DC debates on Union ministers’ insensitive comments
Krishna Saagar Rao Vs Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy
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Analogy blown out of proportion - Krishna Saagar Rao (The writer is a BJP spokesperson and author)
It’s heart-wrenching to think about the death of two hapless children in an arson incident, wherein a house was set on fire by some criminal elements in Faridabad,Haryana, this past week. It was a horrifying incident and quite unfortunate. It’s inconsequential as to whether the family that underwent this tragedy is of Dalit or any other caste. Two young lives were lost due to an inhuman criminal act, and we are all deeply pained.
However, in a country like India, which has for long been divided by the Congress party on the lines of caste, creed and religion so as to enable it make petty political gains, all criminal acts are seen through the myopic lens of communal and religious hatred. Criminals, after all, are criminals. Why are we being pushed to identify them, or their victims, by their castes and religions? Our Constitution, its enforcement system, the law of the land, does not identify criminals by their caste, creed or religion. Those who violate law are criminals and are charged, prosecuted and sentenced for their actions. Caste or religion doesn't come in the way.
Yet, when isolated crimes like murder, rape and vandalism take place, they are assigned a pattern and colour with ulterior motives, and efforts are made to project them as state-sponsored or party-sponsored crimes. It's an irony that such efforts are made with increased vigour as and when the BJP is in power at the Centre or in states. In fact, all these hue and cry and even exaggeration of isolated incidents are done not out of any religious, caste or ideological standpoint. Rather, these attempts are purely cases of political intolerance. It's a scenario of ‘all against one’.
Most political parties in this country survive on negative factors like a divisive agenda and minority vote bank politics. Almost all of them are family-ruled parties, and they go any length and do whatever it takes to stay in power. The BJP, whose ideology and agenda are anchored in the ‘Country First’ belief, is not tolerated by these private limited, family-owned and family-run political parties. They do ‘whatever it takes’ to unseat the BJP from power. It's a classic case of ‘politics of obfuscation’ by a combination of Opposition parties, both individually and collectively.
Minister of State for External Affairs Gen V.K. Singh’s statement has been twisted, a spin given to it, taken out of context and made to suit the needs of the Opposition to play its ‘Dalit card’ especially at a time when Bihar is in poll mode, and over 15 per cent of the electorate there are Dalits. He is a retired officer from Indian Army, one whose only creed is ‘Indian’, one who has given 42 years of his life to this great nation, and held the post of the highly decorated 24th Chief of Indian Army Staff with gallantry medals like PVSM, AVSM, YSM to his credit. Can he be stooping so low as to be making casteist remarks? That too, over the tragic death of two little children due to an inhuman act?
His analogy was taken out of context even as it had no direct or indirect reference to the deaths of the children. It was only that, after he spoke about the incident in Faridabad, he drew an analogy to establish how silly and irresponsible were the allegations of the Opposition that there was a “failure” on the part of the Centre. A similar hostile spin was given by Opposition parties and a section of the media to a generalisation made by MoS for Home, Kiren Rijiju on North Indians. While talking to the media, he made a generalised statement that there were those in the North who took some pride in violating law. This statement was blown out of proportion to present him and the government in a poor light.
President Pranab Mukherjee’s repeated observations and comments on growing intolerance in India, in the backdrop of the Bihar polls, is surely raising many eyebrows. It’s rare
that a constitutional head of state like the President jumps to such conclusions and makes sweeping statements that have a bearing on the entire nation, based on stray and isolated incidents in one or two states. It’s now for the people of India to keenly observe the scenario and see the difference between truth and fiction.
Those in power lack sensitivity - Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy (The writer is CPI general secretary)
Two innocent Dalit children were burnt alive at Sunped village of Faridabad district in Haryana allegedly by upper caste men of the same village in what is seen as an act of revenge. The entire nation was shocked. But Union Minister Gen. V.K. Singh added to the pathos by creating a controversy with his comment that “if somebody throws a stone at a dog, do not blame the Union Government.” His argument was that, what happened there was a matter to be handled by the local administration. What a shame that Dalits are compared with dogs!
Earlier also, the General had used foul language. He described the media as a bunch of prostitutes or ‘presstitutes’. Haryana has become notorious with a 700 per cent increase in attacks on Dalits in the recent period. A Dalit writer in Karnataka has been threatened that his fingers would be cut off if he continues to write against upper castes or exposed the atrocities on Dalits. Sangeet Som, Sakshi Maharaj and other BJP leaders openly defended the lynching of Mohamad Akhlaq at Dadri in Uttar Pardesh on the false premise that the family kitchen had stored beef.
They threatened that if cases were filed against the village youths involved in the attack, they would call a Mahapanchayat. Earlier, a Mahapanchayat at Muzafarnagar by Sangeet Som triggered attacks on minorities, killing several of them. Interestingly, Sangeet Som is himself owner of a company that has registration to export beef to foreign countries.
Three young Muslim boys who purchased bullocks for their farming activities were attacked with petrol bombs in Jammu, in which one died on the spot. The allegation against them was that they would kill cows. The entire Kashmir Valley is still burning in anger, resulting in lathi-charges, police firing and deaths of demonstrators, after such provocative actions.
The serial murders of rationalists Narendra Dabolkar, Govind Pansare and M.M. Kulbargi, the threats to writers in Tamil Nadu, and spread of communal poison and intolerance forced our writers to demand a resolution by the Sahitya Akademi condemning the murders. Upon its refusal to do so, the writers returned their awards. They are described as ‘old forgotten foggies’ by a journalist. When Sahitya Akademi met to discuss the issue, the so- called nationalist writers and ABVP organised a rally demanding that no condemnation resolution should be passed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s golden silence is broken only after President Pranab Mukherjee appealed to one and all to retain the plurality and core values of the country.
Intolerance is not exhibited by the poor even as they suffer due to sky-rocketing prices of essential commodities like pulses. There is no intolerant act from Dalits and minorities who are subjected to cruel attacks and are living in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity. The intolerance is from the self-styled Hindutva representatives, which is being exhibited in the ugliest way. They are framing new rules. This is a matter of serious concern. Shiv Sena in Mumbai blackens the face of Sudheendra Kulkarni for promoting a book by a Pakistani writer and bans playing of cricket with Pakistan team in Mumbai.
Union minister Kiren Rijju’s comment that “North Indians are in the habit of breaking the rules as they enjoy such actions” does not stand to scrutiny. This is utter nonsense. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was on record to say, in his Vijayadasami address, that there is hope and satisfaction in the country and he also granted a certificate of good governance to Narendra Modi. It is not that Modi does not know what's happening around. The government has no intention to control prices, unemployment, or poverty. It is a government of the corporates, by the corporates and for the corporates.
One is worried as to whether communal poison is being spread with an evil design to encourage communal clashes, so as to polarise Hindu votes for the BJP’s further consolidation. The people were intelligent enough to defeat a corrupt party. They can teach a lesson to communalists also.
