DOCSLIB.ORG

Understanding the Rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Understanding the Rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party SEPTEMBER 2018 ISSUE NO. 258 Understanding the Rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party SATISH MISRA ABSTRACT In the last five years, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has undergone a massive transformation and is today the country's most formidable political force. The party won the 2014 general election with a convincing majority under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who assumed power in May 2014. Today the BJP is in power in 20 states, either on its own or with its allies. This rise can be attributed to various factors, including the party leadership, organisational skills, and effective ground work. This brief analyses the journey of the BJP. INTRODUCTION In ve years since 2013, when Narendra Modi ideals of positive secularism and Gandhian was declared its prime ministerial candidate, socialism1 that it had adopted in its inception the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has managed in 1980, under the leadership of Atal Bihari to widen its geographical reach and strengthen Vajpayee who would later serve as prime its electoral and political supremacy across the minister. In the late 1980s and the 1990s, the country. Today, the BJP is the richest, largest, BJP went back to the Hindutva2 ideology of its and most dominant political party in India. precursor, the Bharatiya Jan Sangh (BJS).3 is expansion was made possible by the In the 1984 elections, the BJP won only foundations that were laid following the two Lok Sabha seats, provoking serious party's rst electoral defeat in the 1984 general introspection within the party and its polls. e party then decided to abandon the ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swyamsevak Observer Research Foundation (ORF) is a public policy think-tank that aims to influence formulation of policies for building a strong and prosperous India. ORF pursues these goals by providing informed and productive inputs, in-depth research, and stimulating discussions. The Foundation is supported in its mission by a cross-section of India’s leading public figures, academics, and business leaders. To know more about ORF scan this code ISBN: 978-93-88262-41-5 © 2018 Observer Research Foundation. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing from ORF. Understanding the Rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party Sangh (RSS). e electoral failure was seen as lasted 13 months from 19 March 1998 to 17 proof that the moderate policy of Vajpayee April 1999 when it lost a no-condence would not work. Vajpayee was replaced as BJP motion by a single vote. ereafter, in president by Lal Krishna Advani, who September-October 1999, the BJP-led NDA promptly revived the BJS's hard-line Hindutva won 270 seats in the general elections, with the as the core ideology of the party.4 Advani used BJP once again getting 182 seats. Vajpayee the Hindutva rhetoric of pseudo secularism became prime minister for the third time and and Muslim appeasement to great eect in his government lasted the full term until the winning popular support among the Hindus, next general polls in 2004. aided by the soft-Hindutva5 politics the Indian National Congress played then.6 THE BJP'S RISE: A CONFLUENCE OF e next logical step was to join the RSS- FACTORS backed Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) which was leading the Ramjanmabhoomi movement. e BJP's rise to power can be attributed partly Soon, Advani became the face of a country- to Advani's organisational skills, as well as the wide campaign to build a Ramjanmabhoomi party's return to the Hindutva agenda while temple in Ayodhya where the Babri masjid keeping the liberal image of Vajpayee alive in once stood. e hardline Hindutva politics popular memory. What further helped the paid rich electoral dividends in the next party was the fact that the electorate wanted a general elections in 1989 when the BJP won 85 change from the long years of Congress rule. Lok Sabha seats. 