Politics is the last resort of scoundrels (or at least of some of them). People want to live with peace and harmony. But the irresponsible politicians sow the seeds of disharmony and make people indulge in violence and mass murder. This sordid drama was enacted last year which resulted in 53 deaths, largescale destruction, wide-ranging displacement and an estimated loss of `25,000 crore, sadly to the poorest and already deprived Indians. Unfortunately, even now we come across persons who brag that they are ready to do again what they did then. They do not have even an iota of shame for the senseless violence.
It is shameful that these riots took place in the Capital under the very nose of the Home Ministry. This is the height of insensitivity. The connivance of the police is an undeniable fact, which either looked the other way or encouraged the perpetrators by its inaction and dereliction of duty. Scores of reports are appearing in the print and social media, analysing the riots and the role of the perpetrators, the politicians, the administrators’ apathy and judiciary’s less than required intervention and suo moto action.
Prashant Bhushan, an eminent legal expert and outstanding human rights activist, who is known for his frankness, has presented a candid analysis of the attitude of the law enforcing machinery, the judiciary and the administration. He says that the police encouraged the violence and some black sheep even participated in it. He cites the example of JNU, where the hooligans were allowed to enter the campus, beat the students and teachers and come out safely under the watchful eyes of the police. Then he refers to the beating of even girl students in the library of Jamia Millia Islamia. It was done after smashing CCTV cameras.
During N-East riots its officers were caught on TV cameras beating a group of badly injured youths who were ordered by its officers to say Vandemataram and sing the national anthem. He says that one of the youth (Faizan) died but the police told a court recently that it could not identify the concerned officers who committed this atrocity. He alleges that leaders who encouraged violence were allowed to go scot-free and on the contrary the peaceful protestors against CAA were implicated in false and fabricated cases under stringent UAPA.
Mr. Bhushan demands that to put an end to this questionable behaviour, the wrong doers must be identified and made to face justice. He refers to a judgement by Anand Narain Mulla of Allahabad High Court, who, in the fifties, had commented about the UP Police: “It is the largest organised gang of criminals.” He suggests that the same is being repeated now by the police and some other agencies.
He forcefully pleads that the High Court and the Supreme Court must do their duty and take cognisance of these atrocities, otherwise such things would reoccur. We feel that if our judiciary continues its inaction then hands of God will interfere and punish the wrong-doers. Meanwhile the concerned citizens must come forward to awaken the conscience of judiciary to intervene and do justice. Otherwise injustice will persist, violence may continue and innocent citizens will continue to suffer their increasing sense of frustration and resentment.