Strategy for united struggle against Hindutva 'fascism': Ideological silence is 'no option'

By Dr Bhabani Shankar Nayak*
Electoral alliance and opportunism of national and regional political parties, neoliberal economic marginalisation and soft secular Hindutva line pandering to Hindu majoritarianism laid the foundation of Hindutva fascism in post-colonial India.
It is in this context, Indians need to develop a broad front based on mass movements inside and outside the parliament which would ensure the defeat of Hindutva fascists and create effective political alternatives for the survival of the idea of India.
Hindutva fascism is not a movement for changing India towards peace and prosperity. It is a reactionary movement of the ruling and non-ruling elites in India. In the name of Ram temple, Hindu religion and cultural nationalism, it represents the interests of the national and international corporations.
The capture and dominance of state power by BJP, RSS and Sangh Parivar accelerates the process of establishing full fledge fascism in India. It is a matter of time before the bourgeois democratic methods; the electoral processes, rule of law and constitutional sanctities becomes irrelevant. Like secularism, democracy is going to be a dirty word in India soon.
The narrative of Hindutva fascism is based on the politics of hate and disdain for reason, science, secularism, democracy and rule of law. Modi-led BJP and RSS are working on making this as a pan Indian narrative.

Once this project is complete, Hindutva fascist will move from lynching Muslims and killing rationalists to everyday mass violence against any opposition to their politics and power. The democratic illusion, we see today will evaporate very soon.
The Hindutva fascists can brazenly represent monopoly capital and their control over Indian state and all natural resources. Violence is going to be a tool and new normal in everyday lives of Indians.
Can we fight this evil called Hindutva fascist effectively with old electoral methods? The answer is written on the wall and we have crossed that stage. We need an anti-fascist movement in India based on a clear and revolutionary manifesto.

United Against Hate campaign is a good beginning, but we have to create a united struggle against Hindutva fascism based on a manifesto

We can shape the manifesto based on anti-fascists movements in history and our current experiences with Hindutva fascists in India. United Against Hate (UAH) campaign is a good beginning but it is not enough. We have to create a united struggle against Hindutva fascism based on a manifesto which can include following ten programmes:

Fight against caste, communalism and capitalism is a common battle. We cannot fight Hindutva fascists without fighting the evils of caste system within and outside Hindu religion. Caste remains the foundation of Hindutva communal politics in India. Hindutva fascism is the life and blood of local, national and international capitalist class. Therefore, any attempt to fight Hindutva fascism depends on our commitment to fight caste, communalism and capitalism;
Ensure social, economic, political and cultural citizenships based on reason, science, and constitutionally guaranteed inalienable rights of one and all without any form of discrimination;
Ensure freedom and rights of the minority communities based on progressive values;
Militantly fight against regional and religious reactionaries from all communities and within religions;
A democratic system which is more than periodic elections. Let the local people decide the nature of their development policies and manage their resources;
Ensure gender and sexual equality and broad unity among people;
Ensure scientific education and isolate blind believes and superstitions of all kind;
Isolate and defeat Hindutva fascists in social, cultural and political sphere;
Form alliance between all democratic, secular and progressive forces in India;
Ensure social and economic justice for all; and
Promote peace, harmony and prosperity among all.

The strategies for united struggles against Hindutva fascism are about guiding the struggle to advance the cause of masses towards peace and prosperity. It is not about ideological puritanism of any political formation or party.
The organisational strategies against Hindutva fascism is an adultery between individual and mass consciousness and struggle to advance the interests of the working class masses (dalits, women, Muslims, tribals, farmers, minorities, workers, rural communities, students, unemployed youths, students, rural and urban poor).
Fighting Hindutva fascism is central to the class struggle in India. It is extremely important and urgent to forge broad unity and defeat fascist RSS/BJP. It would be a sheer illusion to build an egalitarian, peaceful and prosperous India without defeating Hindutva fascists.
The political and ideological silence is no longer a choice for us. History tells us as witness that defeat of Hindutva fascism certain and inevitable. Therefore, the only choice is to fight and defeat Hindutva fascists and their ideological narratives in India.
---
*Senior Lecturer in Business Strategy, Coventry Business School, Coventry University, United Kingdom

Comments

Tyre cartel's monopoly: Farmers' groups seek legal fight for better price for raw rubber

By Our Representative The All India Kisan Sabha and the Kerala Karshaka Sangham that represents the largest rubber producing state of Kerala along with rubber farmers have sought intervention against the monopoly tyre companies that have formed a cartel against the interests of consumers and farmers. Vijoo Krishnan, AIKS General Secretary, Valsan Panoli, Kerala Karshaka Sangham General Secretary, and four farmers representing different rubber growing regions of Kerala have filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court.

