India is passing through one of the darkest phases of its post-Independence history. No doubt, Emergency in 1975 was far worse, with civil rights suspended, free speech and expression muzzled, press censorship imposed and arrest of tall leaders. Barring this black period of Indira Gandhi’s autocratic rule, the country had not witnessed much of a threat to the freedom of expression or speech or to democracy as a whole. However, a painful observation has been the undue interference, in the past and now, in the working of so-called autonomous institutions and their crawling submission to the dictates of the rulers. Decisions and investigations are delayed or compromised to save the skin of some highly corrupt and criminal politicians.
There has been a resurgence and proliferation of inflammable speeches, including calls to “shoot” by elected representatives. It was suspected that the BJP would, if it could, move towards amending the Constitution, but, much to their consternation it will not happen. Nor will we have a repeat of 1975, as BJP well knows what their fate would be in ensuing elections. Fascist regimes are uncomfortable with criticism, resist dissent and instill fear in their opponents, often by threatening them or keeping swords hanging on their heads. Goa is very familiar with such tactics, both in the past as also now. The choice of MLAs and Minister to propose resolutions and speak in support of CAA, even against the Archbishop’s letter, says it all. Their antecedents and credentials are no secret. Incidentally, while no one can deny former MP Narendra Sawaikar the right to his opinion against Goa Archbishop’s letter on CAA, it is unfortunate that he tries to equate CAA, an amendment to an Act of Parliament, with a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution. In a fitting reply to him, Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira points this out and adds that Art 30 grants rights to minorities, not only religious but linguistic too. He further states that secularism has been considered by the SC as a basic feature of the Constitution. It is this feature that the present government is seeking to destroy, and this is evident from Sawaikar’s own demand that the Archbishop also call for scrapping Art 30 of the Constitution, which enables the minorities to establish and administer educational institutions. Interestingly, while Sawaikar finds Art 30 discriminatory, he does not feel the same about CAA, which excludes Muslims.
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While the CAA, NRC and NPR might have brought lakhs on the streets, it is the autocratic Central rule and its brazen attitude of passing Bills with the brute majority BJP enjoys in Parliament with least regard to the Opposition benches, which has upset the people. They were awaiting an opportunity to vent their anger. Their grit and determination in opposing this Government’s rule is commendable. Amit Shah may put up a semblance of faked courage and throw about his weight, but, for his own and country’s good, would have surely lost some, especially after the humiliating defeat in his own seat of power.
Despite just a ten-month-old massive mandate, the Modi-Shah combine is already facing the heat of an equally massive opposition from intellectuals and people of all faiths and States, to their rule and unacceptable decisions and policies. Their tenacious efforts at stifling all dissent have gone to such levels that even minors have not been spared. In Bida, Karnataka, children of Class IV & V were subjected to long and persistent interrogation over a play against CAA. Even though the child was stopped by the school authorities after she said something unpleasant, her widowed, poor and sickly mother was jailed for sedition, leaving the lonely child to the care of the neighbours. In Lucknow, police jailed for 42 days a minor of 15 for some anti-CAA activities, after forcing him to sign a declaration that he was 18 . Such inhuman attitudes smack of nothing but fascism.
Closer home, we have had the Police promptly and hastily registering a FIR against the organizers of anti-CAA meeting in Margao, of course on an orchestrated complaint from an individual, but chose to ignore the heavy participation of school children in the pro CAA rally in Mormugao. We have also seen how zealous and efficient our Police have become, that they found an unsubstantiated allegation of intimidation sufficient to arrest a MLA, in the quiet of the night, replicating the drama of arresting elderly freedom fighter Dr. J.F. Martins also around midnight, from his residence. I hold no brief for the MLA, who perhaps is getting it, in same measure. But if elected representatives can be arrested the way he was, one can well imagine what can happen to ordinary mortals like us. Khaunte was lucky in not being booked under PSA, like Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, for his audacity in “threatening” the spokesman of the omnipotent BJP. But would the traitors have learnt any lessons?
CM Pramod Sawant, who already faces brickbats over urbanization of villages, casinos, migrants, etc must tread cautiously not to allow the situation to get further aggravated.
(The author is a retired banker)
