Jobs, water may edge out Hindutva as poll plank

PALANPUR: Many apologies to the architects of the Hindutva wave who are anticipating a saffron surge in the countdown to the December 12 state polls. It’s unemployment, water and power that are on the people’s agenda in rural North Gujarat.
Selling Hindutva may be a tough job for the BJP this time even though the region was badly hit during the riots.And though the polarisation is quite evident in the countryside, whether it will rise over caste considerations and translate into votes needs to be seen.
People here still talk about local issues, image of the candidates, the anti-incumbency factor and misgovernance.
In the Nadi Ol area of Vadnagar, the birthplace of caretaker Chief Minister Narendra Modi, people gather as one talks about politics.
“We do not have any problem with the Muslims. The main problem we face here is unemployment. About 5,000 people go to Visnagar from here everyday in search of work. We need water for our farms and for drinking, and power for irrigating our fields. We want industries that will provide work to our children,� says Haresh Desai, a local advocate.
Few others chip in. Describing the acuteness of the problem, someone cracks, “You may have been standing here for just five minutes, but see the gathering of both young and old people. If they had any work to do, could they afford to waste time? All we need is work.� A few kilometres away at Kheralu, two old farmers are sharing a cuppa to keep themselves occupied. Clad in tattered clothes, their deep-set eyes and weather-beaten faces are quite representative of their lot.
“I own five ‘bighas’ of land. Still I have to buy all the foodgrain I require. There is no water — not even for the cattle. We are forced to sell our belongings or borrow money to survive. We have been voting on caste lines every time. This time, we have found a candidate who works for us,� says Viramji Thakore, a member of the Thakore community that dominates the political scenario in North Gujarat.
Moving further north, one reaches Hingathia, an Adivasi village outside Khedbrahma. It was former chief minister Amarsinh Chaudhary’s constituency for years.
“Don’t go inside the homes. They will rob you,� warns a youngster as one asks for the way to another far-flung village.
“There is no water and food. Though people are ready to work, they do not get any. Nor are they given paltry loans to run ‘pan’ shops. People are forced to rob others for survival,� laments Dinesh Pargi, giving vent to his frustration in chaste Hindi. Like many others standing there, he did his graduation with Hindi from a local college.
“We are all eagerly waiting for the poll day. We will not have to go far to fetch water on the day. They bring water tankers on election day and let us take away as much we need,� he says.
Muslims voters have a sizeable presence in Siddhpur constituency of Patan district — a stronghold of BJP stalwart Jaynarayan Vyas. “About 140 of the 200 restaurants burnt during the riots were owned by people belonging to this place. We will vote with more enthusiasm to elect a government which will not compel us to become terrorists,� says twenty-something Kasam Mer, who has recently joined the Congress.
And in the dark and dirty alleys of the Harijanwas area of Thara village in Kankarej constituency, discontent is brewing. “I am with the Parishad (Vishwa Hindu Parishad). As a Hindu, I want the BJP to win. But look what’s our life like. Thousands of our youths are jobless. Why are we denied of the opportunities? At least, treat us like fellow human beings. I beg you to listen to our complaints,� says a visibly moved Magha Rupa. Are the candidates and their parties listening?