Modi win may force Pak to put Kashmir on backburner, resume trade ties with India

By Salman Rafi Sheikh* When Narendra Modi returned to power for a second term in India with a landslide victory in 2019, his government acted swiftly. Just months after the election, the Modi government abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution of India. In doing so, it stripped the special constitutional status conferred on Jammu and Kashmir, India’s only Muslim-majority state, and downgraded its status from a state with its own elected assembly to a union territory administered by the central government in Delhi.

'Assault on civic, academic freedom, right to dissent': TISS PhD student's suspension

By Our Representative The Mumbai-based civil rights group All India Secular Forum (AISF) has said that the suspension of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) PhD student Ramadas Prini Sivanandan (30) for two years for allegedly indulging in activities which were "not in the interest of the nation" is meant to send out the message that students and educational institutes will be targeted if they don’t align with the agenda and ideology of the ruling regime. TISS in a notice served to Ramadas has cited that his role in screening the documentary 'Ram Ke Naam' on January 26 as a "mark of dishonour and protest" against the Ram Mandir idol consecration in Ayodhya. Another incident cited in the notice was Ramadas’ participation in the protest against unfair government policies in Delhi under the banner of the Progressive Students' Forum (PSF)-TISS. TISS alleges the institute's name was "misused", which wrongfully created an impression that

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah* The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Magnetic, stunning, Protima Bedi 'exposed' malice of sexual repression in society

By Harsh Thakor* Protima Bedi was born to a baniya businessman and a Bengali mother as Protima Gupta in Delhi in 1949. Her father was a small-time trader, who was thrown out of his family for marrying a dark Bengali women. The theme of her early life was to rebel against traditional bondage. It was extraordinary how Protima underwent a metamorphosis from a conventional convent-educated girl into a freak. On October 12th was her 75th birthday; earlier this year, on August 18th it was her 25th death anniversary.

Why it's only Modi ki guarantee, not BJP's, and how Varanasi has seen it up-close

"Development" along Ganga By Rosamma Thomas* I was in Varanasi in this April, days before polling began for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There are huge billboards advertising the Member of Parliament from Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The only image on all these large hoardings is of the PM, against a saffron background. It is as if the very person of Modi is what his party wishes to showcase.

Joblessness, saffronisation, corporatisation of education: BJP 'squarely responsible'

Counterview Desk In an open appeal to youth and students across India, several student and youth organizations from across India have said that the ruling party is squarely accountable for the issues concerning the students and the youth, including expensive education and extensive joblessness.

Following the 3000-year old Pharaoh legacy? Poll-eve Surya tilak on Ram Lalla statue

By Sukla Sen Located at a site called Abu Simbel in Nubia, Upper Egypt, the eponymous rock temples were created in 1244 BCE, under the orders of Pharaoh Ramesses II (1303-1213 BC)... Ramesses II was fond of showcasing his achievements. It was this desire to brag about his victory that led to the planning and eventual construction of the temples (interestingly, historians say that the Battle of Qadesh actually ended in a draw based on the depicted story -- not quite the definitive victory Ramesses II was making it out to be).

India's "welcome" proposal to impose sin tax on aerated drinks is part of to fight growing sugar consumption

By Amit Srivastava* A proposal to tax sugar sweetened beverages like tobacco in India has been welcomed by public health advocates. The proposal to increase sin taxes on aerated drinks is part of the recommendations made by India’s Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian on the upcoming Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill in the parliament of India.

Poll promises: Political parties 'playing down' need to retrieve and restore adivasi land

By Palla Trinadha Rao* The Scheduled Tribes population of 10.43 crore constitutes 8.6% of the population in the country inhabiting 26 States and 6 Union Territories. Parliament elections along with Assembly elections in some states have been notified this year.

Counterview

Search This Blog