Dalit anger: BJP's hard core is its own enemy & Modi's biggest challenge

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) owes much of its woes to the reluctance of its core constituency of urban, upper caste, conservative, anti-minority, middle class supporters to accept Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "sabka saath, sabka vikas" mantra of development for all.

They may have no objections to "vikas", but the idea of including everyone in its fold is anathema to them. So, if they see a Dalit having fared well enough in life to own a horse and ride it, he has to be killed as in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district. Or, if a Dalit groom wants to take out a "baraat" (marriage procession) through his village in Uttar Pradesh, the upper caste residents will not allow it.

Killing is the usual option for the saffron rank and file to eliminate those whose conduct violates the Hindutva fads and fetishes.

Hence, anyone suspected of eating beef or who believes in inter-faith romance is either beaten up or done away with. Moreover, the Hindutva storm-troopers are so sure of the righteousness of their cause that they are not deterred by the presence of video cameras when they engage in their lawless acts.