It is a given that the Sangh Parivar has been using Gujarat as its laboratory. The intent is to psychologically coerce the minorities into accepting the status of second rate citizens. A vicious whisper campaign suggests, “How does it bother you if Modi continues to rule as long as you can live in peace”. From the persecution of Christians in the Dangs in 1998 to the state sponsored pogrom against the Muslims in 2002, the effort has been to cleanse the state of minorities through conversion, migration and violence.

The decisive battle against fundamentalism would only commence with the rout of the BJP at the hustings. Over the past decade the Sangh Parivar has systematically injected the toxin of fundamentalism into the body politic, administrative structure and education system of Gujarat. It would require nothing short of a purge to detoxify the institutions of the state. The pre-requisite for doing that is to acquire control over the instruments of governance. Mere grandstanding and verbosity to score debating points does not further the secular cause. It undermines it. Nobody understands this hard reality better than the Congress.

Gujarat needs a healing touch and a new deal. A healing touch to reconcile the deep fissures between people and communities. A new deal for inclusive growth. Above all, there is a need to ensure that those responsible for masterminding the 2002 pogrom are brought to justice.

Views are personal