7 In the 1991 general Slogans like Party with a dierence and an elections, it increased its strength to 120 and appeal to the electorate to give the BJP a chance its vote share went up to 20.1 percent from captured the condence of the electorate. A 11.4 percent in 1989 and 7.4 percent in 1984.8 little over six years of the Vajpayee government, In the 1996 general elections, the BJP's between 1998 and 2004, established the party seats in Lok Sabha went up to 161 and it staked as a credible alternative to the Congress. claim to form the government as the single However, the BJP-led NDA lost the next two largest party, which was accepted. us, the general elections due to various factors, making rst ever BJP-led government was formed way for a Congress-led coalition, the United under the leadership of Vajpayee but it lasted Progressive Alliance (UPA), to run the for only 13 days as it failed to garner the government until a series of scams, high support of other non-Congress, non-Left ination and unemployment and policy political parties to muster a majority. Vajpayee paralysis grounded it in the 2014 elections. is resigned, rather than face a vote of condence time, the BJP was led by Modi, a four-time chief in Parliament.9 minister of Gujarat and the party's prime In the next general polls in 1998, the BJP ministerial candidate. He managed to capitalise obtained 182 seats in the Lok Sabha and on the popular discontent against the UPA formed a coalition government called the government and won the party a majority, on National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which its own, in Lok Sabha. e last time a party had 2 ORF ISSUE BRIEF No. 258 • SEPTEMBER 2018 Understanding the Rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party won a majority on its own was when the Upon taking charge, Shah introduced many Congress won 404 seats in the 1984 elections changes in the party's administrative style and that followed the assassination of Indira structure. He modernised the party set-up and Gandhi. developed a system that rewards individuals Ever since Modi became prime minister on who deliver. He ushered in a corporate-style 26 May 2014, the BJP has been working like a system of vertical heads for programmes, in well-oiled electoral machine. It has won one contrast to the horizontal nature of the party state election after another and is dominating under the previous presidents.12 the national discourse like no other party has For Shah and the party, elections are done in recent memory. nothing less than war. His advice to party colleagues after taking charge was: Elections are Modi-Shah Partnership to be fought with clarity of mind and with the single objective of victory.13 He enjoys the total e rise of Modi has also marked the rise of support of Modi, stands rm in his decisions Amit Shah as BJP president. Rajnath Singh, and brooks no interference from any leader. By who headed the party in the run-up to the 2014 most accounts, he has a no-nonsense style of electoral victory, reportedly wanted to continue leadership, and keeps a tight schedule and long in the post and stay out of the government. But hours of work, inspiring his team to follow this was not acceptable to Modi as that could suit.14 Shah has also developed closer working have meant a dual power centre. Rajnath Singh relations with the RSS, as a result of which the had an excellent rapport with the RSS and that RSS leadership and functionaries are playing a is why Modi did not want him to continue. e bigger role in running the oganisation.15 name of party General Secretary J P Nadda, a politician from Himachal Pradesh, was brought RECENT ELECTORAL PERFORMANCE: A into contention and the RSS was agreeable to SNAPSHOT him. e move was made to juxtapose Shah against Nadda. Modi resolved it by inducting In 2013, the BJP was in power in ve states Singh and Nadda into his cabinet and Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, appointing Shah, his old and trusted colleague Chhattisgarh and Goa and was sharing power from Gujarat, as party president.10 with ally JD(U) in Bihar and Shiromani Akali is was an exception to the long-held Dal (SAD) in Punjab. Its political fortunes have convention that the prime minister and the changed dramatically since then. party president should come from dierent By May 2018, the BJP, either on its own states. Shah has galvanised the party, bringing strength or with its alliance partners, was ruling in a certain ruthlessness and unprecedented in 21 of the 31 states and union territories, administrative acumen in the way the expanding to the regions and states where it organisation is run. It is said that his party was never in power before. In 15 states, it has its colleagues are more in awe of him than own chief ministers and in the other six, it admiring.11 shares power with its allies (Bihar, Jammu and ORF ISSUE BRIEF No. 258 • SEPTEMBER 2018 3 Understanding the Rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party