Mr. Ahmed, what was your experience in joining the Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) in Delhi in December 2022?

Faizan Ahmad: During the 4000 km “March for Unity” people walked shorter and farther with Rahul Gandhi and listened to the rallies which were growing in popularity. I joined BJY early in the morning from Jasola Apollo to Red Fort in Delhi. The number of participants was much higher than I expected.

People from all walks of life were seen at the parade. Hundreds of lawyers in robes stood on both sides of the road between the Supreme Court and the Tax Office (a famous place in Delhi) to welcome the participants. Women danced to the beat of drums, youths incessantly shouted slogans and danced to songs played over loudspeakers. The parents looked determined to keep marching. The atmosphere on the street was like a folk festival.

What is the significance of Rahul Gandhi’s march?

Faizan Ahmad: The marches come at a time when the Modi government’s anti-Muslim and divisive policies are taking their toll. At the same time, Modi is hugely popular within his constituency and the opposition remains divided. The march brought Rahul Gandhi back to the political scene as a serious politician. For a long time, the media portrayed him as the son of a political dynasty, but had no staying power.

Aimed at the entire spectrum of society

He is now credited with addressing the entire spectrum of Indian society with the march. This is also the reason why the BJP reacted so sharply: after a two-year prison sentence, you can no longer stand for six years in elections! (That Government avoid Rahul Gandhi his parliamentary mandate after him March 23 sentenced to two years in prison for “slander” wHIearthn first. Reason for it is joke, Gandhi four years ago about the surname “Modi” created, editor’s note.).

Is the march mainly aN PR stunt or is it more meaningful?

Faizan Ahmad: The route from Kanyakumari (on the southern tip of India in Tamil Nadu) to Kashmir is the country’s longest and holds a special place in the nationalist imagination. The parade is organized by dedicated Congress party members, who undergo medical check-ups and prior checks to be able to participate in the full route of the yatra.

A march of more than 4000 kilometers is demanding and requires careful planning, this is not just a PR gimmick. Many observers initially did not expect Rahul Gandhi to carry out his plans, but after a few weeks the march gained momentum.

How does BJY influence national politics? And what about the Congress party base?

Faizan Ahmad: BJY has cemented Rahul Gandhi’s image as a doer. He also surely boosted the morale of members of Congress, his supporters, spectators and mute observers. The high turnout across the yatra has given credence to other opposition forces and the common people and signals that the anti-BJP movement is active.

The march has raised public expectations of the Congress Party and fueled a desire for a more creative and grounded campaign ahead of the next election. The opposition is desperate to prevent Narendra Modi’s third BJP victory in 2024.

There are no Muslim representatives in government

If we talk about minorities, and Indian Muslims are the largest minority in the country, what has changed for them under the BJP regime? How do you see the future of minorities?

Faizan Ahmad: Not a single representative from the Muslim community is represented in government. Muslims saw their homes and businesses destroyed under this regime without a court order. Police can enter their homes at night – in some cases without a policewoman – and their homes can be searched without a court order. In Uttar Pradesh we have seen Muslim protesters being shot dead or arrested by the police.

Muslims also know that the minority commission in India is a toothless body. Today, anyone of Muslim appearance anywhere in India can fall victim to mobs. Minorities in India are acutely aware of these developments as they witness attacks on festivals, temples, monuments and so on. State authorities are no longer seen as impartial and just as they are often manipulated by the ruling regime – as is now in the case of Rahul Gandhi’s conviction.

Who has been marching since October 2022 and are there any sympathizers within the BJP?

Faizan Ahmad: Apart from civil society activists and party members, it was mostly ordinary citizens who took part. The BJP didn’t exactly downplay the march, but grew nervous when it reached the capital, Delhi. No BJP politician supports Rahul Gandhi’s call to reduce hate speech. On the other hand, BJP-affiliated media actively carried out propaganda against the march and gave a distorted image.

Cultural diversity has collapsed

Can you explain the changes India has experienced in terms of political culture since the rise of the Hindu nationalist BJP in 2014?

Faizan Ahmad: In the past, every political party had an equally important leader. That has changed since 2014. Now almost everything seems to have turned into a central command post. This is a disturbing sign because it signifies absolute power. As for the culture of protest, the number of those protesting for ethical and ideological reasons is decreasing day by day. Massive protests only occur when government policies hit certain population groups hard and in large numbers.

What must the Congress party do to stand a realistic chance in the next general election in May 2024?

Faizan Ahmad: The Congress Party needed an organizational reorganization. He must encourage young people to join him and give him the opportunity to impose his program. It has to say goodbye to the token event culture.

More than just talkers cheering up the masses, parties need genuine and committed members who can mobilize voters and have relationships with their constituents. In addition, the Congress Party needs to emphasize India’s secular nature as an important pillar of the country’s national identity so that it can become an option for all voters who do not wish to live in a religious state. However, only solid unity among the opposition parties can bring about political change in the 2024 elections.

How do you see the future of India in the next few decades?

Faizan Ahmad: I’m not a pessimist, so I’m not going to paint a bleak picture of the future emerging from this bleak present. However, citizens’ trust in representative processes and judicial mechanisms has been seriously damaged. Even the healthier sections of society feel powerless amidst the media spectacle, and cultural diversity has collapsed.

The next non-BJP government will face the mammoth task of repairing the damage done by the BJP government and improving the course of Indian democracy.

Interviewed by Sonja Hegasy

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