The overwhelming victory for BJP in the recently held Indian election was not entirely unexpected. There is reason to celebrate this remarkable feat accomplished with such ease in what is rightfully called the world’s biggest democracy. Whether it came in the wake of the total collapse of the incumbents or as a consequence of BJP actually offering something substantial to the voter is a subject that cannot be adequately explained.
In a way, that is true for all elections. But the hawkish, anti-secular posturing of the winning party has raised some concerns too. Analysts are raising questions if this is the beginning of the end for secularism in India. Pankaj Mishra writing for the Guardian indicates that with Narendra Modi at the helm, India might be "entering its most sinister period since independence".
If it’s a victory of the "unqualified promise of economic reform" or capitalism espoused by the BJP, does that mean that Modi’s communal past is irrelevant for all times to come? There is, of course, this sense, even from before the election, that once in power BJP led by Modi will opt for a moderate outlook. Modi especially has a problem with his international image; he needs to prove that he is not the extremist he is made out to be.
People are referring to an entire "post-ideological" young generation which have no sympathy for the secular values of Congress and the like. But there is some symbolism attached with the fact that there is not a single Muslim MP for BJP in Lok Sabha. How does it bode for the Muslims in India and is there a reason for them to feel unsafe? Is the idea of secularism strong enough to protect the religious minorities?
For us in Pakistan, the results have thrown open an important issue -- that of relations between India and Pakistan. Like Pakistan did not matter in the campaign in India, Pakistanis, too, were as indifferent to the election next-door.
Mian Nawaz Sharif made peace with India a part of his victory speech, saying this was why people had voted him in. The religious groups, JI in particular, have not forgiven him for that statement. He once again extended an invitation to the prospective Indian premier to come to Pakistan soon after the result and now India has invited Sharif to Narendra Modi’s inauguration as prime minister.
This invitation is said to be the first time for a Pakistani politician but he’s invited alongside other leaders from all Saarc countries. So it might be too optimistic to see this invitation coming from a hardline BJP in the context of the tense relationship between the two countries; it could just mean nothing.
There is a view that once the government gets into the agenda setting mode, Modi will raise three issues with Pakistan -- terrorism, Rawalpindi trial of the Mumbai accused, and Dawood Ibrahim. Pakistan, on the other hand, is thinking in terms of trade. Unfortunately, the government’s policy is unclear. The possibility of resumption of dialogue is rather low on the Indian side. The Pakistan government will try and prevent another serious terrorist attack on the Indian soil which can be traced back to Pakistan.
For the time being, the India-Pakistan relations remain uncertain.