BJP switches gears to 'nationalism' in UP poll campaign

With its 'Hindu' agenda of building a Ram Museum in Ayodhya getting a tepid response, the BJP is planning to walk the nationalism route ahead of the Uttar Pradesh elections by promoting Kakori and Bithur, two towns that played a crucial role in India's struggle for freedom but are remembered only in history books.

The central government through the Culture Ministry will promote the two towns, both of which lie along the Lucknow-Kanpur route and have predominantly Hindu populations, as destinations of India's glorious historical pride, an official told DNA.

Kakori was the site of the historic train robbery of 1925 when Ram Prasad Bismil, Chandrashekhar Azad and Ashfaqullah Khan looted the British treasury. The town has 51 per cent Hindu population and 48 per cent Muslims. Bithur was the headquarters of the revolt of 1857. Nana Sahib and Rani Lakshmi Bai began their struggle for independence from the small town in Kanpur district which is also a Hindu pilgrimage destination. The town, with a 90 percent Hindu population, is also believed the birthplace of Luv and Kush, the two sons of Lord Rama.

The ministry has asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a site study of the two locations and to submit its report on what all can be be done. "We are expecting a status report from ASI by the end of this month. The blueprints for developing tourism will be drawn on the basis of the ASI report," the official said.

While Uttar Pradesh remained the centre of the Indian freedom struggle, the two towns find mention in historical texts but have remained neglected by successive governments. The BJP now wants to promote them as symbol of Indian unity and oneness.

With both Hindus and Muslims participating equally in the struggles for freedom, this is a campaign that the party is hoping will cut through communal lines. The Kakori train robbery was carried out by both Hindus and Muslim revolutionaries. And the army of Nana Sahib that fought the British also had a Muslim general and Muslim soldiers.

"This time it is not the case of polarization but its pitching nationalism. Bringing the two historical towns on the national platform should be looked at an attempt to consolidate the vote bank but as an attempt to inculcate feeling of oneness," said Professor Malvika Pandey of Banaras Hindu University.

"While we find a mention of Kakori in school level textbooks, students get to read about Bithur only at the higher level. The way the government is trying to promote Sardar Patel, as a man behind unified India, it might use these two historical sites to inculcate a sense of national pride and build a bond," added historian D.N Jha.

Parivartan Yatras

The shift to 'nationalism' is likely to find space in the party's Parivartan Yatras (transformational yatras) beginning November 5. It is hoping to change the perception that it is polarizing votes on religious lines, party insiders said.

The BJP, which got fresh impetus after the surgical strikes against Pakistan, is also likely to rope in Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, the face behind the surgical strikes to campaign in the state.