Congress session to hit out at BJP's 'pseudo-nationalism'

Ahmedabad: Sounding the bugle for a renewed ideological battle with the BJP at the AICC Session here slated for Wednesday, the Congress is all set to describe the BJP-RSS as one that follows “pseudo-nationalism” that divides the country and unleashes “gross injustices” on people through “state-sponsored cruelty”.

Calling for ‘nyay’ (justice), the party will insist that its “unifying” nationalism flowing from the independence struggle is against the Sangh Parivar’s “pseudo-nationalism”, which it described in a draft resolution as a “Machiavellian quest for exploitative power”.

The Session on the Sabarmati river banks is also likely to see the Congress declaring organisational empowerment as its “goal” by giving its district committees and presidents unprecedented powers in its bid to “take on and defeat” the “most arrogant, unjust and oppressive forces”.

A meeting of the Extended Congress Working Committee discussed the draft resolution, which party General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said has been sent back to the drafting committee for including suggestions placed by leaders. 

Congress’ positioning on the nationalism pitch comes as a parallel to the BJP-RSS’ counter in the 1990s when anti-BJP forces were projecting secularism to isolate the saffron party. Veteran LK Advani had then sought to corner the secular bloc by labelling them “pseudo-secular” and it remained the mainstay in its campaign against anti-BJP parties.

The Congress now appears to be using the same template to counter its opponent while insisting that nationalism in India is rooted in pluralism and liberal ethos as against its rival’s “pseudo-nationalism” that seeks to “divide the society and people” and aims to “erase India's diversity” while being “prejudiced”.

It also questioned the Sangh Parivar role in the freedom movement, especially Quit India movement, and claimed it was issuing “fake certificates of nationalism”.

“The pseudo-nationalism of the BJP-RSS is nothing but sheer opportunism for power. Their goal is not our unifying nationalism but a Machiavellian quest for exploitative power. In order to grab and retain power by any means, they seek to divide the nation along the lines of religion, caste, region, language, attire and food habits. Their hollow brand of nationalism is symbolised by ‘spread hatred, seize power’ and ‘raid, invade and extort donations’,” the draft said.

While there will be a separate resolution on Gujarat Congress, the main resolution also attacked the BJP over the Constitution. It also said social justice forms the “ideological core” of the Congress, as it insisted that the party had taken the first step to safeguard quota regime through a Constitution amendment after a court judgement nullifying reservations.

The resolution also attacked the BJP over Women Reservation Bill and asked why it does not have a woman president in 45 years of its existence and why has RSS not allowed a woman to head it or become an office bearer. It also questioned the government on One Nation, One Election (ONOE), Manipur, GST, statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, anti-conversion laws and the Waqf Act.

The draft resolution is also attacking the government over its China and US policies. It said Congress is a strong votary of close ties with the US but it can never happen at the expense of India's national interest.

“For the present BJP government, foreign policy has been reduced to a policy of weak-kneed leadership and helpless submission, which is unacceptable,” it said.