Table 1: BJP's Performance in 2014 General Elections States Total Seats Seats Won by BJP Poll % Andhra Pradesh 42 3 8.52 Arunachal Pradesh 2 1 46..62 Assam 14 7 36.86 Bihar 40 22 29.86 Goa 2 2 54.12 Gujarat 26 26 60.11 Haryana 10 7 34.84 Himachal Pradesh 4 4 53.85 Jammu and Kashmir 6 3 32.65 Karnataka 28 17 43.37 Kerala 20 0 10.45 Madhya Pradesh 29 27 54.76 Maharashtra 48 23 27.56 Manipur 2 0 11.98 Meghalaya 2 0 9.16 Mizoram 1 0 Did not contest Nagaland 1 0 Did not contest Odisha 21 1 21.88 Punjab 13 2 8.77 Rajasthan 25 25 55.61 Sikkim 1 0 2.39 Tamil Nadu 39 1 5.56 Tripura 2 0 5.77 Uttar Pradesh 80 71 42.63 West Bengal 42 2 17.02 Chhattisgarh 11 10 24.83 Jharkhand 14 12 40.71 Uttarakhand 5 5 55.93 Andman & Nikobar Islands 1 1 48.19 Chandigarh 1 1 42.49 Dadar & Nagar Haveli 1 1 49.77 Daman & Diu 1 1 54.66 NCT of Delhi 7 7 46.63 Lakshadweep 1 0 0.43 Puducherry 1 0 Did not contest Total 543 282 31.3 Source: Election Commission of India.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Arogya Samvad Newsletter
    “AROGYA SAMVAD” Newsletter for AYUSHMAN BHARAT - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana ISSUE 1, October 2018 Bimar na hoga ab lachar, bimari ka hoga muft upchar “AROGYA SAMVAD” Newsletter for AYUSHMAN BHARAT - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana ISSUE 1, October 2018 “AROGYA SAMVAD” Newsletter for AYUSHMAN BHARAT - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana ISSUE 1, October 2018 PM launches Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya THE BIG STORY Yojana, calls it a ‘game changer’ Hon’ble PM was taken on a tour of a special exhibition on Ayushman Bharat – PM-JAY by Dr. Indu Bhushan, CEO, National Health Agency. The exhibition showcased the key fea- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launches world’s largest State-run healthcare programme tures of the PM-JAY such as the process of obtaining treatment under PM-JAY Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, launched the health scheme: Ayushman Bharat - from beneficiary identification, verifi- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) at Ranchi, Jharkhand on September 23, 2018. The cation to discharge from hospital and launch event took place in the august presence of Smt. Droupadi Murmu, Hon’ble Governor feedback. Mera PM-JAY online portal of Jharkhand, Shri Raghubar Das, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Shri J P Nadda, Hon’ble that helps a person know his/her eli- Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, and other dignitaries. Hon’ble PM also launched gibility for PM-JAY was also displayed the PM-JAY anthem “Bimar na hoga ab lachar, bimari ka hoga muft upchar, Ayushman Bharat Ho, along with background information Bharat Ayushman ho”. on health financing in the country and progress made so far by the scheme.
    [Show full text]
  • Nationalist Congress Party Introduction
    Nationalist Congress Party Introduction Nationalist Congress Party, which came into existence only ten years ago, has within this short span of time become a significant party in India. This party was whole-heartedly welcomed by the people from the very inception in June 1999. The people gave such a massive support to the party in the parliamentary elections that was held in 1999, just three months after the formation of the party that the Election Commission of India after assessing the performance of the party in the elections, which the party fought all alone, conferred the “National Recognized Party” status to the party which was the only instance in the history of the country of any party obtaining the national status within such a short period after its formation. Now, NCP has strong functioning units in almost all the states and union territories of the country. The party is in government in three states, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Goa. We have our representatives in ten more states; Kerala, Gujarat, Haryana, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Assam. NCP will be ten years old by 10th June 2009. We are thankful to the people for the support they have given us. We are proud of the party’s growth in these years. By the time we celebrate our next birthday, after the elections, NCP will emerge as a leading party in our country capable of playing a decisive role in shaping the future of the country. What NCP stands for NCP stands for a democratic secular society wedded to equality and social justice as well committed to preserve the unity and integrity of our country.
