Peaceful S'rashtra may not get swayed by Hindutva

RAJKOT: Though Hindutva got a prop during riots, the Sangh Parivar''s main agenda for the elections, should not make a huge impact in Saurashtra. For the simple reason that of 1,000 lives lost in the communal violence across the state, Saurashtra accounted for only 15 deaths.
Both the BJP and Congress leaders and candidates in the region differ diametrically on the Hindutva issue and its impact in Saurashtra.The Congress maintains "Hindutva was never an issue here and will never be an issue as far as the ensuing elections are concerned." Congressmen say that "Hindutva is the creation of the BJP to hide their failure and ask for votes in the name of religion."
In the communal violence of the 15 killed in Saurashtra, eight were in Bhavnagar alone, three in Junagadh and two each in Kutch and Rajkot districts. Barring Bhavnagar, where 313 incidents of communal flare-ups were reported, minor incidents were reported from elsewhere.
Fifty offences were registered in Junagadh district. Jamnagar district was the only one from where no communal incident was reported. In Rajkot district, the Hindutva factor is expected to be limited to a few pockets like Dhoraji. In other areas of Saurashtra, no Hindutva wave is seen.
Says R C Faldu, Congress candidate from Kalawad, "there is no scope for Hindutva in this part of the state. Right from the days of independence, this region has remained peaceful. Even if the political leadership tries to stir up such sentiments, people will not accept it." Congress candidate from Jasdan in Rajkot district Kuverji Bavalia said, "Hindutva is the catchword for the BJP everytime they have to face an election."