Ignorance, prejudices and fear have triumphed over
reason and knowledge. This is new India. Modern. Liberal and certainly "secular", even as - to use that journalistic cliche - SICKULAR.
Indians – both Hindus and Muslims (and also others) – might have been
surprised over Dadri. But did they have reason to be shocked? The hate politics has
taken over the country. An overwhelming section of political class and even the
self-styled champion of neo-liberal-national spirit of India, the media, quickly passed the verdict against the right wing BJP and RSS for the same. Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not do any service to himself by delaying his "comments" on Dadri.
On the other hand, the RSS and its
affiliated organizations say the appeasement politics (towards minorities) has
hardened the unity and fundamentalism among the Hindus.
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| Speechless Gau-mata |
Thus the lynching of a 50-year-old old man, father of a Air Force personnel, made news. Importantly, the victim was a Muslim and the pretext was rumour of a cow slaughter. This brought in quick 'TOURISM' element to Dadri.
The ‘#Beefydebate’ as highlighted in the social
networking sites has remained and would continue as ‘competitive’ communal
politics surfaced over the incident. Azam Khan was in competition against Asaduddin Owaissi, one-time Hyderabad MP and now trying to establish toe-holds in at least two 'cow-belt' states.
Lalu Prasad, out on bail after being convicted for corruption in fodder (cow's food) scam, is not only teaching morality. He also said, Hindus eat beef.
In Kerala, where a self-styled sickular lot like in West Bengal thrive in lampooning at anything Hindu and India, beef parties were organised. Where's the word - provocation?
Incidentally the forensic reports later claimed
that the meat in the deceased Akhlaq Ahmed fridge at Dadri village not far from
national capital was mutton and not beef.
His wife Ikrana lamented that the case against her family was
fabricated. She wants the government now to find the truth behind the murder. Predictably all these were linked to Bihar polls and also easily concluded that the saffron brigade had orchestrated it to salvage NDA boat once RSS chief played spoilsport to Narendra Modi's electoral journey of electoral success by playing the anti-quota politics.
But the sudden reactions from writers’ fraternity
added a new drama. It was well orchestrated. First a Jawaharlal Nehru kin -
Nayantara Sehgal said she is returning Sahitya Akademi award because India has
become so intolerant. The connection is lost on me as it would to Rabindranath
Tagore also. The Nobel laureate had returned Knighthood – given by the Britons – to protest
Jallianwallah Bagh. Here none of the awardees got the prize during Modi regime.
But when dictates come from elsewhere or is motivated by a campaign, reasons
have no place. Forty other writers joined her -- some in groups, some
individually -- clearing leaving a mark that it was pre-planned.
The operation
'let us nail Modi' – in writers manner had one agenda: present a gory picture
of India when the Modi government is desperate to set the economy on right
track.
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| Thy hand: Anarchy |
There was another coincidence and
the sense of timing. Release of a book by a Pakistani and 're-invention' of
secular credentials of Sudheendra Kulkarni. In 1970s, under 'sickular but
dynastic-democratic' rule of Indira Gandhi this could have been easily
attributed to 'foreign hands'.
These lead me to ask a few questions. One, the timing of Dadri and secondly, has BJP walked into a trap
of its own creation by giving impression that they justify the lynching of an
old man – rather a helpless farmer – on the pretext of protecting the Gau-mata.
On the face value, timing of Dadri definitely links
it to Bihar polls. Media found it easy to link the murder to BJP’s
political agenda of electoral polarization. But none thought over the
other factor in timing as it happened just when PM Modi had wrapped up his
successful visit to the US.
If the second analogy is correct, the very message for international press is that Modi’s India is
becoming intolerant to beef, the staple and favourite food item of Christians. This negates an atmosphere of pro-investment.
Irrespective of what happens in
Bihar; the episode certainly did a “collateral damage” to Modi’s effort to put
India on the fast track of development.
And look, who is
laughing?
(ends)
Tail Piece
(ends)
Tail Piece
l K Advani's blunder was not Jinnah-secular
comment....Sudheendra's influence did the 'magic' to crumble down the former
Loh Purush.
My advise to the BJP and the PM is this: Don't call this brigade "pseudo-secular". It still lends some kind of credence to their line of thought. They should be called "closet communalists". They are, by far, the most communal lot that I have seen. In the name of caring for minorities, they only increase the distance between the two communities. Like I have said earlier, it is not that these communities do not know how to co-exist -- they have been doing so before the term 'secular' became known to Indians, and for centuries. The "Closet communalists" swear by secularism in the same way as 'false witnesses' regularly take oath in lower courts across the country. Do I need to add any further?
ReplyDeleteYou are right. There are people who have interest in queering the pitch for Modi. Their policy is simple -- just don't allow him to work. They will try and not allow him to do anything, either in Parliament, or in foreign countries. As far as their 'secularism' is concerned, they should not be called 'pseudo-secular'. Rather, they should be called 'closet communalists'. They depend too much on communalism and fundamentalism to be held valid as 'secular'.
ReplyDeleteGandikota is a small town in India that can be explored in one day. But don’t judge this place by its size. If you have heard about the “Grand Canyon of Arizona”, you can easily imagine the beauty of this little town. Yes, it is the hidden “Grand Canyon of India’‘ that attracts millions of visitors towards itself every year. People visit this small village of Andhra Pradesh just to watch the beautiful gorge that forms here.
ReplyDeleteBesides this unparalleled beauty of the gorge, Gandikota has several attractions to visit with plenty of things to do there. We have uncovered many exciting things about Gandikota Tourism that can blow any visitor’s mind.
things-to-do-in-gandikota