Modi and RSS chief work in tandem to lower tempers

Even before the statements on TV channels provoked violence in Kanpur and protests in the Gulf countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat thought it was time to lower temperature on issues like the discovery of Shivling in the Gyanvapi mosque. 

Both the leaders are known to work in tandem when any big issue threatens to create a big problem for the government and threatens peace in the country.

So, on May 20, Modi cautioned his party office-bearers not to fall into any trap of the opposition by their utterances when eight years of his government have been of resolutions and accomplishments. "These eight years have been committed to service, good governance and welfare of the poor and this is the time for the BJP to fix India's goals for the next 25 years and to work continuously for them."

Modi said some political parties keep looking for small incidents of tension to inject poison for their selfish interests. "Attempts will be made to deviate you from the country's development issues but you have to stick to them," he told the BJP leaders and workers.

It was no surprise that, on June 2, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat called for a "path through mutual agreement" on the controversy over the discovery of Hindu deities after the court ordered videography of the Gyanvapi mosque following a plea by some Hindu women to allow daily worship.

Significantly, Bhagwat ruled out any agitation by the RSS on the Gyanvapi issue like the one that was undertaken for the Ram temple issue three decades ago. Much to the surprise of the hardliners, Bhagwat chose to signal to the Sangh cadres and affiliates that "there is no need to look for Shivling in every mosque. Even the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri issue can be resolved amicably between Hindus and Muslims. If any decision comes from the court, it should be accepted by both sides.”

Why do Modi and RSS want to cool tempers?

Apparently, the PM and the RSS chief viewed that attempts through agitation to settle dispute over certain places of worship in different states would seriously jeopardise the communal harmony in the country. They would also hijack the Modi government's focus to maximise efforts on delivery of various social sector schemes as India celebrates 75th anniversary of Independence this year.

"We had special devotion towards some places and we spoke about them but we shouldn't bring out a new matter daily. Why should we escalate the dispute? We have devotion towards Gyanvapi and doing something as per that, it's alright. But why look for a Shivling in every masjid?" Bhagwat said.

It was clear that, as the Sangh head, Bhagwat wished to defuse comments by some opposition groups who see a fresh revival of a Ram temple-type movement of the 1990s to help the BJP overcome its shortcomings ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Whatever the RSS chief said was also seen as a strong reply to those who were trying to strike fear among the minorities by alleging that "the day is not far off when every mosque will be converted into temples, and that nearly 30,000 mosques will be taken away by Hindus." 

Prominent Muslim leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi, Abu Azmi, Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah were regularly giving statements on the Hindu-Muslim issue. They were insinuating that the Gyanvapi and Mathura issues were part of a "larger game plan" to suppress the Muslims.  But Mohan Bhagwat’s speech sought to clearly put things in perspective. However, Owaisi and other critics saw Bhagwat's statement as a mere ploy and "doesn't quite mean a change of heart, rather a change of political circumstances."

In fact, barring initial reaction by Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, many senior BJP leaders had chosen to be cautious on making comments on the Gyanvapi issue. Somehow, the message seemed to have been lost down the line.

TV channels chase TRPs with Gyanvapi

But TV channels sensing high audience ratings on such issues chose to hold acrimonious debates. That led to situations where junior level spokespersons of the BJP were seen caught in avoidable situations with some Muslim side representatives making controversial references to the Shivling. It was one such instance of a TV debate that BJP's spokesperson Nupur Sharma, who is known for sharp repartees, lost her moment of coolness and ended up in a huge row, which saw mischief mongers triggering riots in Kanpur.

A concerted campaign followed against Nupur Sharma by pro-Muslim side twitteratti, which even saw her receiving "death threats" and a diplomatic furore break out especially in the Gulf countries. The Grand Mufti of Oman tweeted from his official account, denouncing the remarks made by Nupur Sharma during the TV debate. There were also a barrage of calls to boycott Indian products in the Gulf countries.

As the government of India went into a damage-control mode, the BJP had to suspend Nupur Sharma and expel Naveen Kumar, the media cell head of the Delhi unit of the party. The BJP also released a statement signed by party general secretary Arun Singh, distancing the party from these statements though it did not name Sharma or Kumar.

What rattled the government was that their utterances threatened carefully calibrated efforts of Modi to improve the relationship between India and the Gulf countries. Therefore, the top BJP leadership also viewed that these statements were unacceptable and a strong message had to go. The summoning of the Indian Envoy to Qatar by its foreign office when Vice President Venkaiah Naidu was on an official visit upset New Delhi was taken very seriously.

So an official statement by the Ministry of External Affairs made it clear that Indian envoy to Qatar Deepak Mittal had "conveyed that the tweets do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the Government of India. These are the views of fringe elements....strong action has already been taken against those who made the derogatory remarks."

Of course, it was a huge embarrassment for the BJP that its spokespersons had to be termed as "fringe elements" to end the row. Nupur Sharma, after her suspension, also released her own statement, which she could have done earlier. She unconditionally withdrew her remarks made by her on the TV debate. 

She said, "I have been attending TV debates for the past many days where our Mahadev was being insulted and disrespected continuously. It was mockingly being said that it is not a Shivling but a fountain (reference to the videographic survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque in May). The Shivling was also ridiculed by comparing it to roadside signs and poles. I could not tolerate this continuous insult and disrespect towards our Mahadev and I said some things in response to it. If my words have caused discomfort or hurt feelings of anyone whatsoever, I hereby unconditionally withdraw my statement. It was never my intention to hurt religious feelings."

A question does come to many BJP leaders whether the whole controversy could have been avoided if the BJP had conveyed to its representatives (who appear on television) to hold their horses on issues, on which the party had decided to be silent when the matter is in the court.

The other worry for the BJP is also severe angry reaction from its strong supporters over the action taken against Nupur Sharma, with some prominent commentators wondering aloud whether she had been "left to the wolves" when the party should have stood by her. There were also questions as to what action had been taken against those who had ridiculed the Shivling and the Hindu belief and thoughts.