By Barnes Mawrie
Way back in 1992 the BJP tried to rally Hindu unity in India by targeting the minority Muslims. They came en masse to pull down stone by stone the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. More than 2000 people most of whom were Muslims perished in that gruesome incident. Yet even today many of those responsible for that criminal act are still at large. The present avatar of the BJP under PM Modi has resorted to yet another religious issue by which they try to further consolidate Hindu votes by victimizing the minorities. Today, the “sacred cow” has become a politico-religious issue by which they have been winning elections in many states including the recent one in UP. No one would have objected if such a religious belief is publicly professed by them, but the fact that it is indirectly being imposed on members of other religious groups, has become a nightmare for the country. The rise of cow vigilantes in the country is synonymous to the rise of an “evil empire” which is going to destroy our nation from within. These are worse threats than Pakistan or China because they are the woodworm that gnaws at the basic fabric of our country’s integrity. President Pranab Mukherjee is vociferous on this issue when he urges the Indian citizens to be “vigilant” and not be “vigilantes.” That the BJP government is “fodder” or a “breeding ground” for such fundamentalism, can be deduced from the fact that religious fundamentalism has started to show its ugly head since the beginning of the BJP government. With the arrival of the BJP Government at the helms of national and many state affairs, we see the emboldenment of right-wing Hindu groups like the RSS, BD or VHP. NDTV has also reported that about 97% of mob violence took place after the BJP came to power.
The ongoing nationwide protest “Not in my name” against the mob lynching of Junaid, indicates a nation that is wearied of such brutalism. As per report of NDTV, about 18 mob violence cases have taken place in 22 months and most of them are related to beef issue. The minorities in India today be they Muslims, Christians, Dalits or Tribals are living in fear and insecurity. The manner the cow vigilantes roam freely in India taking the law into their own hands and victimizing minority groups on issues related to beef etc, speaks badly about the law and order status in our country right now under the BJP. PM Modi has so far been silent about this issue and only recently did he make a statement condemning the incident of mob violence. But we know that it is only a diplomatic statement which probably did not come from his conviction about the evil of the act. A question that comes to my mind right now is: is the BJP government really serious about ending such atrocities perpetrated by groups affiliated to them? If so they should ban religious fundamentalists because they are no different from terrorists. But I guess they would never do it because there is a mutual understanding and support between them.
Killing persons in the name of a “cow” is such an abominable act which would make civilized people shock stricken. Where on earth do we hear animal life being preferred to human life? Even if an animal is considered sacred or holy, it is common sense that human life should not be sacrificed for its sake. As I am writing, I know there are still similar incidents taking place in some parts of our country. India the land of the great Buddha (a messenger of peace and ahimsa) and of the great Mahatma (a prophet of universal brotherhood), is now bleeding to death. Innocent blood is being spilled everyday by those persons who claim to be “orthodox” Hindus (a misnomer for “good Hindus”). Unfortunately, the BJP has bought up the media and therefore what is being projected to the public are the so called “achievements” of the government (demonetization, GST etc). Through this strategy, the cry of pain of the poor victims of violence is being muffled by the loud noise of the media clattering about the economic progress of India. But right minded people will know that what the media propagates are all half truths if not total lies. So India is back to the rule of the jungle where “might is right.” I hope that the “Not in my name” campaign will gain momentum from day to day because what India needs today is citizens’ awareness of the true state of our country and the decisiveness to fight against all divisive elements.