Why secularism remains the only answer to the Congress’ electoral troubles?

Whether or not the Congress needs to reinvent its core ethos in terms of the practice of secularism has emerged as a point of discussion, especially since the advent of the Hindu nationalist forces as a result of which the grand old party of India has rapidly lost ground even among its principal support base. The party has been accused – at different times – of minority (read Muslim) appeasement as well as soft Hindutva. While the Shah Bano controversy was highjacked by the right wing to tarnish the public imagination of the Congress, in the process furthering their own agenda or positing themselves as the saviors of the Hindu community, the opening of the gates of the erstwhile Babri Masjid for puja placed the party in a precarious position of having to defend themselves on two fronts, both of which presented propositions of eventual electoral defeat as well as ideological thinness. More than three decades from the Shah Bano case and about the same period of time from the demolition of the Babri Masjid, the Congress still finds itself bereft of a clear political consensus on its engagement with and practice of secularism. As India hurtles towards incessant communalization unleashed by the Hindu nationalist forces, can the Congress redefine itself as the political formation most equipped to uphold the tenets of secularism as enshrined in the constitution? Is secularism the only answer to Congress’ seemingly unending troubles?

The answer is a resounding – Yes! Constant engagement with the fundamental principles of secularism remains the only plausible solution to the political tribulations of the Congress. With the constitution as the principle documentary guide, the party needs to access the most striking legacy of Pandit Nehru – the stringent and uncompromising practice of secularism that presupposes equality of caste, religion and gender, is built on the premise of non-discrimination on the basis of religion and promotes the freedom to practice and profess one’s faith. The only workable challenge to the onslaught of the Hindu right can come from a party or a political conglomeration grounded firmly in the fundamental practice of social equality of which secularism is an inextricable part. Only a principally secular state can ensure social justice for marginalized communities and groups. The Congress is – even to this day – seen as primarily a political formation with secular credentials.

The recent spate of mob lynchings, the deliberate targeting of members of the minority community and the resultant social tension has provided the Congress with fertile ground for reestablishing itself as the party that is keen on reassessing its own history of the practice of secularism and providing the beleaguered minority and marginalized groups with a political bulwark. Connecting with the communities – originally and traditionally Congress’ voters and sympathisers – on a war-footing and as a nationwide campaign might ensure acceptance before and during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls – something that has eluded the party in recent times as minorities tilted more and more towards regional parties. The targeting of minority groups by right-wing mobs and their future security in a secular nation must become and remain the foremost concern of the Congress. A return to the roots is an inevitable strategy (and policy) shift that the brass must make in order to ensure not only a better showing at the hustings but also redefine itself as an umbrella organization that prides itself on the unrelenting practice of secularism despite adversarial and contrary challenges.