Regardless of which party/combine “wins” the Bihar election there will be celebratory fireworks, integral to sub-continental cultural tradition. So apart from being factually inaccurate, the BJP chief – other party leaders too, in their different ways Rs was really exposing apprehensions over an unfavourable result in his comment about Pakistan “going crackers” should the so-called Modi wave be reversed in the politically significant poll.

Amit Shah&’s purported “clarification” confirmed the worst, in typical cynical, sinister fashion. By asserting he had mentioned no religious community, and had anti-national forces in mind, he left few in doubt why the party was sinking to distinct new lows – to talk of “stooping to conquer” would be imparting unwarranted dignity to the despicable “linkage”. From the early days of the Modi government his minions have consistently hyphenated Muslims and Pakistan – advising them to cross the border if they wanted to eat beef being just the most recent example.

A political analysis of Shah&’s comment would suggest the feedback indicated that “routine” polarisation would not suffice, the ante had to be “upped”. Hence, discarding all diplomatic niceties, Pakistan was dragged into the quagmire. A strong reaction from Islamabad would be welcomed by Shah & Co who have already chosen to be contemptuous about “intellectual India” roiling over rampant intolerance. A section of analysts contend that having made the Bihar poll an overly-prestigious issue for the Prime Minister, anything short of a decisive victory would equate with failure and place Shah&’s head on the chopping block. That could bring much glee to many a party veteran. For under his stewardship the distinction between BJP and RSS has been obliterated, insincere have been much-publicised bids to prevent the “fringe elements” occupying centre-stage.

The “anti-national forces” line in Shah&’s clarification confirms that in its arrogance the BJP now thinks that any opposition to it, any signs of dissent, are criminal. That is in keeping with the politically-encouraged intolerance that now dominates the national debate, and points to a fear complex developing Rs the party&’s spokespersons on TV are distinctly jittery, can do no better than ask why protests were not raised in the past. So do the BJP&’s “sins” earn absolution from the Congress having committed them before? Shah&’s observation about fireworks in the wake of a BJP defeat points to a mindset similar to the one that had asserted “Indira is India.”