Like India, Pakistan too is a democracy since 1947, except for some isolated spells of military rule under the dictatorship of Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan and Pervez Musharraf. But the way the country projects itself on issues of extremism indicates that it is a democracy only on paper and is basically a harbinger of terrorism. Pakistan itself has been the target of terror attacks so many times but it is unlikely to learn any lessons.
The whole world knows that Hafiz Saeed, the dreaded fanatic was the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attack. He is India’s most wanted man to be tried and punished. But what is the reaction of Pakistan against this militant? The Pakistan Railways came to limelight for arranging two special trains for his jihadist (waging religious war) congregation held at Lahore.
Obviously the motive behind this ill-conceived gathering is to indoctrinate the people, particularly the youngsters, to spare no effort to impose their religious beliefs on others at any cost. It is shocking to note at first glance how a democratic country can lend its hand in promoting such fanaticism. On a second thought we realize that in that country where it is well known that the military calls all the shots, the administration is essentially a puppet government buckling forever to the religion-dictated militia.
If that is one part of the story it is time that we divert our focus on the ‘Ramzada Vs Haramzada’ row triggered by Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, the Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, at a public meeting in New Delhi that the people of Delhi have to decide whether they want a government of Ramzadon (followers of Ram) or a government of those who are illegitimate.
Irrespective of whether her remarks amount to hate speech, promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion, thereby disrupting public harmony, what we want to ask is whether we cannot address rallies without invoking religious sentiments. The comments have created a public uproar and the Prime Minister’s appeal for calm has failed to pacify the opposition.
When you are obsessed with religious beliefs fuelled through proselytization, you fail to recognize humanity, thereby ruining the society. This has happened over the ages but sadly it is continuing and worsening today.
