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The Rediff Interview/ Aslam Sher Khan

'The BJP is going back to its Hindutva philosophy'

On the eve of last year's general election, many Congress politicians quit the party and made a beeline for the Bharatiya Janata Party, whose star was clearly on the ascendant. The common refrain of these politicians then was: let's give the BJP a chance.

But 10 months down the line and one of the earliest entrants into the BJP, former Union minister of state and former World Cup-winning hockey captain Aslam Sher Khan, has quit the party. Khan is disillusioned with the BJP and now believes it was a mistake on his part to have joined it.

In a telephonic interview from his home in Bhopal with Syed Firdaus Ashraf, Khan said the BJP is returning to its Hindutva ideology after its debacle in the November assembly election in , New Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

What compelled you to leave the BJP?

I joined the BJP, thinking it was a party with a difference. They always used to say, give us a chance and we will prove the difference. So, in that hope, I joined the BJP. But after these many months, I feel they have not at all changed for the minorities. They are behaving as they used to.

When did you realise this?

I used to feel they are not doing enough for the minorities from the day they formed the government. I pointed this out to Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and Union Home Minister L K Advani. But they did not pay much heed.

When do you think the anti-minorities feeling started becoming stronger?

They were not very responsive to the minorities from the day they formed the government. But I think their dislike for the minorities came out more in the open after they lost the election in November. That is why you will notice that these attacks on the minorities are being intensified after the election. I think the BJP is going back to its Hindutva philosophy.

But hasn't the BJP provided a riot-free rule for Muslims as compared to earlier governments?

It's not a question of Muslims alone. For me, the minorities include Christians, Sikhs and all other communities. Today, they are attacking Christians in a systematic manner. And the Christian community feels insecure in our country. It is very sad that they are targeting a community that has served the common people selflessly for hundreds of years.

But the Sangh Parivar says the missionaries are forcibly converting people.

First of all, there is no forced conversion of Hindus to Christianity. Secondly, even if we assume there is conversion, there is always room for dialogue. But this is no way out. They are attacking those Christians who are serving the poorest of the poor all over India.

But the BJP has denied any link with these attacks.

They may say that, but the whole world knows what they did in Gujarat. According to the reports I have read, the BJP government is systematically targeting the Christian community. And the government is not taking any action. Be it these attacks or the attack on the office of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

But action was taken in connection with the attack on the BCCI headquarters. The state government has arrested some Shiv Sena members.

What action are you talking about? These vandals broke the glory of India. They broke the Prudential World Cup that our cricketers won after so much hard work. But what has the government done to arrest these people? Nothing! I am a sportsman. And I have seen the glory of India after winning the 1975 hockey World Cup. Imagine how a sportsman will feel when they break a cup that our countrymen won with great difficulty. I was seriously hurt by these incidents, which is why I quit the BJP.

Did BJP president Kushabhau Thakre approach you after you resigned?

No, so far he has not approached me. But I think they will communicate with me in a day or two.

So will you withdraw your resignation if they persuade you?

No.

What will your role in politics be then?

I will fight for the rights of the minorities. I supported the BJP in the hope that they would take all the minorities together and work for all communities. I trusted them when they said, 'Give us a chance and we will prove different.' Now I feel it was a mistake on my part to have believed them.

When you joined the BJP, many Muslims and other Congressmen joined the party with you. Now that you have quit, do you expect others to follow suit?

Yes, there will be a certain impact of my leaving the BJP. Today, there are nearly 40 ex-Congressmen who joined the BJP but are unhappy with that party's policies, so they may also quit. And I think that will be in the interests of the nation.

Any plans to rejoin the Congress?

No, not at this moment, but I will work with all parties that are working for the interests of the minorities and the nation.

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