What happened at Ichamati on February 28 is condemnable. However, that incident should not give rise to a cycle of hate and vengeance, for this is what the provocateurs want. Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya has been a melting pot of cultures. It has inherited this culture from the being the capital of undivided Assam. Nothing can change this composite culture and it is something that should be celebrated. The idea of homelands with a homogenous culture is an ideal promoted by those that refuse to believe that the world is one family. While the idea of resistance is embedded in a democracy and people have an inalienable right to protest against majoritarian legislations that seek to undermine the fundamental principles of democracy, violence as the means to that end is equally undemocratic. Democracy envisages that citizens have mutual respect for each others’ rights and privileges. The rights of one group cannot be promoted at the cost of another.
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 has brought in its wake much violence beginning at the national capital. People have died while the police remained complicit. To arrive at justice when situations of communal violence arise require a police force that is completely non-partisan and does not kow-tow to the whims of those in power. Is this possible in India today? Is it time to rethink police training and to make it truly national in character so that cops don’t develop a vested interest? The composition of the police force should be such that it is representative of the composite culture of India and those in the force are expected to rise above their petty loyalties. This is where the Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF) comes in. In all communal conflicts that have rocked Shillong in the past since 1979, it is the CRPF that has managed to remain insulated from the local politics. It is important for the perpetrators of violence to be arrested, irrespective of what community they belong to.
Speaking about politics, this is also the time for political leaders of all shades both from the ruling party and the opposition to take a stand and come out with statements condemning violence. This is not the time to play blame games or to take advantage of the climate of suspicion and fear and the ongoing propensity for violence. Politicians should lead the way and appeal to their constituents to maintain peace. It is not for nothing that they are called leaders. If they fail us at this time and maintain a conspiratorial silence it will only mean that they are unworthy to be called leaders.
This is the time for leaders to rise above partisan and parochial loyalties and help restore peace in Shillong and Meghalaya.