    [Show full text]
  • Sources of Maratha History: Indian Sources
    1 SOURCES OF MARATHA HISTORY: INDIAN SOURCES Unit Structure : 1.0 Objectives 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Maratha Sources 1.3 Sanskrit Sources 1.4 Hindi Sources 1.5 Persian Sources 1.6 Summary 1.7 Additional Readings 1.8 Questions 1.0 OBJECTIVES After the completion of study of this unit the student will be able to:- 1. Understand the Marathi sources of the history of Marathas. 2. Explain the matter written in all Bakhars ranging from Sabhasad Bakhar to Tanjore Bakhar. 3. Know Shakavalies as a source of Maratha history. 4. Comprehend official files and diaries as source of Maratha history. 5. Understand the Sanskrit sources of the Maratha history. 6. Explain the Hindi sources of Maratha history. 7. Know the Persian sources of Maratha history. 1.1 INTRODUCTION The history of Marathas can be best studied with the help of first hand source material like Bakhars, State papers, court Histories, Chronicles and accounts of contemporary travelers, who came to India and made observations of Maharashtra during the period of Marathas. The Maratha scholars and historians had worked hard to construct the history of the land and people of Maharashtra. Among such scholars people like Kashinath Sane, Rajwade, Khare and Parasnis were well known luminaries in this field of history writing of Maratha. Kashinath Sane published a mass of original material like Bakhars, Sanads, letters and other state papers in his journal Kavyetihas Samgraha for more eleven years during the nineteenth century. There is much more them contribution of the Bharat Itihas Sanshodhan Mandal, Pune to this regard.
    [Show full text]
  • Hon'ble Chief Minister, Government of Jharkhand, Mr. Raghubar Das, Nobel Peace Laureate Mr
    Hon'ble Chief Minister, Government of Jharkhand, Mr. Raghubar Das, Nobel Peace Laureate Mr. Kailash Satyarthi and Chairperson, NCPCR, Mr. Priyank Kanoongo releasing the key findings of the survey report during the public dialogue organized by KSCF for “Child Labour Free MICA” The survey conducted by NCPCR on “Education and Wellbeing of Children in MICA Mining Areas of Jharkhand & Bihar” was supported by the Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation (KSCF). KSCF has been working in those areas since 2005 and have made approximately 300 habitations completely child labour free with 100% enrollment. Government of Jharkhand & KSCF signs MoU for “Child Labour Free Mica” and “Child Friendly Jharkhand” Article 39 (f) of the Constitution of India “That children are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity and that childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment.” 2 | P a g e PREFACE & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Constitution of India guarantees Fundamental Rights to all children in the country and empowers the State to make special provisions for them for their protection and development. The State is responsible for ensuring that childhood is protected from exploitation and deprivation. The Government has accordingly made laws, policies, plans and programs to this effect. Children at work are a socio-economic issue. However, Government of India stands committed to the elimination of child labour in the country. Constitution of India provides for protection of children from involvement in economic activities and vocations unsuited to their age. Enactment of Child Labour (Prohibition and Prevention) Amendment Act, 2016 is a landmark step in the Endeavour to have a child labour free society that provides for complete prohibition on employment of children below 14 years in all occupations and processes and prohibits employment of adolescents (14-18 years) in hazardous occupations and processes.
    [Show full text]
  • India's Democracy at 70: Toward a Hindu State?
