The tussle over Jinnah Tower, it appears, has ended in a draw for now. The BJP, which wanted to make it an issue and wanted it to be demolished, has been check-mated by the clever move of the YSRCP. But at the same time, the BJP has succeeded in making this a major issue and forced the authorities to paint the controversial tower in the colours of the national flag.
The BJP targeted Jinnah Tower, named after Pakistan's founder and rank communalist Mohammed Ali Jinnah, and wanted the memorial built by the then Muslim League supporters demolished. The party has also threatened to demolish it if the government did not remove what it called a symbol of communalism.
The YSRCP government cleverly check-mated the BJP by painting the historic monument in the colours of the Indian flag. Now the BJP would not be able to attack or destroy the tower and it would be tantamount to insulting the Indian Tricolour. So, the monument is protected for now.
The clever administration has succeeded in protecting the monument and has also ensured that there is no communal tension. At the same time, it has given the BJP a reason to rejoice as it has scored a partial victory. Thus a major cause of communal tension got averted due to the administration's deft handling of the dispute.
The BJP targeted Jinnah Tower, named after Pakistan's founder and rank communalist Mohammed Ali Jinnah, and wanted the memorial built by the then Muslim League supporters demolished. The party has also threatened to demolish it if the government did not remove what it called a symbol of communalism.
The YSRCP government cleverly check-mated the BJP by painting the historic monument in the colours of the Indian flag. Now the BJP would not be able to attack or destroy the tower and it would be tantamount to insulting the Indian Tricolour. So, the monument is protected for now.
The clever administration has succeeded in protecting the monument and has also ensured that there is no communal tension. At the same time, it has given the BJP a reason to rejoice as it has scored a partial victory. Thus a major cause of communal tension got averted due to the administration's deft handling of the dispute.