Two developments that are
intricately interwoven around Jammu & Kashmir, India-Pakistan bilateral
ties, BJP's politics and political identity and National Democratic Alliance
government are taking some curvaceous churning these days.
The BJP and
Narendra Modi have had a reflection of nationalist pro-Hindutva politics with a
tough stance on dialogue with Pakistan.
But in the
changed political scenario, with the responsibility of running the world's
largest democracy, any hard-line stance needs moderation. In fact, the stance needs some fundamental
changes to redefine what constitutes nationalism. And it requires effectively
nullifying the pro-Hindutva reflections here.
The BJP and
Narendra Modi realize it. The party, along with its most popular and successful
leader of the time, has to go through this transition, something on the lines
of having a 'nationalist, secular identity' with a global vision of being a
responsible world power. And whatever we think or have discourses on, the
global community along with its world powers, still want India and Pakistan to
talk, even if bilaterally, over J&K. Yes, it's true that Pakistan has lost
most of its currency on the issue, but it is still some years away that the
world finally discards Pakistan's hollow rhetoric on it.
So, there are
different approaches to the two core problems that have shaped the BJP's
politics over the years - the party's stand on Jammu & Kashmir and on
dialogue with India Pakistan.
The ups and
downs in talks with Pakistan are its truest reflections. First inviting Nawaz
Sharif, even with other SAARC head of states, to his government's inauguration,
then suspending India-Pakistan Foreign Secretary level talks on Pakistan's High
Commissioner's meet with J&K separatists, then again pushing for the talks
with FS S. Jaishankar's Pakistan visit beginning tomorrow, even if it is part
of an extended trip, the 'SAARC Yatra'.
And these
reflections are further reflected in the prolonged discussions on government
formation in J&K. The PDP and the BJP are two extremes in terms of
ideologies and it took months of negotiations to arrive at some deal to form
the coalition government in the state with BJP MLAs taking ministerial oath for
the first time. Everything about this alliance has been uneasy so far,
including its beginning with the chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed thanking
Pakistan, separatists and militants for 'allowing' peaceful elections in the
state.
But, these may
be written off as the initial hiccups of some unusual, uneasy formations, that
if the BJP pulls of effectively, will become milestones in redefining its
political identity and thus its political space in the India's socio-political
future.