NEW DELHI: As several dictionaries selected their “word of the year”, India’s political leaders turned to several historical figures as fuel for their political narratives in 2024.
Whether or not these personalities are aware of their newfound fame, it is undeniable that they have influenced indian politicsincluding Lok Sabha elections, assembly elections and parliamentary sessions.
While quantifying their impact on electoral outcomes may be difficult, their influence in Parliament has been evident, and their legacies have been intensely debated by political leaders.
Ambedkar’s legacy
BR AmbedkarIsrael’s name echoed repeatedly (at least six times) in Parliament this year, especially as the Constitution celebrated its 75th anniversary. The custodians of the Constitution engaged in intense debates over its preservation, frequently invoking the spirit of Ambedkar.
When the Constitution turned 75 this year, ‘the red book’ existed in theory and Ambedkar was present in spirit as MPs took to the streets to show who was best to keep the Constitution alive.
The narrative around the Constitution intensified during the Lok Sabha campaign, with the Congress Party accusing the BJP of “destroying the Constitution” if it regained power. This allegation was linked to the ruling party’s stance on caste polls and corporate policies. In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded that it was the Congress that had tried to “destroy the Constitution” by imposing emergency measures in the past.
Following the elections and the formation of the government, opposition leaders took the oath with the Constitution in hand to make a declaration.
The winter session of Parliament saw continued rhetoric from opposition leaders claiming that the BJP was undermining constitutional values.
The final straw was Home Minister Amit Shah’s comment on the frequent invocation of Ambedkar’s name by opposition leaders.
“Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai – Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar… If they had taken God’s name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven for seven births,” Shah said. This led to opposition leaders apologizing and even resigning.
Tensions rose outside Parliament on the final day of the session, resulting in injuries among several leaders. BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of pressuring an MP, while Gandhi denied it and claimed that BJP MPs obstructed him when he entered Parliament.
Nehru and Savarkar: a political tug of war
The Center and the opposition seem to be caught in a vicious cycle of dredging up the past.
The current political discourse has also seen a resurgence of debates around Jawaharlal Nehru and Vinayak Savarkar.
The central government has often blamed Nehru for several perceived failures in contemporary India, while opposition parties have invoked Savarkar to counter these claims.
After Amit Shah’s comments on Ambedkar, BJP leaders highlighted Nehru’s alleged animosity towards Ambedkar.
BJP president JP Nadda claimed that Nehru harbored “unfiltered hatred” towards Ambedkar and pointed out instances where Nehru expressed satisfaction at Ambedkar’s absence from his cabinet.
“I thought I would share some facts to illustrate the deep hatred of the Congress towards Dr. Ambedkar. Pandit Nehru hated Dr. Ambedkar. Yes, it was unfiltered hatred. That is why Pandit Nehru got Dr. Ambedkar defeated twice (in elections),” Nadda said.
“Nehru wrote proudly to people abroad, expressing his joy that Ambedkar was no longer in the Cabinet,” he added.
On the contrary, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized Prime Minister Modi for using Nehru to distract from his own failures and the current challenges facing the nation.
In this whole he-said-he-said game, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray made a suggestion to both sides: “You must have heard (Congress leader) Priyanka ji (saying) how much time they are going to invoke Nehru. I agree with her that both the Congress and the BJP are national parties and they should not go to the past, to history, but talk about the future.
The Soros controversy
The winter session of Parliament was also marked by debates around George Sorosa 94-year-old Hungarian-American financier and philanthropist who has become the focus of criticism from the ruling party.
The BJP accused Soros of trying to destabilize India, particularly at a time when Gautam Adani was facing scrutiny following reports like Hindenburg’s.
This animosity towards Soros dates back to his comments suggesting that Prime Minister Modi would have to address questions about the allegations against Adani.
The BJP has since seized on Soros’ name in political discourse, alleging connections between him and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, while questioning why Soros’ businesses remain operational in India if he is truly a threat.
The Congress criticized the BJP government, questioning why, if Soros was involved in anti-India activities, the government had not closed his businesses in the country, closed funds linked to him or asked the US government to extradite him to act. .
The controversy reached the international stage when BJP leader Sambit Patra said in a press conference that “50 per cent of OCCRP (body for investigative journalists) funding comes directly from the US State Department. … [and] “has served as a media tool to carry out a deep state agenda.”
US officials quickly dismissed the allegations, describing the BJP’s accusations as “disappointing” and reiterating their commitment to global press freedom.
As India moves into another year full of parliamentary sessions, figures like Soros, Ambedkar, Nehru and Savarkar are likely to continue dominating discussions. However, it remains uncertain whether these debates will take place within the parliamentary halls.