The Hindu : Socialists versus socialists

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 24, 2004

Opinion

Opinion - News Analysis

Socialists versus socialists

By Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI, MARCH 23. It was meant to be a happy gathering of the socialist pariwar. But socialist leaders, the president of the Janata Dal(U), George Fernandes, and the chief of the party's parliamentary board, Sharad Yadav, found themselves on the back foot today at the function organised here to mark the 94th birth anniversary of the socialist ideologue, Ram Manohar Lohia.

One, the attendance was thin. Two, they were snubbed by other socialists such as the former Prime Minister, Chandra Shekhar, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Surendra Mohan, Babu Kaldate and such leaders who did not turn up despite much hype.

Third, they were forced to dust off some of the saffron colour that has stuck to them as part of the National Democratic Alliance and remind themselves and the few faithfuls who were there about their socialist origins. And fourthly, they had to contend with the criticism that the function was organised at Mr. Fernandes' house in New Delhi to show themselves up as a pressure group to the BJP.

The Union Food Minister, Sharad Yadav, set the pace by declaring that being part of government was a "practical compulsion" of the socialists. He came down heavily on religious fundamentalism and said that to be religious was fine — Gandhi was religious — but to be a fanatic and a violent one at that was unacceptable. The important thing was to bring the nation back on track.

Commenting on the absence of other "socialist colleagues," Mr. Yadav said: "This is election time and people's hearts are divided."

Mr. Fernandes outlined Lohia's ideology, at the centre of which was opposition to the Congress which he said perpetuated dynastic rule and had deviated from the goals of the independence struggle. Lohia's efforts had resulted in the formation of non-Congress governments in eight States during Nehru's time.

He claimed the present NDA government was a "mixed one" based on Lohia's vision and direction. Because the BJP was the largest group, it was leading the alliance.

Mr. Fernandes said: "People who question where socialists are and where they've reached, let them understand that we've reached and followed Lohia's path. The conclusion that Lohia reached [about Congress and dynastic rule] was based on his experiences. He had long ago recognised and raised a kind of "jehad" against this. We must take lessons from history and understand Lohia's thought."

He went on to say that in today's politics, ideologies were diminishing. "We must not forget that Hindutva is also an ideology. It cannot be fought by being derisive. If we think it is not right, then it should be countered with a better ideology," he asserted.

The Samajwadi Morcha challenged Mr. Fernandes' credentials as a socialist and his moral right to organise Lohia's birth anniversary. It alleged that the day he decided to back the BJP/RSS Government at the Centre he abandoned the ideals of Lohia who stood against communalism and imperialism.Led by Rajkumar Jain, Vijay Pratap and Rizwan Kaiser, the Morcha held a dharna at Jantar Mantar here. In an open letter to Mr. Fernandes, they said they had no problem with him carrying out the BJP-RSS agenda to take forward his kind of politics but he should refrain from invoking Lohia's name to justify his actions."After aligning with a government linked to [the] Gujarat happenings, nobody can claim to be a socialist,'' they said.

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Socialists versus socialists