Irresponsible politicians, whose objective seems to be nothing but power, are stoking prejudices, hatred and enmity among two major communities of Uttar Pradesh. If saner elements do not intervene, media does not play a constructive role, the administration does not adopt effective measures and the BJP-led Government at the Centre does not rein in lumpen elements, the largest State of India appears to be heading towards worst type of polarisation, tensions and, God forbid, even an unprecedented bloodbath.
Thanks to Appu Esthose Suresh of The Indian Express for his four-piece investigative report on the dangerous situation created in UP. The exhaustive report, based on the analysis of police records, blames aggressive BJP, desperate Samajwadi Party and shrinking BSP for the situation.
The report is based on the over 600 communal incidents since the recent Lok Sabha election results. It underlines the fact that the change of guard at the Centre has emboldened the communal and fascist forces everywhere. It clearly shows that 60% of the incidents have been instigated in and around the 12 Assembly constituencies going shortly for bypolls.
The strategy of BJP appears to keep the atmosphere communally hot by communalising every small incident and thereby polarising the electorate to pursue its vote bank politics. It is extremely unfortunate that the BJP and its allied outfits are undermining the communal amity by blind pursuit of power. It is doing irreversible damage to peace and stability of the country.
Media, WhatsApp, Facebook and SMS are being used with impunity to divide the people, raise the level of tension and prepare the people to spring at each other’s throats at slightest provocation or ever manufactured misunderstandings. Provocative slogans, cited in The Indian Express, like “Today they are removing loudspeakers from your temples, tomorrow they will enter your homes and dishonour you” are being spread.
In the Lok Sabha elections, especially in the Western UP, the strategy was to promote Muslim versus Jat hatred. In the forthcoming Assembly elections it appears to be Muslim versus Harijan enmity.
This is also significant that about 45 per cent communal incidents have been instigated in the Western UP where Muslims are about 36 per cent of population. It is a move to intimidate them to fall in line, otherwise face the consequences.
India cannot allow a repeat of Gujarat 2002 in UP. The shame we earned in 2002 will remain a black spot on our name for ever. So join hands to save the nation and fight the policy of polarisation, communalisation and hatred.