In the backdrop of bloodshed in Orissa and J&K, DR. S. AUSAF SAIED VASFI laments the irresponsible behaviour on the part of political parties and observes that the rot can be corrected only by turning to principled politics.
At the risk of digression from subject – the ever-continuing violence in Jammu & Kashmir and Orissa – listen what a bench of the Supreme Court, not long ago, said in a different context.
A Bench consisting of Justice B.N. Agrawal and Justice G.S. Singhvi was hearing a case of un-authorised occupation of Government bungalows. During the arguments Justice Agrawal said: “The whole government machinery is corrupt, whether at the Centre or in the States. They (senior officials) don’t have guts to differ with the opinion of the clerks.” When additional Solicitor-General Amarendra Saran, appearing for the Centre, said there were enough laws and guidelines, Justice Agrawal orally observed: “We are fed up with this government. There is no accountability and nobody bothers about laws or guidelines. Nobody in the government works and the whole government has become non-functional. That is why PILs are filled. When we pass orders, those in power complain about judicial activism. When they are out of power they are happy and they come here (to the court) for remedy.” Justice Singhvi intervened to say: “God alone will have to help this country.” Justice Agrawal said, “Even God will not be able to help this country. God is a mute spectator as he also feels helpless. OUR COUNTRY’S CHARACTER HAS GONE. WE ARE HELPLESS.”
PLURAL BHARAT RAW NERVE
The highest palladium of Justice has appropriately put its hand on the raw nerve of plural Bharat, whose plurality itself, its very life-blood, the sheet anchor of its constitution is now under severe threat. Otherwise how would you explain the selective targeting of Christians in Orissa and the terrorists’ reprehensible activities notwithstanding, equally selective targeting of Muslim in Jammu and Kashmir? Things reached their nadir when the J&K State authorities sent police to the home of the leaders of National Conference, Mr. Mahboob Beg, Peoples Democratic Party’s Mansoor Ahmed, an IAS Officer Mir Afzal Lone and Mr. Shujaat Bukhari, correspondent of The Hindu. But the provocative raids drew blanks.
What is wrong with him if Mr. Lone, Director Employment reacted angrily: “its shame and an insult to my political ideology. They have questioned 60 years of my family’s political commitment. It was harassment and humiliation,” said Beig. “I have security and 10 CRPF men guard my residence. What message are they sending out? Right or wrong, we act as a bridge between Kashmir and India for the past 60 years,” he said.
“What will I tell my people, my constituency? They will ask me where you are leading us, they don’t even trust you. I have no answer.”
STRATEGIC BLUNDERS
The strategic blunders of the State and the Central Government have provided an opportunity for the state opposition to unite and give a tough fight. These parties see the Central Government policy on Amarnath land issue as a threat to Art. 370, which the Saffron parties want to dilute to complete J & K integration with Bharat. Therefore Mr. L.K. Advani has decided to resume his “Sankalp Yatra” which would include public rallies and mass contact programmes across the country.
Can you recall the bloodshed seen in the wake of Mr. Advani’s Somnath Yatra, about which his much touted view was that that would (further) cement Hindu-Muslim ties? The Saffron aspirant for the Prime Ministerial chair has begun preparations for the 15th Lok Sabha elections in all earnestness. His latest shaft is: “Hindu are not safe in this country.” His party’s latest slogan is: “Atal, Advani, Rajnath, Bachaane Chale Amaranth”. The latest piece of advice the wannabe premier gave is: “On August 9, 1942 Gandhiji not only told the British to leave the country, he also told the people of India: Do or Die. I have come to tell you that in this agitation you should remember this slogan. Get ready for the struggle, get ready to make sacrifices”, so said Mr. Advani in New Delhi on August 10.
The on-coming general election has also turned Mr. Modi into an all – Indian leader. The exact words on “You Tube” website are “Narendra Modi, Prince of Gujarat”. And Mr. Ratan Tata’s remark: “The Chief Minister won’t have to attract people to Gujarat. You are stupid if you are not here.”
ORISSA SITUATION
As we rush to press (August 28), the national press informs the nation there are shoot-at-sight orders in Kandhamal in Orissa. The Union Minister of State for Home, Mr. Sriprakash Jaiswal was advised by the state authorities not to see the riot-hit areas lest his visit should aggravate the situation. He listened to the advice to later on announce “the situation is out of control.”
The death toll stands at 14 including one nun burnt alive. The injured are around 75. And the loss of property is yet to be estimated. The “Indian Express” (August 28) did a heart –shattering story, under the caption “Targeted by angry mob, police watching, Christians flee after their houses burnt.” Ravik Bhattacharya from Phulbani wrote: Families have visited homes after homes in their neighbourhood, asking for shelter only to be refused because they are Christian…. The victims range from retired police officers to Additional District Magistrate…. In more remote villages, the situation is worse – Christian families, including women and children, are leaving their villages and fleeing to adjacent hill and forests…. The policeman stood right there along the mob and watched the entire scene,” said Pushplata.
GENESIS OF DISTRIBUTION
It all began after the dastardly murder of Lakshmananda Saraswati by 30 odd masked men, all officially believed to be Maoists and Naxals. To them, the re-conversion stories were “hitting at their base of mass mobilization.” There is no evidence of Christian missionaries’ involvement. But the lunatics had their own agenda, including burning churches, torching prayer-houses and thousands of vehicles throughout the poor state. We feel acts of Parliament or State Legislatures can not stop conversion. The day the Saffron parties agree to erase off the line of demarcation between the “lesser children of God” and Brahmins and other higher castes, the conversions would automatically come to an end.
Pope Benedict has deplored the anti-Christians mayhem. He has condemned spiralling violence against Christians in India but also deplored the killing of a Hindu leader that sparked clashes. He said he was profoundly saddened by the violence and destruction of Christian homes, churches and orphanages. “While I firmly condemn every attack on human life, whose sacredness required respect by all, I express my spiritual closeness and solidarity to the brothers and sisters in the faith, who are so sorely tried,” he told pilgrims and tourists at his weekly general audience.
So far neither any Saffron nor any Secular Party has described the comment as “interference in Bharat’s internal affairs”. And, perhaps they won’t.
But they should respond to the Supreme Court’s bemoaning the loss of character and its helplessness.
Would the VHP and Bajrang Dal and their parent organisation, the RSS, mind to be told that Islam is the other name of character and character-building, sheet-anchored into belief in Allah, His Prophets and the Day of Judgement?