Tolerating The Intolerance
By Gazi Hassana
05 April, 2016
Countercurrents.org
Since the day one of BJP coming to power, apprehensions which initially had turned into expectations have taken a back seat. People were optimistic about India’s future and its endeavors under new govt. Elected on the motto of much hyped Make in India campaign with developmental agenda on the forefront has somehow lost its charm. Country is becoming intolerant of the free speeches and routine demonstration. There has been increase in the communal tensions across the country. Issues like Ghar Wapsi, Ram Janum Bhumi, Gaw Mata politics, beef ban, vandalism of minority religious institutions, attacks on Dalits and so on. It was as if the parent organization of the BJP the RSS and its wings viz. Bajrang Dal, Vishu Hindu Parishad were given free hand of taking law into hands. None of the issues mentioned above was condemned by the BJP’s top leadership whole heartedly. Issues and attacks kept on coming up to this very day. People are tolerating the intolerant behavior of RSS and its youth wings.
Let alone BJP, opposition has also failed to put pressure on the BJP’s agendas. Not to forget the lynching of youth in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir over allegedly transporting beef. Much famous Dadri Lynching where a man was brutally lynched to death by a mob on the suspicion of keeping beef in refrigerator. This suspicion was later on proven wrong in the investigation. Most recently hanging of two youth in MP for allegedlytrafficking cattle should not be forgotten. There is flaw in everything if it does not adhere with the principles of the RSS.
Recent case of JNU where it was alleged by the youth wing of BJP the ABVP, that the students belonging to the Left wing and some unidentified students chanted anti-India slogans and pro Afzal Guru Slogans. (Afzal Guru is supposedly a surrendered militant suspected of being a conspirator of attack on Indian Parliament. He was hanged on 9th of Feb 2013.). It is ironic that BJP which considers pro-Afzal Slogans as anti-national is forming govt. in coalition with a regional party (PDP in J&K) that considers Afzal Guru as martyr. It was alleged that students were commemorating his third death anniversary and chanting slogans viewed as anti-national. JNU is considered as an elitist institution in whole of India in terms of the academicians it has produced during the course of its existence. It has also produce large number of country’s bureaucrats and civil servants. It was founded by Mrs. Indira Gandhi on pretext of producing bureaucrats who will help run country better. JNU has become a victim of the blame game, prestigious institution has been dragged into dirty political ambitions. Politicizing the death of Rohit Vemula of UoH and imposition of unconstitutional provision in governing the academic institutions are becoming norms of the daily life.Being a research scholar of International Studies I am a bit scared of studying Pakistan and praising its military, constitutional set up, its robust feminist and civil society as compared to India openly. The fear is of being labelled as anti-national or traitor. Students should be given that space where they can praise or critique any country be it arch rivals or natural allies.
National and anti-national debate has just started, it will haunt us till the time BJP led NDA govt. is in power. Minorities when demand special status are considered anti-national and if you happened to be a Muslim then GOD save you, you have to prove your loyalty, patriotism and nationalism for the country. I think Jinnah was to some extent right when he said that minorities in South Asia and in particular of India will be oppressed by the majority community. I am not generalizing but only those who on pretext of defending their religion and (pseudo-national pride) hurt sentiments of the other communities.This is the country where people demand reservation to remain backward. The way in which current regime is dealing with the issues I must say we heading towards dark ages.
Also case in point is the recent passage of Aadhar Bill in the parliament in the Budget Session. Controversy raveled because Bill was introduced as the Money Bill in the lower house of the parliament Lok Sabha. If a bill is introduced as money bill Rajya Sabha cannot amend it nor can recommend any amendments to the proposed bill. Constitution, the Fundamental Law of the Land should not be abrogated to achieve unethical ends.
If the current NDA regime foresees itself ruling 10-15 years down the line, the leadership should take note and deal with the grave issues comprehensively. Government should be tolerant of the views of its citizens be it criticizing its policies or initiatives. It should not be infringing on fundamental rights of its citizens.
Authored by Gazi Hassana Research Scholar of International Studies in JMI. Can be reached at [email protected]