– Abdul Bari Masoud
The contrast between the election manifestos of major political parties during the 2024 parliamentary election underscores a significant reluctance to address the concerns of minority communities, especially Muslims and Christians, due to the ruling BJP’s anti-minority rhetoric.
The electoral manifestos, released amidst the 2024 parliamentary election, provide a clear reflection of this reality. A manifesto is a published statement outlining the goals, objectives, or opinions of an individual, organization, political party, or government.
Let’s start by examining the manifesto of the largest opposition party and former ruling party, which spans 48 pages. Unlike the manifestos of 2004, 2009, and 2014, this document does not contain a separate chapter on minorities or address their numerous concerns. Despite constitutional protections, minorities in India, particularly Muslims and Christians, have historically faced discrimination, prejudice, and violence. However, under the decade-long rule of Modi’s BJP government, their situation has significantly worsened.
There has been a rise in vicious campaigns of hate and violence targeting religious minorities, especially Muslims, with armed mobs conducting communal attacks. The communal violence in Delhi in February 2020 was a pre-planned assault, yet no legal action has been taken against the perpetrators. BJP ministers and leaders who incited hate and violence have escaped punishment, while victims have been prosecuted. BJP state governments are endorsing private armies to target minorities and have implemented “bulldozer politics,” unlawfully demolishing Muslim homes and businesses under the guise of illegal encroachment.
Additionally, laws have been enacted that further polarize communities based on cow protection, cattle trade, “love jihad,” the Uniform Civil Code, and other issues, resulting in physical attacks and legal persecution of innocent minority individuals. Hate-driven campaigns have become normalized, with growing calls for the genocide of Muslims in certain extremist circles. Furthermore, the Sanctity of Places of Worship Act (1991) has been under attack since the Babri Masjid-Ramjanambhoomi verdict in November 2019.
The assaults on Christian minorities have also escalated significantly during this period, with BJP state governments passing draconian laws under the guise of anti-conversion measures. These laws particularly target impoverished tribal communities. Manipur serves as a poignant example of the devastation caused by BJP’s majoritarian policies, where tribals, primarily Christians, have been targeted due to their ethnicity and religion. Manipur exemplifies how such divisive politics can erode the diversity and pluralism that are integral to India, particularly in the northeast.
Furthermore, over the past decade, virtually all institutions related to minorities have been practically dismantled due to the BJP’s lack of concern or desire to address minority issues.
The Congress manifesto remains silent on all these critical issues. Is this silence motivated by fear of losing hardcore Hindu votes, or is there another underlying reason?
Previous manifestos from the Congress party have featured special sections addressing minority concerns. For instance, the 2009 manifesto highlighted the establishment of a separate Ministry of Minority Affairs in May 2004 and the formation of the Rajinder Sachar Committee to investigate the social, economic, and educational status of the Muslim community. It also pledged to implement the Sachar Committee’s recommendations and establish an Equal Opportunity Commission by law. Additionally, the manifesto outlined significant initiatives such as scholarships for minority students and the Prime Minister’s 15-point program aimed at minority welfare.
In the 2004 manifesto, Congress committed to enacting comprehensive legislation to address social violence in all its forms and manifestations, including setting up special courts for prosecution and ensuring uniform compensation for victims.
Similar promises were reiterated in the 2009 and 2014 manifestos, particularly emphasizing the passage of the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2013, and the review and implementation of all Sachar Committee recommendations.
The Congress Party also committed to providing reservations in education and employment for socially and educationally backward sections among Muslims and other religious minorities on a national scale, as stated in its 2004 manifesto. This commitment was reaffirmed in subsequent manifestos.
Recently, the Congress released a 48-page election document titled ‘Nyay Patra’ (Document for Justice) on April 5, which did not mention any of the promises made to minorities in earlier manifestos. While the document emphasizes justice as its central theme, it overlooks pressing issues affecting minorities such as security, identity, and socio-economic backwardness. A text box on page 7 under “Religious and Linguistic Minorities” briefly mentions the historical significance of India’s religious plurality and diversity enshrined in the Constitution’s Preamble. It reaffirms the party’s commitment to upholding the human and civic rights of linguistic and religious minorities.
However, the document does promise certain initiatives for minorities, such as restoring scholarships discontinued by the Modi government and establishing a Diversity Commission to monitor diversity in employment and education sectors. It also highlights economic empowerment measures aimed at ensuring equal opportunities in various sectors without discrimination.
However, the CPI(M) manifesto takes a bold stance on minority issues, contrasting sharply with the Congress manifesto. Released on April 4, the CPI(M)’s 44-page document highlights the existential crisis facing India under the Modi-led BJP government. It criticizes the government’s ‘authoritarian-communal regime’ for perpetuating inequality and communal divisions among the populace.
The CPI(M)’s manifesto specifically addresses pressing issues facing minorities, promising to enhance the status and powers of the Minorities Commission, implement the Sachar Committee recommendations through targeted programs, and enact legislation to prevent atrocities against minorities, including Christians. The manifesto also pledges to implement the Ranganath Misra Commission’s recommendations, advocating for the inclusion of OBC Muslims in reservation quotas and earmarking priority sector lending for Muslims.
Moreover, the CPI(M) emphasizes educational initiatives for Muslim girls, promoting Urdu language instruction, and advocating for compensation and rehabilitation for victims of communal violence and false terror charges. It strongly opposes discriminatory laws like the Citizenship Amendment Act and calls for the removal of RSS personnel from key government positions.
In the context of Jammu and Kashmir, the CPI(M) advocates for the restoration of constitutional provisions and regional autonomy, urging immediate political dialogue and confidence-building measures to address grievances.
On the other hand, the Samajwadi Party (SP), a constituent of the INDIA bloc and a major player in Uttar Pradesh, focuses its manifesto on issues like a caste-based census, MSP guarantees, and the abolition of certain policies. The SP manifesto, titled ‘Janta Ka Maang Patra—Humara Adhikar,’ advocates for a government that champions the rights of backward classes, Dalits, and minorities.
In conclusion, the different approaches outlined in these manifestos highlight the complex political landscape surrounding minority issues in India’s electoral discourse. Each party’s manifesto reflects its unique priorities and strategies for addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by minority communities in the country.
