Is BJP afraid of ‘Pannauti’ stigma for Modi?

As soon as the election campaign was nearing an end in Rajasthan, the filth beneath the surface came out in the open to flow as a stream. It contained all the obscenity that had gathered in the so-called Amrit Kal of independent India. However, the Election Commission of India and the mainstream media in the country only took a selective approach and stood behind the ruling establishment. It is interesting to observe that show cause notices for violations of the Model Code of Conduct show a clear bias on the part of the Election Commission. Except for the two, all the notices are directed against the opposition parties. The complaints of Congress and other parties have largely been ignored. While the Commission has liberally used its power against the two most important leaders of the Congress, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi, it has refrained from touching Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, or any other important leader. The Commission’s selective treatment could be seen in the notice issued to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. A similar complaint against Home Minister Shah was ignored. The Commission has been very prompt in acting on the BJP’s complaints. It has been sloth in acting on the opposition’s complaints.

The most interesting of all the notices, however, has been the one issued to Rahul Gandhi on his using the ‘Pannauti’ (unlucky) word against Prime Minister Modi. The Commission has invoked Section 123 of the People’s Representation Act, 1951. The section says, "Induces or attempts to induce a candidate or an elector to believe that he, or any person in whom he is interested, will become or will be rendered an object of divine displeasure or spiritual censure shall be deemed to interfere with the free exercise of the electoral right of such candidate or elector within the meaning of this clause.”

The Commission has also quoted the Madras High Court judgment that says, “irrespective of the political affiliation, when a person raised to the level of leader of a political party should show utmost respect to the others in public life. Of course, every citizen of a democratic country have a freedom of speech, but at the same time, such criticism should not exceed affecting the sentiments of others. The leaders of political parties should show their statesmanship and quality and healthy politics rather than accusing others by using vituperated language in a political platform.” The Commission has referred this judgment in its almost every notice to the Congress leaders. Do the court’s suggestions not apply to the Prime Minister and the leaders of the BJP? The ECI has been ignoring the violation of the Model Code of Conduct by the BJP, which is not a secret. Section 123 of the People’s Representation Act, of 1951, also prohibits an appeal to vote or refrain from voting on the grounds of his religion, race, caste, community, or language. Are references to Ram Mandir, a free trip to Ayodhya, and Love Jihad not enough to win the Hindu votes? The BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah, have been frequently using them to polarise voters, and the Congress has been complaining against them. However, these violations hardly invite action from the ECI.

The ‘Pannauti’ expression needs careful examination. The BJP is trying to portray it as an insult to the Prime Minister. The BJP’s intentions must be understood in perspective. It is not willing to fight against the superstitious beliefs contained in this expression. The superstition is widespread and influences even the routine decisions of common people. Some people are considered ominous, and others are lucky. The concept of bad and good omens is indeed prevalent in every religion and society, but there have been constant attempts to prevent it from taking atrocious forms, such as ostracism. Widows, Dalits, and disabled people have long been victims of extreme forms of discrimination. In north India, widows are not allowed to be present while marriage is being solemnized. Similarly, people with disabilities are considered inauspicious. Witch-hunting is still prevalent in some parts of the country. We encounter cases of witch-burning too.

The section of the People’s Representation Act prohibits invoking imagined displeasure of God for votes. It has certainly been inserted to free people from superstitious beliefs.

Though Jawaharlal Nehru articulated the idea of scientific temper in pre-independence days, the concept was incorporated in the Forty-Second Amendment of the Constitution in 1976. It was added to Article 51 under the Fundamental Duties of the States. The article says, “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.”

Nehru believed that only science could solve the problem of poverty and hunger. He used the term “modern temples” for scientific and technological institutions.

Is the opposition to the word Pannauti inspired by the idea of scientific temper? The limited concern of the ECI for protecting the Model Code of Conduct from violation is understandable. But is it fair on the part of political parties to ignore wider concerns? Has the BJP not been spreading misconceptions in the name of religion and culture? Are Babas such as Dhirendra Shastri and Gurmit Singh not spreading superstitions?

In this case, the BJP is, in fact, apprehensive of the diminishing charisma of Modi. He has been portrayed as a superhuman being, and Modi can do impossible things. The phrase Modi hai to Mumkin hai (Modi is capable of doing anything on earth) has been coined to assert his charisma. The Pannauti word will certainly harm his image. People will think that he is not lucky for the country, which is a nightmare for the BJP and the Sangh Parivar.

The BJP is not opposing the superstition expressed by ‘Pannauti. It is only opposing the use of the word for Modi. It will hardly work.

(The author is a senior journalist. He has experience of working with leading newspapers and electronic media including Deccan Herald, Sunday Guardian, Navbharat Times and Dainik Bhaskar. He writes on politics, society, environment and economy)