Why Mumbai's meat ban got everyone's goat
One man's meat is definitely another man's poison. But if the ruling party doesn't watch out, there is a narrative that is being quickly built up which they should be very, very careful about. The fact that four BJP states were suddenly very keen to suspend the eating of meat for a specific period of time seemed strange. Could it be true that the BJP, instead of development, really has Hindutva on its mind? Instead of being modern, is the ruling party beginning to appear medieval?
And even if some of this exclusion existed during the Congress regime, as we saw in meat ban, television debates are not the place to sort it all out now.
This present narrative, therefore, has to change. This narrative is dangerous, and the BJP particularly must be very careful as there are plenty of disgruntled political parties who, if they cannot find a corruption stick to beat the government with, will find a Hindutva agenda which is being "pushed" onto others. The only way to escape these stereotypes, is to work contrary to them. We need some more surprises from the BJP.
To his credit, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been trying to be more inclusive. Apart from a possible genuine belief, he might have realised that he needs that image not just to win elections at home, but to maintain his international fan base. So he has been saying positive things about relations with Pakistan, and so on. He has even occasionally critiqued those who only play the Hindutva card. All of this has been steadily pulling in the youth vote.
But the youth will not stick with a party which bans a lifestyle choice. The imposition of any "ban" doesn't go down well with the younger generation. They are always the rebels - and if the ruling party begins to play Big Brother, the agenda will boomerang. India is a young country and the youth are used to the freedom that goes along with a vibrant democracy.
And so now the ruling government needs to just keep monitoring the mood of the youth, or they might desert them over these issues.
Thus from now on, whatever decision is taken should be with one simple criteria: what do the youth get out of this? And therein lies the answer.
In fact now with the judgement in the Bombay High Court having been pronounced, many more questions are beginning to be raised. And the main one is why bother to make this into such a big issue? On the first day of the protests itself, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation should have known that any imposition at this time, of any kind, would be resented.
Even if the political parties opposed it, the real issue is that the BJP must think of its own future. It is unlikely that the youth, which is becoming more and more globalised will find anything interesting in a ban along religious lines.
Basically, these kinds of moves will not even unite the country into one cosy club. It will build up anger and resentment, by and large, and people are wary of divisive forces.
Much before the BJP came to power this time, friends would always ask their favourite question about "Hindutva" and "cow slaughter" etc. My answer to that was that this country is far too robust to accept any imposition, and they will resist.
That is a relief. But shouldn't we really focus on development as the PM has said he wants? And please pass the mutton steak!