    India’s Democracy at 70: Toward a Hindu State? Christophe Jaffrelot Journal of Democracy, Volume 28, Number 3, July 2017, pp. 52-63 (Article) Published by Johns Hopkins University Press DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.2017.0044 For additional information about this article https://muse.jhu.edu/article/664166 [ Access provided at 11 Dec 2020 03:02 GMT from Cline Library at Northern Arizona University ] Jaffrelot.NEW saved by RB from author’s email dated 3/30/17; 5,890 words, includ- ing notes. No figures; TXT created from NEW by PJC, 4/14/17 (4,446 words); MP ed- its to TXT by PJC, 4/19/17 (4,631 words). AAS saved by BK on 4/25/17; FIN created from AAS by PJC, 5/26/17 (5,018 words). FIN saved by BK on 5/2/17 (5,027 words); PJC edits as per author’s updates saved as FINtc, 6/8/17, PJC (5,308 words). PGS created by BK on 6/9/17. India’s Democracy at 70 TOWARD A HINDU STATE? Christophe Jaffrelot Christophe Jaffrelot is senior research fellow at the Centre d’études et de recherches internationales (CERI) at Sciences Po in Paris, and director of research at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS). His books include Religion, Caste, and Politics in India (2011). In 1976, India’s Constitution of 1950 was amended to enshrine secular- ism. Several portions of the original constitutional text already reflected this principle. Article 15 bans discrimination on religious grounds, while Article 25 recognizes freedom of conscience as well as “the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion.” Collective as well as indi- vidual rights receive constitutional recognition.
    [Show full text]
  • CL 143-27 Meeting GST Council Members
    ALL INDIA BANK EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION Central Office: “PRABHAT NIVAS” Regn. No.2037 Singapore Plaza, 164, Linghi Chetty Street, Chennai-600001 Phone: 2535 1522 Fax: 2535 8853 Web: www.aibea.in e mail ~ [email protected] & [email protected] M 98400 89920 CIRCULAR LETTER No. 28/143/2019/27 10-10-2019 TO ALL OFFICE BEARERS, STATE FEDERATIONS AND ALL INDIA BANKWISE ORGANISATIONS Dear Comrades, Reg: Exemption of GST on premium payable on Group Medical Insurance Policy for the retired employees/officers. Units are aware that AIEBA has taken up the matter with the Finance Minister and the GST Council for exempting Mediclaim policy premium paid by the retirees from the purview of GST. The matter has been taken up with IBA who have also represented to the Government not to levy GST on the premium. Since the exemption can be given only by the GST Council, we had asked all our State Federations to contact the respective GST Council Members from their States to follow up the matter and to take up the issue in the next meeting of the GST Council. Today, in Chennai, we met Shri D. Jayakumar, Hon. Minister for Personnel & Administrative Reforms, Govt. of Tamilnadu who is the Member of GST Council representing Tamilnadu Government. We submitted a copy of our letter to Finance Minister and explained the issue in detail. He was appreciative of the reasonableness of our demand and assured to write to the GST Council to discuss the issue. He also assured to pursue the matter in the GST Council meeting. He suggested that we should meet other members of the GST Council in this regard so that the issue gets some momentum.
    [Show full text]
  • Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly
    ARUNACHAL PRADESH LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ORIGIN AND GROWTH With the enactment of the NEFA Panchayat Raj Regulation (No.3 of 1967), the grounding for the Legislative Assembly of Arunachal Pradesh was prepared. This Regulation introduced a three-tier system: Gram Panchayat at the Village level, Anchal Samiti at the Block level and Zilla Parishad at the District level. An apex Advisory Body, known as the Agency Council with the Governor of Assam as its Chairman, came into being on 29th December, 1969. A step further in the direction was taken with the enactment of NEFA (Administration) Supplementary Regulation, 1971 (No. 4 of 1971) which provided for replacement of the Agency Council by Pradesh Council and appointment of five Counselors’, one from each District, who were in charge of various development departments. This Pradesh Council thus came into being on 2nd October, 1972. As a natural outcome, the demand for a Legislative Assembly was pressed in every sitting of the Pradesh Council which made the Union Government to send a study team to assess the standard of Parliamentary acumen attained by the people of Arunachal Pradesh. The Union Government, after studying all aspects of the matter, agreed to the demand of the people for a Legislative Assembly, and on 15 August 1975, the Pradesh Council was converted into the Provisional Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory with all the members of the Pradesh Council becoming members of the Provisional Legislative Assembly and the Councilors being given the rank of Ministers. STRUCTURE OF LEGISLATURE Arunachal Pradesh has unicameral Legislature ever since its inception.
