RaGa must focus on tolerance to beat trolls

Congress was born and has grown with its secularism principles. Critics said it was nothingbut the British legacy of divide and rule and even politics of appeasement. As BJP has grownand now emerged an unchallengeable party based on its hard Hindutva and seemingly anti-Muslim ideology, secularism has become the much-hated word. Congress haters have even coined the word 'sicularism' to further the hatred.

With the diminishing importance of the Congress and the dissipation of the other non-BJP parties, BJP support has increased by leaps and bounds. From corporates to media to contributors to electoral bonds to social media dominance, one can see the unstinted support to saffron ideology which turns out to be hatred for Congress.

Before I proceed further, let me declare that I am neither a supporter of the Congress nor do I hate BJP. If you look at my previous columns, you will realise that I am just an impartial observer. It is sad that one has to reiterate one's credentials in these days of hate mongering. Secularism also meant inclusive politics and governance. Other than taking Muslims into themainstream politics, many open-minded politicians have even preached and practised 'Hindu-Muslim-Sikh-Isai, Hum Sab Hain Bhai Bhai'. But it suited the Hindu hardliners to equate secularism with Muslim appeasement and then hammer down the Congress.

With no credible leadership and Rahul Gandhi's lack a daisical behaviour, the 'sicular' on slaught went unopposed and gained huge popularity. Even the liberal thinkers, leftists, socialists and impartial media persons have all been clubbed into this sicular class. Tragic. Not only did theIndian social fabric get mercilessly torn into shreds, but mutual trust has been thrown to thewinds. This has led to another way of dividing and ruling with Sab Ka Saath – slogan remaining limited to political hoardings and posters. Anyone who tries to repair this damage is seen as a Congress sympathiser, more than that, a BJP enemy. Did someone say DeshDrohi?

Many would agree that we have never seen such a hopeless situation. As we discussed in theprevious columns, intolerance has rapidly emerged as the rule of the game. What is evenmore dangerous is that this has gained acceptance by a large number of people includingcertain institutions.

Now the moot question is – where do we go from here? Will tolerance be forgotten forever and deleted from the dictionary? Not necessarily. The millennials who hold the real hope for the nation's future can definitely play a big role, even if it is done silently. Millennials have the purchasing power and they began to impact large businesses such as real estate. They are mainly instrumental in converting the realty business into a buyers' market. Based on their working pattern, even the office space business is evolving. I have gained this information from my realtor friends. This trend gives me the confidence that mutual trust and tolerance will also evolve if this segment is taken into confidence. This massive energy bank has to be tapped with kid-gloves, intelligence and tolerance.

Giving the devil its due, one must appreciate the Narendra Modi type of politics resonatingwith the youth. Of course, he launched himself with a great advantage when the Congress'image got massively dented in the wake of imaginary scams with unproven corruption figuresand the grand old party just withdrew itself into its own shell much like a scared turtle.

Now is the time for that turtle to find its own waters and begin to swim again. This brings me to the current topic – neglected by the pro-BJP media – the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Rahul Gandhi led Kanyakumari to Kashmir march cannot just be wished away. It is making its impact. It is creating undercurrents. Price rise, unemployment, communal disharmony, increasing poverty – the problems are endless and cannot be swept under thecarpet.

The solutions presented by the government are like the proverbial carrot. One has to wait for a few years to see the results of the promises turning into performance. BJP is goodat coining catchy slogans – Sab Ka Saath, Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai and now Amrit Kaal. But the party largely misses out on tolerance. This is where the Congress can make a huge difference. Tolerance, like charity, begins at home. The Gandhis must learn to tolerate independent anddemocratic functioning of the Congress.

If Rahul Gandhi has sensed the undercurrents, he ought to have noticed the need for inner-party democracy. He, his mother and sister should learn to tolerate emerging leaders and untapped talent within the party. The party's first family must allow free and fair party elections even at the Block levels. History will not forgive the Gandhi-Nehru family for Indira's Emergency rule, but the future will definitely respect them if they revive tolerance. This magic word will also drive the party well in its negotiations with the non-BJP parties for a cohesive Opposition.

The year 2023 will also see many elections and the Congress party must win somerespectable number of seats to establish its own credibility to re-emerge as a viablealternative to the BJP. Everybody likes to talk to a performer, and not a loser. That's theuniversal truth. Rahul Gandhi must build on the credibility that he has gained through Bharat Jodo.Remember, Modi-Shah-Yogi combine will not be silent spectators to the emergence of thenew Opposition.

The Congress has left Shashi Tharoor to fight his legal battles and the party must leave Robert Vadra to fend for himself and not put the party machinery and credibility behind him.It is well and good for the family if Vadra survives all the land-grab allegations, but it should not matter for the party if he loses.

(The author is a Mumbai-based media veteran, known forhis thought-provoking messaging).