A section of Congress leaders appeared confused about the political fallout of the nationalism debate and their ability to confront the RSS-BJP on the sensitive question ahead of theCongress Working Committee meeting tomorrow.

But a more senior group felt the RSS-BJP campaign had its limitations and would prove counter-productive.

While middle-rung Congress leaders, parliamentarians and ordinary workers are looking to the highest policy-making body for direction, many fear it won’t be easy to counter the RSS-BJP propaganda that they believe seeks to exploit the majoritarian sentiments using the larger canvas of patriotism instead of communalism.

A young Congress leader informally voiced these fears. “Ordinary people aren’t bothered about nuances and legalities. The masses know patriotism is an unquestionable virtue. People tell us why run an anti-India campaign, why not join hands to strengthen India? We have been positioned as the other along with the Muslims, while the Sangh Parivar has laid claim to the mainstream,” he said.

An RSS-backed rally today against the so-called “anti-nationals” used terms like gaddars and deshdrohi (traitors and anti-nationals) for anybody who hadn’t fallen in line. There were banners and posters at several places with slogans like ” Jo janani ka apmaan kare/woh doob mare, woh doob mare (those who insult the mother should drown to death) and ” Jaago Bharat jaago (wake up India)”.

Many in the Congress expressed the fear that a “dangerous divide” was being created by the ruling establishment and the Opposition did not have a credible response.

The Congress leadership appears to be holding a different view. “The Bihar and Delhi elections showed the Hindu-Muslim polarisation that helped Narendra Modi in 2014 is not working. Hence, the RSS is trying the nationalism plank,” one leader said.

He added: “The feedback we are getting is that the ongoing campaign of condemning every dissenting person as anti-national is creating a sharper divide between Hindus. The liberal Hindu is getting worried about the Sangh agenda. It is no more Hindu-Muslim. It is becoming liberals versus the bigoted.

“You can see the divide in the legal fraternity – some lumpen elements are with the BJP while the majority of lawyers are uneasy. Top lawyers have come out against what happened at the Patiala House Courts.”

Another leader referred to some slogans raised during the court assault. “These slogans – desh ke gaddaron ko, jute maaro saalon ko (hit the traitors with shoes)- and threats to send people to Pakistan are not liked by the majority of people. Fence-sitters are feeling compelled to take sides. Intellectuals from across the world are speaking up. Noam Chomsky and Orhan Pamuk talking about JNU is no ordinary development. Students from several reputable universities have expressed solidarity.” But the Congress leadership is also aware of the dangers of this divide and concedes the Opposition parties would have to jointly counter the propaganda. Senior leaders are determined to confront the government in the budget session from Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dropped hints in Odisha that he differed with the Opposition’s view when he described their criticism as a “conspiracy to defame him” and destabilise his government. The Congress saw the remark as a signal of a long fight.

Sanjay K. Jha

Disclaimer:The views expressed above are the author’s own