The terror within
MINA ANAND
From my childhood, I’ve felt privileged to be a happy Indian, to belong to a civilisation and culture (the real culture and not that of any ‘sena’s’) that is ancient, tolerant, civilised, inclusive, secular, liberal and democratic. But I would now have to sadly, but definitely, add the adjective ‘anguished’ as well, and therefore arises an oxymoronic situation: “A happy, yet unhappy Indian”.
Anguished, because of the terror that is increasingly growing, the terror of the forces that threaten to tear apart all that India stands for; the growing disregard for the rule of law and of the horrific use of force and violence used by agents operating under the patronage of political parties.
Lawlessness
Where is the guarantee of our fundamental rights, of the right to live, let alone live with dignity? When a candidate (fighting for justice and for elections) is found hanging from a tree and the politicians hang the consequences of this barbaric act? When an 18-year old, at the threshold of life, is tormented and killed by his seniors, in the name of ragging? When a citizen can be tortured and lynched, not by ordinary criminals but by extortionists acting in the name of political bosses? When the lofty portals of a High Court become a beastly battleground, encompassing those who are supposed to uphold and protect the majesty of the law?
When young girls are publicly assaulted by hoodlums, acting to safeguard Indian culture? When Indians from one state are mercilessly attacked in another part of the country by sectionalists acting in the ‘local interest’? We are a tolerant race but, surely, we must no longer tolerate the kind of apathy and utter disregard for human life and dignity, the criminalisation of politics that is exhibited now with growing impunity. But do you see any kind of remorse? Is there a change of heart or mindset? No! When it comes to the crunch, our politicians, cutting across party lines, from the rustic to the suave and sophisticated, come together to fiercely guard their fiefdom. No one is willing to raise their hands or accept responsibility.
There is no disparity in ideology. Opportunism of the Left, Right or Centre confronts us. There is no party which does not have blood on its hand.
Hot pursuit
Instead of talking about ‘surgical strikes’ across the border, shouldn’t we concentrate on weeding out the non-state actors in our own country? One of the ways to do so would be to immediately and effectively implement the long overdue reforms in the electoral, police and criminal justice system and try to ensure that candidates with criminal records do not stand for election.
Partymen are loath to ‘take action’…..But we all know how fast they can ‘perk up’ when they choose to….(remember the MP’s pay hike bill ?)
The media, youth, and all the angry, ‘independent’ people, can play a big role in pushing relentlessly for reform to positively root out the terror-powered groups.
India’s civil society must denounce the stronghold of political mafiaism that is ruining lives, decrying the democratic process and abusing the freedom, given by our liberal Constitution. The verdict is clear and politics need not be the last resort of the scoundrels.
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