably, cow care and its protection have often dominated
politics owing to patronage from the BJP, which relies on Hindu votes. Thus,
over the years, it has pushed cow protection as an integral part of its
political agenda by including it in their manifesto to appease the Hindus.
However, the cow and beef debate at this juncture is clearly
not so much about the fate of the holy cow as it is about cynical competitive politics.
Trust our netagan to make “Gau mata” the cause célèbre for milking in the race for power as three States UP,
Punjab and Gujarat go to the polls next year.
Politically, for the BJP the fallout of Una could be
significant due to the unexpected reaction from Dalits across the State. Large numbers
protested, flung carcasses of dead cows in front of police stations and Government
offices and are refusing to continue skinning dead cows. Till date the Party
has not wooed Dalits in the belief it did not need their vote, as they comprise
less than 8% of the population.
However, with elections looming in the Hindu hinterland it
cannot afford to alienate them as it could lead to a possible consolidation of
an anti-BJP grouping comprising Muslims and Dalits. As it stands Una and the
earlier suicide of Dalit student in Hyderabad
has given a fillip to Dalit agitations in the cow belt and a foothold for Dalit
politics.
Consequently, BSP’s Mayawati is adroitly using Una and a UP BJP
leader’s derogatory remarks about her, to her advantage as UP warms up to the
forthcoming Assembly battle. Meanwhile Mulayam continues to bank on his
Muslim-Yadav vote-bank.
The Congress is also trying to capitalise on the Dalit
agitation to regain some of its lost support base even as it rejects the BJP
pitch for votes via cow politics. “We
do not use the cow to woo voters. Religion and politics should not be combined,”
states a senior Congress leader. He cites historical evidence of beef-eating
practices by Hindus in ancient India
to emphasise his point.
It remains to be seen how the BJP handles these
developments. So far both Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah have maintained a
studious silence. Even as detractors hope the two incidents will begin to
unravel the Modi juggernaut.
There is no gainsaying that cow protection has been a live
political issue for long in the country. Even the founding father had debated
the issue at length. Article 48 reads: “The State shall endeavour to organise
agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in
particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds and prohibiting
the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle”.
Cow protection was included as a Directive Principle of
State policy. However, the Directive Principle does not provide for a total
nationwide legislative ban on cow slaughter, which the Hindu fundamentalists
have been demanding for long. Several agitations have taken place since 1966
when Parliament was sought to be gheraoed,
resulting in police firing and deaths.
True, the Gau mata
is sacred to Hindus and is revered as Kamdhenu.
Every bit of the cow is useful. Even its urine has miraculous medicinal value.
Therefore, it has a central place in religious rituals as well as free rein to
roam in streets. Over the years, a majority of States have passed controversial
slaughter laws which make killing local cows illegal.
Of course, no neta
wants to get his teeth into an individual’s food preferences but it doesn’t
stop them talking a lot of bull and relishing naked cow-trading. Thus, we have
a wacky hodgepodge of cattle laws according to leaders’ political appetite.
While some States have banned cow slaughter, others allow killing of old or
sick cattle, several kill, ban or no ban and not a few require a “fit for
slaughter” certificate.
Either which way, this doublespeak about revering your cow
and eating beef too is not about the fate of the holy cow but accentuates a
cynical food-fight sells and how! Saffron-robed Ministers, netas, swamis and mullahs
are recklessly playing the communal card. Politicising Hinduism to tailor to
their ambitious needs and electoral gains where one man’s opium is another
man’s poison.
A ban on the slaughter, eating and serving of certain types
of animals and their meat is not uncommon across the globe. All Muslim-ruled
countries have banned pork which, incidentally, is a lot more popular in India’s
north-east than beef.
Contrary to popular belief, beef is not so popular in Pakistan. Only
the poor or very poor eat cow’s meat called “burra
gosht”, which is cheaper. Importantly, no one in the Arab world has starved
because of a ban on the eating of pork.
As blinkered, dogma-ridden debates rage on about beef bans
and holy cows marks a dangerous political trend of intolerance towards
minorities and mob violence. If this trend goes unchecked society will get
dangerously fragmented.
With politics and polls only on their agenda, the polity
must desist from playing with fire and instigate their vote bank. Alongside,
both communities have to learn to cohabit together and the BJP must rein in its
‘fringe’ elements who feel emboldened with a majority Government at the Centre.
Our leaders need to remember India was conceived as a democratic
rather than majoritarian country wherein minorities have certain basic rights.
This is the essence of being secular. It is about tolerating differences and
not beating it to a pulp with a meaty bone.
Time now to consider a ban on divisive politics. Remember,
everyone, not just the gau drum
beaters and beef-eaters have a st(e)ake in India. Let us not reduce the cow to
a religious plank, political ping-pong or a poll gimmick in the quest for
power, Mr Prime Minister. ----- INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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