Discussions for the Lok Sabha polls in 2024 initially centered on growth and development. However, as the election date approaches, the focal point has dramatically shifted to the benefits of development—viewed through the lenses of categories, religions, and castes. This shift has seamlessly interwoven religious issues into the campaign discourse, altering the dynamics of the electoral narrative. Sourabh Raaj Jain, anchor of DNA Zed News, extensively analyzed this paradigm shift, highlighting how the focus of the 2024 Lok Sabha election is evolving from development to religion.
Election rallies, once dedicated to discussions surrounding economic growth and reservations, now include debates on religious reservations and the division of resources among various faiths. This evolving discourse has recently intensified to an eighty-twenty proportions gulf, sparking conversations concerning Ghazwa-e-Hind via religious reservations. The rhetorical landscape has thus transformed, leading to a fundamental inquiry: Does the Hindu-Muslim divide substantially impact daily life, or is it confined to the realm of electoral politics?
Notably, no political party remains untouched by the infusion of religious themes into the electoral mix. A review of various remarks made by political leaders indicates that religious overtones are a potent tool for all parties during elections. The contentious remarks made by BJP leader and Amravati candidate Navneet Rana exemplify this trend. Rana issued a direct challenge to Akbaruddin Owaisi and his brother Asaduddin Owaisi in Hyderabad, claiming that if the police were withdrawn for just 15 seconds, the brothers “would not know where they came from and where they went.”
“I always stand by my statement. I am not afraid of anyone. We are committed to giving a reply to those who are working for Pakistan in India. If they will take 15 minutes, we will take 15 seconds,” declared Navneet Rana. This statement was circulated in a video clip posted on her X handle, where she directly tagged the Owaisi brothers. Depending on the volatile rhetoric, Rana stated, “The younger brother (Akbaruddin) says, ‘Remove the police for 15 minutes so that we can show them what we can do.’ I want to tell the younger brother that it might take you 15 minutes, but it will only take us 15 seconds.”
Reacting to BJP leader Navneet Rana’s incendiary remarks, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Asaduddin Owaisi made a poignant counterstatement. On Thursday, Owaisi asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to grant her one hour instead of 15 seconds, asserting that they are not “scared” of the BJP leader. “I tell Modi ji – give her 15 seconds. What will you do? Give her 15 seconds, give her 1 hour. We, too, want to see if you have any humanity left in you. Who is scared? We are ready..
..If someone is making an open call for it, then so be it. PM is yours; RSS is yours; everything is yours. Do it. Who is stopping you? Tell us where we have to come, we will be there. Do it,” Owaisi firmly told reporters.
Revisiting the past, one cannot ignore the pointed warning issued by Akbaruddin in 2013, where he cautioned “100 crore Hindus” that his community could demonstrate their might if the police were withdrawn for 15 minutes. This became a heated topic again after Navneet Rana’s “15 seconds lagenge” remark spurred controversy. In response, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Madhavi Latha clarified on Thursday that Rana’s intention was to encourage citizens to spend 15 seconds casting their vote to help India move towards ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India).
Speaking to ANI, Madhavi Latha, BJP’s Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat candidate, emphasized, “We do not threaten anyone. We do not say to remove the police force for 15 minutes. We just want to say that you should take 15 seconds instead of 15 minutes and cast your vote. Do not go to attend provocative speeches. If you want to move towards ‘Viksit Bharat’, go and cast your vote. This is what she (Navneet Rana) meant.”
Asaduddin Owaisi, the prominent leader of AIMIM and a four-term member of the Lok Sabha, is a formidable opponent for Latha. Historically, the Owaisi family has maintained a stronghold in Hyderabad, making this election especially noteworthy as it marks the first time a female candidate has been fielded by the BJP in this constituency.
It is also significant to recall that in 2022, the Sessions Court exonerated Akbaruddin of all charges despite his controversial 2013 speech that landed him a 40-day jail sentence. The court cited insufficient evidence for his acquittal. Questions loom as to why Barrister Owaisi did not bring up his acquittal amidst the resurgence of this decade-old issue. Perhaps, the revival of an eleven-year-old dispute does not significantly influence his campaign strategy.
In summary, the shift from developmental issues to religious discourse in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections appears to be a calculated move, one that deeply impacts the political narrative. Election rhetoric, infused with religious undertones, is likely here to stay, as long as it continues to resonate deeply with the electorate’s sentiments.
(With inputs from ANI)
