Delhi election and Shaheen Bagh,’nationalism’ versus development
The Delhi assembly election campaign nearing the end, Arvind Kejriwal led AAP government seeks a re-election focusing on the issues of development, the BJP on the other hand has stuck to plank of ‘nationalism’ keeping Shaheen Bagh at the centre of the campaign quite overtly in the wake anti-CAA agitation entering its 53rd day.
Voting in single-phase Assembly elections in Delhi is set to be held on 8 February (Saturday), while counting of votes will take place on 11 February, (Tuesday). This year, the 70- membered Assembly polls in the National Capital will see a triangular contest between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (APP) is set to make a determined bid to return to power while the BJP seeks for a win after losing to AAP in the 2013 and 2015 polls. In the 2015 Assembly polls, the AAP won 67 seats, leaving just three for the BJP
The Shaheen Bagh protesters have been subjected to the ire of many like home minister Amit Shah and other BJP leaders for standing up against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act. However, this act seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who are facing religious persecution in their countries.
What all has been said about Shaheen Bagh?
BJP’s Kapil Mishra likens Delhi polls to “India vs Pakistan” contest
Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, an MP from West Delhi, told in an interview to ANI, that “they (Shaheen Bagh protesters) will enter your houses, rape your sisters and daughters”.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur encourages voters to chant “Desh ke Gaddaron ko…….”.
Dilip Ghosh, West Bengal BJP Chief, questioned why nobody was dying at the Shaheen Bagh protest despite sitting in the cold for days together. “What surprises me is that people were dying after standing in line for two to three hours. But now women and children are sitting in temperatures as low as 4-5 degrees Celsius but nobody is dying! What nectar did they have? I am astonished! What is their incentive (for protesting)?” said Ghosh at the Kolkata Press Club.
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah made a statement targeting the Shaheen Bagh protesters the other day in an election rally asking voters to decisively vote so as to avoid protests like Shaheen Bagh. He said, “press the button with such anger that Shaheen Bagh feels the current.”