    [Show full text]
  • Modi: Two Years On
    Modi: Two Years On Hudson Institute September 2016 South Asia Program Research Report Modi: Two Years On Aparna Pande, Director, India Initiative Husain Haqqani, Director, South and Central Asia South Asia Program © 2016 Hudson Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information about obtaining additional copies of this or other Hudson Institute publications, please visit Hudson’s website, www.hudson.org ABOUT HUDSON INSTITUTE Hudson Institute is a research organization promoting American leadership and global engagement for a secure, free, and prosperous future. Founded in 1961 by strategist Herman Kahn, Hudson Institute challenges conventional thinking and helps manage strategic transitions to the future through interdisciplinary studies in defense, international relations, economics, health care, technology, culture, and law. Hudson seeks to guide public policy makers and global leaders in government and business through a vigorous program of publications, conferences, policy briefings and recommendations. Visit www.hudson.org for more information. Hudson Institute 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20004 P: 202.974.2400 [email protected] www.hudson.org Table of Contents Overview 5 Defense 13 Self-Sufficiency 14 Challenges and Opportunities 15 Education and Skill Development 18 Background 18 Modi Administration on Education 20 Prime Minister Modi’s Interventions in Skill Development 20 Challenges and Opportunities 21 India’s Energy Challenge 23 Coal 23 Petroleum 24 Natural Gas 25 Nuclear 27 Renewables 28 Challenges
    [Show full text]
  • Hindutva and Anti-Muslim Communal Violence in India Under the Bharatiya Janata Party (1990-2010) Elaisha Nandrajog Claremont Mckenna College
    Claremont Colleges Scholarship @ Claremont CMC Senior Theses CMC Student Scholarship 2010 Hindutva and Anti-Muslim Communal Violence in India Under the Bharatiya Janata Party (1990-2010) Elaisha Nandrajog Claremont McKenna College Recommended Citation Nandrajog, Elaisha, "Hindutva and Anti-Muslim Communal Violence in India Under the Bharatiya Janata Party (1990-2010)" (2010). CMC Senior Theses. Paper 219. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/219 This Open Access Senior Thesis is brought to you by Scholarship@Claremont. It has been accepted for inclusion in this collection by an authorized administrator. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CLAREMONT McKENNA COLLEGE HINDUTVA AND ANTI-MUSLIM COMMUNAL VIOLENCE IN INDIA UNDER THE BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY (1990-2010) SUBMITTED TO PROFESSOR RODERIC CAMP AND PROFESSOR GASTÓN ESPINOSA AND DEAN GREGORY HESS BY ELAISHA NANDRAJOG FOR SENIOR THESIS (Spring 2010) APRIL 26, 2010 2 CONTENTS Preface 02 List of Abbreviations 03 Timeline 04 Introduction 07 Chapter 1 13 Origins of Hindutva Chapter 2 41 Setting the Stage: Precursors to the Bharatiya Janata Party Chapter 3 60 Bharat : The India of the Bharatiya Janata Party Chapter 4 97 Mosque or Temple? The Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi Dispute Chapter 5 122 Modi and his Muslims: The Gujarat Carnage Chapter 6 151 Legalizing Communalism: Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act (2002) Conclusion 166 Appendix 180 Glossary 185 Bibliography 188 3 PREFACE This thesis assesses the manner in which India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as the political face of Hindutva, or Hindu ethno-cultural nationalism. The insights of scholars like Christophe Jaffrelot, Ashish Nandy, Thomas Blom Hansen, Ram Puniyani, Badri Narayan, and Chetan Bhatt have been instrumental in furthering my understanding of the manifold elements of Hindutva ideology.
