BJP leader Varun Gandhi’s anti-Muslim outbursts during election campaign in Pilibhit have outraged the whole country. His crude diatribe was so bad in taste that it has stunned even BJP.
He used worst type of derogatory words against the Muslims and crudely said that Hindus can kill Muslims or chop their hands off; Muslims are terrorists like Osama bin Laden. He asked Hindus to unite against Muslims to save the area from becoming Pakistan. He further said that the hand of lotus (BJP symbol) will cut the throats of kat**s (unprintable derogatory word for Muslims which has been a favourite of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray). His final fulmination was “if any wrong element raises his hand on a Hindu, I swear on the Gita that I will cut his hand.”
Perhaps in the long history of India such filthy and poisonous language has never been used. Decent Indian citizens are wondering whether these hate-filled words should be taken only as a sentimental outburst of a juvenile delinquent, who has entered the electoral fray for the first time, or they are indicative of the real hidden sentiments of Sangh Parivar. The wonder of the wonders is that even the man who is regarded as the butcher of Gujarat used to veil his vile sentiments and clothe them with suggestions and euphemisms. The dominant opinion held by the BJP watchers is that this inexperienced young leader has given vent to the real thinking in the rank and file of BJP and RSS. It is a very sad comment on the state of affairs in a party which claims to be ‘a party with a difference’ and aspires to be the national alternative.
Words represent the inner thoughts of a person or group. Words raise people above brutes; they also make them sink to the level of demons. Some people think that BJP has changed a bit in the changed atmosphere of the country but Varun’s filthy words have unveiled the reality.
Indian nation is becoming maturer by every day. Times have changed and things are also changing for the better. This is indicated by the fact that the Election Commission has taken strong exception to these fulminations and initiated legal criminal action against the irresponsible BJP leader. Not that alone, the officers who are guilty of dereliction of duty in this case have been transferred. BJP is in a quandary, yet it is forced to distance itself from the statement of its youth leader. India can no longer tolerate use of such communal jargon. Tolerance of such poisonous words in the past created communal discord and pushed the country into conflicts and bloodshed. Need of the hour is zero tolerance to hate speech. Let us hope that the civil society will register its strongest opposition to such filthy and communal sentiments. Those who are not ready to talk in a civilized manner do not have the right to spread their poison which bleeds India from time to time.
BJP, if it really wants to work in the multi-cultural country should take stern action against this irresponsible lad and announce the cancellation of his candidature from Lok Sabha election. Let this message be read far and wide that uncivilized and uncouth people do not have any role in this democratic and civilized country.