Dayashankar Singh was the rising star in Uttar Pradesh politics, until he opened mouth to vilify Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati. His choice of words was scandalous, but not out of line with the BJP’s style of politics. He was promptly sacked from the party, but would have remained if UP elections were not on the political radar. Key BJP leaders have been making derogatory and communal statements since Narendra Modi was sworn in as prime minister. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti’s ‘haramzade’ statement killed her campaign in Delhi, but she held on to the post of minister. Giriraj Singh’s assertion that those who oppose Modi should go to Pakistan was tolerated by the BJP. His racist remark against Sonia Gandhi put the BJP on the back foot in Parliament. Dayashankar’s statement is one in a long list of utterances by hardline or misogynist leaders. The problem is that the BJP not only tolerates, but encourages them in the hope of growing it core vote bank. This cynical policy has come back to haunt the BJP at a time when it is attempting to woo Dalits in UP. This is an apt lesson on the pitfalls of divisive politics. If only the BJP would pay heed.
Acknowledging fear
France has been hit by a third terrorist attack against soft targets in 18 months. The first came in January 2015, when the Charlie Hebdo attacks killed 12 journalists and eight others. The second was the November 13 attacks that took the lives of scores of people enjoying a Friday night out in Paris. And then, on Bastille Day 2016, an attack that targeted ordinary people celebrating the French national holiday in the seaside city of Nice “ at least 84 were killed and many…
