Context of 1990s
• most crucial development of this period was defeat of Congress party in elections held in 1989. party that had won as many as 415 seats in Lok Sabha in 1984 was reduced to only 197 in this election.
• Congress improved its performance and came back to power soon after mid-term elections held in 1991.
• second development was rise of ‘Mandal issue’ in national politics. This followed decision by new National Front government in 1990, to implement recommendations of Mandal Commission that jobs in Central Government should be reserved for Other Backward Classes.
• This led to violent ‘anti-Mandal’ protests in different parts of country. This dispute between supporters and opponents of OBC reservations was called ‘Mandal issue’ and was to play an important role in shaping politics since 1989.
• Third, economic policy followed by various governments took a radically different turn. It is called initiation of structural adjustment programme or new economic reforms. These changes first became very visible in 1991 and radically changed direction that Indian economy had pursued since Independence.
• Fourth, several events culminated in demolition of disputed structure at Ayodhya [known as Babri Masjid] in December 1992.
• This event symbolised and triggered various changes in politics of country and intensified debates about nature of Indian nationalism and secularism.
• These developments are associated with rise of BJP and politics of ‘Hindutva’.
• assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991 led to a change in leadership of Congress party. He was assassinated by a Sri Lankan Tamil linked to LTTE when he was on an election campaign tour in Tamil Nadu.
• In elections of 1991, Congress emerged as single largest party. Following Rajiv Gandhi’s death, party chose Narsimha Rao as Prime Minister.
Era of Coalitions
• Elections in 1989 led to defeat of Congress party but did not result in a majority for any other party.
• Though Congress was largest party in Lok Sabha, it did not have a clear majority, and therefore, it decided to sit in opposition.
• defeat of Congress party marked end of Congress’s dominance over Indian party system.
• An era of a multi-party system began.
• Our Parliament always had representatives from several political parties.
• After 1989, it was emergence of several parties in such a way that one or two parties did not get most of votes or seats.
• This meant that no single party secured a clear majority of seats in any Lok Sabha election held from 1989 to 2014.
• This development initiated an era of coalition governments at Centre, in which regional parties played a crucial role in forming ruling alliances.
• nineties saw emergence of powerful parties and movements that represented Dalit and backward castes [Other Backward Classes or OBCs].
• These parties played an important role in United Front Government that came to power in 1996. United Front was similar to National Front of 1989 for it included Janata Dal and several regional parties.
• United Front government was supported by Congress.
• Thus, with elections of 1989, a long phase of coalition politics began in India. Since then, there have been eleven governments at Centre, all of which have either been coalition governments or minority governments supported by other parties, which did not join government.
Political Rise of Other Backward Classes
• One long-term development of this period was rise of Other Backward Classes as a political force.
• These are communities other than SC and ST that suffer from educational and social backwardness. These are referred to as ‘backward castes.’
• In 1980s, Janata Dal brought together a similar combination of political groups with strong support among OBCs.
• decision of National Front government to implement recommendations of Mandal Commission further helped in shaping politics of ‘Other Backward Classes’.
• intense national debate for and against reservation in jobs made people from OBC communities more aware of this identity.
• This period saw emergence of many parties that sought better opportunities for OBCs in education and employment and raised question of share of power enjoyed by OBCs.
• These parties claimed that since OBCs constituted a large segment of Indian society, it was only democratic that OBCs should get adequate representation in administration and have their due share of political power. Communalism, Secularism and Democracy
• other long-term development during this period was rise of politics based on religious identity, leading to a debate about secularism and democracy.
• Hindutva means ‘Hinduness’ and was defined by its originator, V. D. Savarkar, as basis of Indian [in his language Hindu] nationhood. It meant that to be members of Indian nation, everyone must not only accept India as their ‘fatherland’ [pitrubhu] but as their holy land [punyabhu].
• Believers of ‘Hindutva’ argue that a strong nation can be built only based on a strong and United National culture. They believe that in case of India Hindu culture alone can provide this base.
• Two developments around 1986 became central to politics of BJP as a ‘Hindutva’ party.
• first was Shah Bano Case in 1985. In this case, a 62-year-old divorced Muslim woman had filed a case for maintenance from her former husband.
• Supreme Court ruled in her favour. orthodox Muslims saw Supreme Court’s order as interference in Muslim Personal Law.
• On demand of some Muslim leaders, government passed Muslim Women [Protection of Rights on Divorce] Act, 1986 which nullified Supreme Court’s judgment.
• This action of government was opposed by many women’s organisations, many Muslim groups and most intellectuals.
• BJP criticised this action of Congress Government as an unnecessary concession and ‘appeasement’ of minority community.
• second development was order by Faizabad District Court in February 1986. court ordered that Babri Masjid premises be unlocked so Hindus could offer prayers at site which they considered a temple.
• Babri Masjid was a 16th-century mosque in Ayodhya and was built by Mir Baqi, Mughal emperor Babur’s General.
• Some Hindus believe that it was built after demolishing a temple for Lord Rama in what is believed to be his birthplace.
• dispute took form of a court case and has continued for many decades. In late 1940s, mosque was locked up as matter was with court.
• BJP made this issue its major electoral and political plank.
• Along with many other organisations like RSS and Vishva Hindu Parishad [VHP], it convened a series of symbolic and mobilisational programmes.
• This large-scale mobilisation led to a surcharged atmosphere and many instances of communal violence.
• BJP, to generate public support, took out a massive march known as Rathyatra from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya in UP.
• In December 1992, organisations supporting construction of temple organised a Karseva, meaning voluntary service by devotees, for building Ram temple.
• situation had become tense all over country and especially in Ayodhya.
• Supreme Court had ordered State Government to take care that disputed site will not be endangered.
• However, thousands of people gathered from all over country at Ayodhya on 6 December 1992 and demolished mosque. This news led to clashes between Hindus and Muslims in many parts of country.
• In February-March 2002, large-scale violence took place in Gujarat.
• immediate provocation for this violence was an incident that took place at a station known as Godhra. A coach of a train that was returning from Ayodhya and was full of Karsevaks was set on fire.
• Fifty-seven people died in that fire. Suspecting hand of Muslims in setting fire to bogey or coach large-scale violence against Muslims began in many parts of Gujarat from next day.
• This violence continued for almost a whole month. Nearly 1100 persons, mostly Muslims, were killed in this violence.
• National Human Rights Commission criticised Gujarat Government’s role in failing to control violence, providing relief to victims and prosecuting perpetrators of this violence.