BJP’s Northeast Agenda

THE BJP’s anti-cow slaughter campaign unleashed by a section of its adherents and the killing of people believed to be eating or carrying beef in different parts of India has sent shock waves throughout the country, but more so in India’s North East where beef is a staple for a large section of tribals and minorities. In a bid to allay the fears of the people of North East India, the BJP has stated that its policy in the region would be different and that there would be no beef ban in this part of the country. But this is far from reassuring. Recently three people of a minority community in Jorhat, Assam were arrested for ostensibly carrying beef openly. Under what section of the law were the three arrested? No one is sure but the law seems to be in cohorts with the ruling party’s agenda in the State. This is a dangerous precedent. In the tribal states of North East India, beef, pork, mutton et al are sold openly and no one is offended. People have lived in perfect harmony with the idea of seeing all kinds of meat being sold in the open. One wonders how a food item can go off our plates merely because some political party wants it so. Where are our fundamental right to choose the food we have survived on for hundreds of years?
It is unimaginable that a Party which was voted to take India on the path of economic progress should turn around and become so regressive and intrude into our personal space – the kitchen. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi seems incapable of reining in the fringe elements of the BJP-RSS. He has not said anything upfront to allay the fears of the people of this country that the gau-rakshaks (saviours of the cow who is worshipped as a mother), who have unleashed terror against beef eaters cannot get away with the impunity with which they have carried out their heinous acts. On the contrary we get the feeling that these gau-rakshaks have the tacit support of the Modi Government. The people of North East India would have to tread carefully and negotiate their social spaces and their fundamental rights with the BJP before giving the Party a foothold in those states which are soon heading for elections.