Some weeks ago after the general elections, when there was an outcry in the state for banning the entry of Pramod Muthalik and his organization, Sri Ram Sene (SRS) in the state, the Chief Minister had emphatically said that Muthalik and a Gujarat-based Christian priest were two sides of the same coin. He was forced to say so since the priest while venting his ire on the BJP winning the parliamentary elections had recklessly said that it would provide a platform for fascist and fundamental forces to dictate terms.
The same Chief Minister has now made a statement in the Assembly that entry of SRS would be banned in the state. The logic behind this baseless decision is highly debatable. To begin with neither Muthalik at any time has been declared a terrorist nor his organization been outlawed anywhere. On what basis has the government debarred him from entering the state?
Recently when there was a demand by SRS to ban the tiatr ‘Akanwadi Goeant Naka’ there was a public uproar that unless the tiatr is released and seen by the public, how can one assess whether it throws bad light on any individual? On identical terms can it not be argued that unless the SRS holds any public function how can anyone argue that its intentions are questionable? Even if anyone overshoots his boundary there is the law of the land to curtail anyone’s overreach. But by imposing a blanket ban on the outfit the government has cut a poor figure, lacking maturity and buckling under the Christian votebank.
Just as the people of the state have one set of views may be on defending pub culture, promoting bikini attire, making money directly or indirectly through drug trade, massage parlours laced with prostitution, taxi operator mafia as brought out these days; so also SRS may be having its own views on some issues.
On one hand we unabatedly vouch for freedom of expression but on the other we want to stifle the voice of others. Why do we adopt such double standards? All such highhandedness by the government buckling to the minority view, just for political stability can do little good. Let us not forget that it is breeding hatred across the borders.
