Q: Do you see the death of secularism happening now at least in Uttar Pradesh? Is not the new Chief Minister a hard core Hindu fanatic? Don’t you think the RSS is pushing BJP to play the Hindutva card? Will they go ahead with the construction of the Ayodhya Temple? Do you think Congress has any hope of resurrecting itself?

A: “The new government in UP represents not the death of secularism but its strangulation. We are not prepared to survive at all. The election shows how people protested and expressed their anger with the previous government and how the BJP has used crooked ways with the support of the Centre to come to power. Since the BJP is in power at the Centre, it is good that they have come in UP. The present Chief Minister has a goodwill among the people. He is a good man and knows UP’s social environment well. I hope he will moderate his extreme views. He is committed to Hindutva through his affiliation, alliance and actions. He has been elected several times to the Lok Sabha. There may be the influence of Modi and surely the backing of the RSS in his selection as UP’s Chief Minister. This being the twentyfifth year of the demolition of the Babri Masjid, they will surely try to construct the Ayodhya Temple. The Congress has hope of coming back to power with the support of regional parties. For that to happen, it has to work  for a broad alliance, which will take time.”

Abp Albert D’Sousa
Pune