    [Show full text]
  • Mahead-Dec2019.Pdf
    MAHAPARINIRVAN DAY 550TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY: GURU NANAK DEV CLIMATE CHANGE VS AGRICULTURE VOL.8 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2019 ` 50 PAGES 52 Prosperous Maharashtra Our Vision Pahawa Vitthal A Warkari couple wishes Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray after taking oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. (Pahawa Vitthal is a pictorial book by Uddhav Thackeray depicting the culture and rural life of Maharashtra.) CONTENTS What’s Inside 06 THIS IS THE MOMENT The evening of the 28th November 2019 will be long remem- bered as a special evening in the history of Shivaji Park of Mumbai. The ground had witnessed many historic moments in the past with people thronging to listen to Shiv Sena Pramukh, Late Balasaheb Thackeray, and Udhhav Thackeray. This time, when Uddhav Thackeray took the oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on this very ground, the entire place was once again charged with enthusiasm and emotions, with fulfilment seen in every gleaming eye and ecstasy on every face. Maharashtra Ahead brings you special articles on the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra, his journey as a politi- cian, the new Ministers, the State Government's roadmap to building New Maharashtra, and the newly elected members of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. 44 36 MAHARASHTRA TOURISM IMPRESSES THE BEACON OF LONDON KNOWLEDGE Maharashtra Tourism participated in the recent Bharat Ratna World Travel Market exhibition in London. A Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar platform to meet the world, the event helped believed that books the Department reach out to tourists and brought meaning to life. tourism-related professionals and inform them He had to suffer and about the tourism attractions and facilities the overcome acute sorrow State has.
    [Show full text]
  • Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) – Sangh Parivar – Christians – Punjab
    Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE Research Response Number: IND34592 Country: India Date: 2 April 2009 Keywords: India – Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) – Sangh Parivar – Christians – Punjab This response was prepared by the Research & Information Services Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. This research response may not, under any circumstance, be cited in a decision or any other document. Anyone wishing to use this information may only cite the primary source material contained herein. Questions 1. What is the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Hindu Sangh Parivar? 2. What anti-Christian activities have they been involved in, in Punjab, over the past couple of years? RESPONSE 1. What is the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Hindu Sangh Parivar? An RRT research response dated 13 February 2009 provides information on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Sangh Parivar (RRT Research & Information 2009, Research Response IND34298, 13 February (Question 1) – Attachment 1). The documents referred to in the research response include a research paper dated 2 May 2007 by the International Affairs and Defence Section of the UK Parliament House of Commons Library which indicates that: The BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] is the political wing of the Sangh Parivar, a group of Hindu nationalist organisations which includes the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a national volunteer organisation, and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), an organisation of Hindu monks.
    [Show full text]
  • Rahul Sagar, Hindu Nationalists and the Cold
    Chapter Ten Hindu Nationalists and the Cold War Rahul Sagar It is generally accepted that during the Cold War divergences between “hope and reality” rendered India and America “estranged democracies.”1 Te pre- cise nature of the Indo- American relationship during these decades remains a subject of fruitful study. For instance, Rudra Chaudhuri has argued that the Cold War’s many crises actually prompted India and the United States to “forge” a more nuanced relationship than scholars have realized.2 Tis chapter does not join this discussion. It examines a diferent side of the story. Rather than study the workings of the Congress Party–afliated political and bureaucratic elite in power during the Cold War, it focuses on the principal Opposition—the ideas and policies of the Hindu Mahasabha, the Jan Sangh, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (bJP), which have championed the cause of Hindu nationalism. Te Cold War–era policies of these parties have not been studied carefully thus far. A common assumption is that these parties had little to say about international afairs or that, to the extent that they had something to say, their outlook was resolutely militant. Tis chapter corrects this misperception. It shows that these parties’ policies alternated between being attracted to and being repulsed by the West. Distaste for communism and commitment to democracy drove them to seek friendship with the West, while resentment at U.S. eforts to contain India as well as fears about ma- terialism and Westernization prompted them to demand that the West be kept at a safe distance. 229 false sTarTs Surprisingly little has been written about the diversity of Indian views on international relations in the Cold War era.
    [Show full text]