DR. S. AUSAF SAIED VASFI comments on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s bid to heap honour on the accused of Muzaffarnagar riots.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set up a new milestone by felicitating the Muzaffarnagar riots accused at Agra on 21 November.
Two of the BJP MLAs, Mr. Sangeet Som and Mr. Suresh Rana, named in FIRs relating to the Muzaffarnagar riots that claimed over 100 lives, were honoured by the party in the presence of several State level Saffron stalwarts. Mr. Kalraj Mishra was in the chair. The brain behind the unprecedented provocation is said to have been Mr. Amit Shah, in-charge of BJP for UP elections.
Enormous care was taken by the Agra rally organisers to delay the party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s arrival for his fire and brimstone speech at the venue.
MAJORITARIAN NATIONALISM
It looks as if now majoritarian nationalism is in full bloom. Do not be surprised if in the days to come, a thug, a dacoit, a fraudster, a murderer or a rapist is also publicly honoured by his party. We feel so because the event at Agra has changed the definition of crime, which now in brief is: If the accused is a brother belonging to the majority community, he deserves a deafening applause and public appreciation. But if he happens to be a member of the minority community, well, it is a normal case and the law should take its own course.
The two accused are being tried under the stringent National Security Act. This fact could not compel the organisers to have a second glance at their choice for felicitation.
LAUGHING STOCK
The Saffron has, with enormous labour, now succeeded in transforming itself into a laughing stock. That would be surprising if Mr. Modi, aspirant for 10 Janpath, is refused visa to visit a civilized country. Is any varnish available anywhere which can turn a black into a white?
Many are inclined to believe that this is the real, hideous face of the RSS, the mother of the BJP, the VHP, and the Bajrang Dal and other antediluvian forces.
We need not reiterate that Saffron has two standards, two yardsticks, two measures, one for the Hindus and the other for Muslims.
To substantiate the point, we recall that in the dictionary of Hindutva, if a Hindu migrates from Bangladesh, he is a ‘refugee’ but if the migrant happens to be a Muslim, he is an ‘intruder’. Are we misquoting the recent history?
In the scroll of honour, the two MLAs were described as the “heroes” who had “ensured the safety of Hindus”. A BJP worker, Mr. Sudhir Balyan was also honoured with a gorgeous turban and a beautiful shawl. To quote Mr. Laxmikant Bajpayee, the state BJP president: “We are felicitating them as they were wrongly implicated in the riots. They are two heroes who reassured Hindus at a time when (UP minister, Mr.) Azam Khan was ensuring that the guilty would escape. It is because of them that the Hindus could survive with some hope.”
‘WRONGLY IMPLICATED’
The UP State BJP has made history. If one “wrongly implicated” can be felicitated publicly, would Mr. Bajpayee mind if some aggrieved or the victims’ relations and friends felicitate their innocent persons who have also been implicated in riots or other disturbances? Did the said legislators not indulge in a subversive activity? Is causing a communal disturbance not anti-national act? And as the case is under hearing, was the felicitation not sub-judice?
Let us also ponder over the uncomfortable implications of heaping honour on the accused of A-1 category.
First, this perverse mode of thinking would initially trigger baser feelings in the victims and their kith and kin, who have received wounds at the hands of the accused. Had the organisers not thought about the – Heavens forbid – repercussions of this ignoble act? It is perhaps futile to point out that rubbing salt against the wounds does not behove the gentlemen. It is diabolic, wicked and mean.
Secondly, at the end of the day, the diseased mind behind the move would unwittingly pave the way for yet another partition. If we are not wrong, the question is, the accredited “deshbhakts” or pseudo-patriots would, in that case, hide their faces in which corner? Because this partition would have roots in their narrow thinking.
LENGTHENING SHADOWS
Thirdly, it would lengthen the shadows between the majority and the minority communities. For garnering votes, polarisation may be an effective mantra. But to those who are capable of seeing beyond their nose, it is suicidal for the plural nation as a whole. The tragedy is there are not many in our midst who are capable of thinking at all-India level. Alas! Bharat has no icon, no model, no ideal personage worth the name.
Fourthly, the oncoming majoritarian nationalism is likely to prove a cumbersome burden on the country. The hydra-headed Frankenstein of fascism would leave little space for dissent and dissenters. The shift that would take place in political priorities would prove a doomsday for the good Hindus.
Fifthly, key institutions like colleges, universities, study centres and planning commission are likely to be deinstitutionalised. Any colour that dares to overshadow the Saffron would be thrown out.
Sixthly, a hard ethnic pseudo-nationalism would replace the current liberal democracy because anti-republican majoritarianism would run into the veins of our polity.
LEGENDS, TRADITIONS
Seventhly, the ultimate Hindutva would force the democratic, plural Bharat to act according to legends, traditions, and uninformed history. Let the critics ask and let the advocates of Hindutva care to give the nation a cogent reply what would be their domestic policy, the policies dealing with international issues, their educational system, their policy of information and broadcasting, etc. etc.
THE QUESTION
The honesty of purpose forces us to recall that some on the fringe have since long been celebrating the birthday of Nathuram Godse. News to that effect has been leaked out almost regularly. With the precedent set at Agra now would enable the Saffron forces to indulge in their pastime and lionise the assassin of the Mahatma, the Father of the Nation. But will it not provide an opportunity to the Sikhs to recall Bhindranwale and his disciple Beant Singh also?