The West Bengal Assembly election is over. With absolute majority,a new government under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is in power. Whether the new government will do its best to solve the pressing problems like unemployment, inflation, lawlessness, etc. of about 11 crore Bengali citizens or continue the polarisation policy of Hindus vs. Muslims is to be known.
If we take into account the statements of Mr. Suvendu Adhikari during the election campaign, we feel greatly concerned. He had said during the campaign that the lesson which was taught by Israel in Gaza should be repeated in West Bengal. Then he reminded that there are over 100 crore Hindus in India. He had also said that Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas is not valid. Therefore, he asserted that he would work for Hindus only. He had also said that every Hindu should hoist a flag on his house to show that “we are Hindus”,adding that if BJP comes to power, the names of Akbar, etc. would be decimated. He had commented: “How some EMVs were reporting Hindu votes and some Muslim votes.”
After assuming power, CM Adhikari said that he would work for all. It is to be seen whether he would uphold the Constitution of India and work for all or do what he had been continuously saying during the election campaign.
Secular and broadminded leaders and intellectuals are worried about the reported statements of CM Adhikari. Even international newspapers have showed their concern about the prevailing circumstances in India, particularly in West Bengal. Shall we hope good sense would prevail on Mr. Adhikari and he would resist from implementing the pledge made during his election campaign?
It is a matter of great concern that the North Indian States, one after another, are being made to fall prey to poisonous thinking and policies and communal agenda. The Constitution of India binds every political leader to uphold the Constitution and adhere to the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity. It is the basic and fundamental duty of every leader to see that justice – social, economic and political – is done to every citizen without any discrimination or fear or favour. If a leader fails in this duty, it would be the duty of Indian judiciary, especially the Supreme Court of India, to take suo motu cognisance and reprimand the wrongdoers. Nobody is above law. Every person who challenges the basic principles enshrined in the Constitution must be reprimanded, taken to task and corrected. Let us hope that the Chief Ministers of West Bengal, and Assam also, would act constitutionally, and follow the Constitution, in letter and spirit.
Contrast the statements made by Mr. Adhikari with those of Mr. JosephVijay, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Mr. Vijay assured the Tamil people to continue the time-honoured traditions of brotherhood and fraternal relations between religious communities of the state. He also promised that he would work honestly for the welfare and comprehensive development of youth, workers and all other sections of the society. The same is expected from the would-be Chief Minister of Kerala. That is why the Southern States are progressing socially and economically and gaining points on Human Development Index.
Is it not possible for BJP to change its thinking and policies? Is it not that peace assures greater victories than war, and love delivers much more than hate. Why shouldn’t BJP, at least for a change, try this recipe? Let BJP try to rebuild India on the bases of love, cooperation, understanding and justice for all citizens and shun the negative, divisive and inhuman principles.