The Great Indian Political Debate - 2

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By  Arun Jaitley

The role of ideology in polity is paramount. Ideology is a  representation of
one's conviction. It's a representation of your broad  prospective on the
nation. Ideology determines priorities with regard to the  direction in which
the country is to be taken. There may be many routine matters  in public life
and in governance which are guided on the basis of principles of  good
governance. Some of them may not link to ideology.

For any  political party there are three distinct areas of priority, the
first is  ideology, second values and the third relates to governance. As far as
ideology  is concerned it governs your priorities. For example we in the BJP
are governed  by a basic inspiration which is drawn from nationalism. The word
nationalism  could be even substituted with Hindutva. It could also be
substituted for  cultural nationalism. But if you see the common thread between
the three, it is  a "India First Ideology" that we stand for, whatever that
suits my country. 

Now, if in areas of ideology we chalk out our preference, the first  priority
would be the security of the country. My country and its territories  are
precious to me. Therefore anything that denudes alters or reduces the 
territorial sovereignty of my country is totally unacceptable.

If there is a  refugee influx from Bangladesh which leads to subversive
activities, if there is  an ISI
infiltration into the country which creates an element of subversion, if  one
third of Kashmir is in possession of Pakistan, if there is any further 
threat to any territory of India, my nationalist priorities don't approve of it. 

A weak nation, a diverse nation, a nation with  divergent priorities will
never be able to hold together and therefore in those  areas ideology plays a
prominent role.

Secondly, to preserve the  pride of this country and to preserve the
sovereignty of the country what is it  that holds my country together? It is not
merely love for a fellow citizen but  has some larger relationship, a larger
binding force which emanates from the  culture of my country. That is where the
ideology of Hindutva and cultural  nationalism gain utmost priority.

There are symbols of my national  pride. There are symbols of my country's
personality, which are represented in  mythology, which are represented in
history, which are represented in our  cultural religious and even nationalistic
priorities. Preservation of the  identity of each one of these is important. Our
nationalistic priorities, our  cultural roots give a complete freedom of
religion and allow an equal  coexistence for all religions.

At the same time denigration in any form, of our  cultural roots is derogatory
to the coexistence of all religions. So when  Ayodhya is denigrated and not
given its pride of place in Indian life, how is it  consistent with the ethos of
”Sarvadharmasamabhav" and a peaceful coexistence of  all religions?
When separate sub nationalism in terms of Article 370 is  perceived of in
Kashmir how is the sub nationalism consistent with the national  identity?
How in the absence of a Uniform Civil Code, separate Laws which are
discriminatory in character consistent with the
nationalistic priorities? 

In routine governance it is idealism which has to  dictate your priorities
and idealism requires the values of good  governance.

Therefore, it is always in the country's interest  that ideology in these
issues of nationhood takes a priority. A weak nation, a  diverse nation, a
nation with divergent priorities will never be able to hold  together and therefore
in those areas ideology plays a prominent role. 

Secondly, the economic nationalism has to be the guiding milestone in 
management of the country's ideology. Economic nationalism entails that we
have  to pursue that path of economy for development which suits the interest of
my 
nation. Today I believe for instance, economic nationalism requires that in 
dealing with the WTO we have to give priorities to those areas from which my 
country and its economy benefits. Where I benefit I can afford to be liberal, 
where my country does not benefit, I have to be conservative. The guiding force 
is again economic nationalism. In terms of management of the domestic
economy,  again ideology is the governing force, because the path to rapid
development,  equitable development is the route, I have to pursue. My growth
rates have to be  higher. The benefits of the economic development have to percolate to the weaker  sections. It is that path which I have to follow very clearly.

Anything that denudes, alters or reduces the territorial  sovereignty of my
country is totally unacceptable.

Education is  another area where ideology has to take a front seat. In
education some people  have traditionally tried indoctrination against our
cultural roots. This can not  be permitted. These are several areas of political
functioning where ideology  always takes a front seat.

The second category that I mentioned are  values that we practice and
profess. Here ethics and morality must govern us and  these must be the same
irrespective of which ideological prospective you are  governed by. Individual
honesty, organisational discipline and good values are  role models. These are
our priorities today.

The third is routine areas  of governance. There are several areas of
governance particularly in relation to  finance, commerce, home ministry and
external affairs where ideology plays a  role. In rural development, economic ideology plays a role. In routine  governance it is idealism which has to dictate your
priorities and idealism  requires that the values of good governance, proper
decisions are the ones which  must guide your discipline.

We in the BJP are  governed by a basic inspiration which is drawn from
nationalism. 

When we discuss ideology, a large part moves around the true content and 
definition of secularism. I don't wish to avoid that debate. That debate is 
essential. But I think in the last fifteen years the real agenda of the debate 
has come to the centre-stage and the real agenda is the true content of 
secularism. We in the BJP have a strong line against terrorism. We promulgated 
an anti-terrorist law. Our opponents consider it as anti-secular. How can it be 
anti-secular? <b>It is against terrorists irrespective of religious denominations. </b>

<b>We want one common law for the whole country. How can this be anti-secular?
We  want a pride of place for symbols of our cultural and religious nationalism
such  as Ayodhya. That is consistent with peaceful coexistence with all
religions. I  think there is a difference between minoritism and secularism.
There is a  difference between secularism and majority bashing. And this debate has
come to  the centre-stage in the last fifteen years. And I think our view
point has  become loud and clear and hugely accepted in the whole country.  </b>

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