With the lopsided growth of crass materialism on one hand and that of Saffron politics on the other at the cost of moral values in politics and other sphere of life, things have come to such a sorry pass that speaking the truth or raising the voice of reason is rather strongly opposed. We have put all moral bounds, it seems, on the back burner, thanks to the eulogising of Machiavellian principles in socio-political corridors. At least two incidents that took place this week tend to prove the point. One is the Bharatiya Janata Party’s bid to stall the proceedings in Rajasthan State Assembly for several days starting from January 6 taking strong exception to the recent remarks of Governor S. K. Singh accusing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of having a “direct role” in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. And the other is arresting, handcuffing and sending to jail B V Seetharam, Editor of a Mangalore based Kannada daily Karavali Ale for his statement against RSS and Bajrang Dal. All this is happening in free India where freedom of expression is guaranteed as a fundamental right.
Who does not know that Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, who had tendered resignation from his membership of RSS only days before his condemnable act just to save the skin of the organisation he used to owe allegiance to. But when the Governor of Rajasthan, S.K. Singh, speaking in a seminar on “Gandhi in times of terror,” mentioned the “direct role” of RSS in the assassination of Gandhiji, the opposition BJP members in the House created uproar for days together leading the Speaker Dipendra Singh Shekhawat to adjourn the proceedings. They wanted a debate on the Governor’s remarks right in the Assembly. But the Speaker in right earnest dismissed the demand of debate. The fact remains that be it the assassination of Gandhiji or killing of anyone else, however hard the assassins or those who are hands in glove with them try to wash out the blood on their hands they cannot rest in peace as one day the blood would tell the world the reality and justice will prevail. This is what is known as poetic justice.
In the BJP-ruled Karnataka the pawning glory of Sangh Parivar was seen in handcuffing an editor from Mangalore and parading him for his anti-rightist ideology. The Sangh Parivar hooligans damaged the Kannada daily’s office premises, beat the vendors of the publication, and destroyed the distribution network. Seetharam is considered the latest victim of continuing attack on media in South India. His crime is the relentless campaign against the alleged communal activities of the right wing organisations in the sensitive coastal areas in the State.
Media persons and observers allege that the BJP government is using police to harass the newspapers and TV news channels opposed to its style of functioning. Three criminal cases were slapped on a popular Kannada news channel just two weeks ago. As the time for general elections comes nigh, it appears that the ruling parties appear intent on making the media fall in line.
As we cast a look at the fast changing scenario in the country, we come to the conclusion that more forces of good say the non-communal or secular ones than we find active in the field are to come forward to oppose the communal and fascists forces with renewed zeal and enthusiasm.