Centre right ideology – Opponent’s reply

Opponent’s reply

The debate was set up to ascertain whether any responsible centre-right political parties exist in India’s current political scenario. Omkar’s post has significantly changed the terms. For in his persuasive, enjoyable albeit ultimately unconvincing initial post, he relegates this question to secondary status, arguing primarily on the normative question regarding the redundancy of western political terminologies to understand the Indian electoral scenario. Insofar as the descriptive question of the ideology of political parties themselves is concerned, Omkar vacillates between deeming multiple parties as proponents of centre right ideologies and admitting that perhaps not the BJP, but the NDA as a coalition bloc can solely be considered centre-right. As a responsible opposition, I’ll argue this debate in terms of the two questions- normative and descriptive- albeit with a hint of regret of what might have been.

Omkar argues that viewing Indian politics through the prism of Western ideology is “unjust” (!) and inappropriate. I believe otherwise. For it is true that terms such as left-of-centre, right-of-centre, extreme right were originally used to describe parties in the Occident. But the terms themselves are protean and have hence been adapted with varying interpretations in countries whose political parties it was not originally intended to classify. A cursory look at the People’s Action Party in Singapore, Justice and Development Party in Turkey and New Patriotic Party in Ghana bear testimony to this salient fact. And the reason for such classification is obvious. For while the formulation of such terms themselves were in a particular historical context, the underlying bases for classification- alliance between religion and state; support of private property; free market capitalism are universal issues creating political differences not limited to the West alone. Hence they are certainly applicable to India not only because these issues are live issues in today’s elections but also because differences regarding parties on these issues are clearly discernible. Further such classification does not in any way ignore the richness of our political scenario as Omkar suggests. For ideologies are not categorical straitjackets which don’t allow modification. On the contrary, they represent the founding beliefs of parties, while allowing them at the same time to mould those beliefs into an effective political agenda. The oxymoronic fact of a democratically elected Left Front government in West Bengal is ample testimony to this fact.

Second, I believe that viewing the Indian political scenario through the perspective of ideologies is not only appropriate, but it is also necessary. For ideological politics on certain foundational issues such as religion, foreign policy and economic programmes represent a move towards maturity of a political society. Apart from the promises of “roti kapda makaan” which every political candidate with any significant aspiration will promise to deliver, the electorate needs to know which way their representative will be voting in Parliament on sensitive issues of state policy. It is true that in India today, such arguments seem fanciful given the utter dearth of basic necessities in people’s lives. But their relevance is not to be under-estimated for the ideology of the party in power shapes the direction of the nation itself and consequently the lives of its citizens. Thus it is laudable that everyone knows that if in the unlikely event of a Left government being voted into power, the nuclear deal will be revoked. Knowledge of ideology is necessary, even if only to disagree with it.

Third is the descriptive question of whether India has “a party with a responsible centre right ideology.” I will be arguing that in the current form of the BJP, it does. Omkar does much of my groundwork by elaborating their clearly centre-right economic and foreign policies. Which leaves me with the hotly contested issue of religion and state. The BJP, I admit, often shows signs of toeing a militant Hindu agenda, as exemplified by Varun Gandhi and the shameful riots post-Godhra. But it would be too quick to cite these instances and conclude that the BJP was a extreme right-wing party as some commentators are disposed to do. Foundationally, the BJP is guided by the principles of “integral humanism” laid down by Deen Dayal Upadhyay which calls for a society based on universal brotherhood, a recognition of diverse faiths and the romanticised Gandhian belief of India as a “ram rajya” which calls for comity between people of all classes, castes and faiths. In its current form under the leadership of LK Advani, the party is certainly the epitome of a centre-right party in the Indian scenario. For in Advani, they have a leader who despite his obvious RSS sympathies realises that the way forward in the 20^th century is not through the stale politics of religion but through a website and an Obama-esque introductory speech (www.lkadvani.in) Further there is little evidence of any far-right political overtones in his speeches or rallies. As far as the party itself is concerned, it would be fair to say though it contains a fair sprinkling of religious bigots, it is coupled with smart-thinking, yet conservative members of the intelligentsia. This ensures that the party itself does not get carried away in the populism of Hindu politics but remains a responsible pan-Indian party.

Even if it is argued that the danger of far-right politics exists with the BJP, I believe it does not define the ideology of the BJP. Instances such as Godhra may be held up as proof, but instances don’t dictate ideology; if they did instances of religious killings during and even supported by Congress governments can also be held up as counter-examples. The issue of ideology runs deeper. And in the current context of coalition politics and a young electorate, the BJP’s ideology of foreign policy hawkishness, market-centric economics, a hard stance on illegal immigrants and a separation of religion and state is the exemplar of centre-right politics in India.

The opponent: Arghya is at Balliol College and a Rhodes Scholar (2008).

Date: March 31, 2009