The BJP is showing two faces. One is the Sub Ke Saath, Sub Ka Vikas and development agenda to build up its vote bank and the other is studied silence by the otherwise vociferous PM on the fringe elements continuously enlarging the Hindutva agenda by coercion, strong arm tactics and violence with the police generally looking on! For example in Delhi and Haryana, vigilante groups stopped all vehicles carrying cattle, burnt vehicles and beat up the crew, impounded the cattle with impunity! The vandals roam freely. In Agra a reportedly Hindu frenzied mob chased and beat up and nearly lynched a group of Muslim men accused of killing and skinning a cow. The cow died of natural causes and was in fact reportedly sold by the Hindu owner to the Muslim traders. The mob gutted two police vehicles, 7 cops were injured whilst they set fire to twelve Muslim shops!
Kasturi-Kulkarni face blackened Shiv Sena banned “book release episode” in Mumbai is held needing heavy police protection for the invitee, organizers and at the venue! For political reasons the Shiv Sena bosses and leaders are neither arrested nor sternly dealt with by the State. The cabinet reshuffle in Goa was overdue, but the way it has been done is sending another dangerous message. The Dhavalikar brothers politically dare not be touched. The only lady minister protecting the environment as best as she could has been stripped of that crucial portfolio. The BJP government issues ordinances and is quick to bulldoze laws and rules that stand in its way! Prosperous developed nations like China and even countries like Singapore have its citizens in Smart Cities breathing polluted air leading to lung and other diseases, having achieved high GDP leading to affluence, state of the art hospitals and such high standards of living.
Tearing people away from their roots whilst ravishing mother earth and practically encouraging pollution, greed and a never satisfied people wanting more and more breeds a world filled with unhealthy competition and animal behavior that eventually produces people like Maoists or terrorists or people joining ISS and where the IMF Chief Christine Lagarde speaking on global warming says “We’re cooked if we fail on climate change”. The major dimension of tolerance and joy of conscientious living safely together in peace and in harmony with nature is disappearing from the lives of citizens. Good leaders like British Prime Minister David Cameron say “Let me be clear. Institutions teaching children intensively whatever the religion, we will make them register and will be inspected like any other school. And be in no doubt, if you are teaching intolerance, we will shut you down.” It is also reported that the RSS is being investigated by the British Charity Commissioner for hate speeches against Christians and Muslims.
Our PM referring to the communal “motor mouths” says they are to be simply ignored! Mohan Bhagwat says “Small episodes cannot damage Hindu culture”. The Congress or the people, or media exaggeration is to be blamed with shoot the messenger policy. However those criticizing the government or the communal elements on face book or in the media are frowned upon or threatened, the offending fringe elements are mildly admonished, not punished so feel encouraged pushing the saffron envelope boldly further! The buck stops with the Prime Minister! It is not just a law and order problem as is being shrugged off by the BJP spokespersons. It is obviously a planned strategy in league with the RSS. Amit Shah has reprimanded leaders making communal statements, which said leaders publicly deny!
Polarizing a nation like India in all its diversity, trying to colour history and fill young minds with warped sense of superiority and strait jacket Indian culture, injecting prejudices and false religious fervor will not further the modern Indian nation status. In fact it may make us a laughing stock in the world! Telling us what we are allowed to eat, drink, wear, behave and even think whilst restricting freedom of speech and dissent will bring India to boil. Putting people in strategic important positions simply because of their ideology and not relevant competence, reservations and prejudice will kill innovation and excellence and replace it with mediocrity. These are dangerous times where rumors spread quickly like wild fire due access to manipulated social media, leading to uncontrollable mobs, destruction and death. To be worthy of democracy the court of public opinion must together overwhelmingly back the Constitution we have given to ourselves, in word and deed to keep our plural nation together and on the right path!
The present atmosphere is tearing apart the social fabric of the country. The big crowds of loyal supporters that cheers leaders when they are arrested or get bail or even as they exit jail after completing their term indicates the clout public has given to such VIP leaders! Writers from 150 countries have stood solidly in support of our Sahitya writers who surrendered their awards in protest. Indian society has to take the blame for present state of affairs. We cannot afford to take it lying down and be silent any more. To be worthy of democracy in this cacophony, sane voices must prevail to restore sanity in our society. India under its Constitution belongs to every Indian, no matter what cast or creed, rich or poor. The world is watching!
(The author is a retired naval officer resident in Porvorim)
