With the Maharashtra assembly elections-2024 approaching, the political climate is heating up. Voting is scheduled for November 20, with results expected on November 23. Campaign strategies have intensified, and leaders are using potent slogans and historical narratives to sway voters.
Key Slogans Shape Election Atmosphere
The slogan “Bantoge to Katoge,” popularized by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has reverberated throughout Maharashtra, significantly impacting the state’s election discourse. This rhetoric has created a buzz, with PM Narendra Modi introducing a similar slogan, “Ek Hain To Safe Hai” (United, We Are Safe), which echoes Yogi’s sentiment.
Historical Context: Razakars and Their Role Post Independence
A significant aspect of this election cycle has been the re-emergence of historical narratives, specifically the story of the Razakars, an auxiliary force under the Nizam of Hyderabad’s rule during the late 1940s. The Razakars, known for their violent campaigns, had a notorious reputation in the Telangana and Marathwada regions, which were then part of the Hyderabad princely state.
In 1947, when India gained independence, there were approximately 500 princely states, many of which chose to join the Indian Union. However, the Hyderabad state resisted, with the Nizam refusing to join independent India.
The Razakars, aligned with the Nizam, engaged in brutal violence against those who supported merging Hyderabad with India. Their attacks targeted families favoring integration, causing widespread fear and unrest in the regions they controlled.
This led to the Indian government’s intervention, spearheaded by then-Union Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who launched “Operation Polo” to quell the violence and bring Hyderabad under Indian sovereignty, effectively disbanding the Razakars.
Political Rhetoric Sparks Tensions
The Razakars’ legacy has resurfaced in the rhetoric of Maharashtra’s current political campaign. UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge have engaged in a sharp exchange over the historical events surrounding the Razakars. Yogi’s slogan, “Bantoge to Katoge,” has drawn criticism from Kharge, who argues that it fosters division and hatred among the public.
Responding to Kharge’s objection, Yogi referenced Kharge’s personal history, noting that members of Kharge’s family had been victims of Razakar violence. Yogi asserted that the Razakars were responsible for the murder of Kharge’s mother, father, aunt, and sister when Kharge was just eight years old. He challenged Kharge’s silence on the Razakars, suggesting that political considerations might prevent him from speaking out against the group’s historical actions.
Kharge, who has spoken about the impact of his family’s loss, criticized Yogi’s remarks as incendiary, emphasizing that such statements fuel discord. This exchange highlights the deep-seated tensions between the two parties and the role historical narratives are playing in shaping the election’s discourse.
(PRAKASH KUMAR PANDEY)
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