Editor,
Apropos of the unfortunate violence in Ichamati where members of KSU were assaulted and one succumbed to injury, reminds us of ‘Violence’ as a new normal phenomenon. It scares me to see how savage we have become. Why aren’t we using dialogue as a way to show our dissent? Is killing the only way left to get our demands fulfilled? The fight between anti CAA protesters and pro CAA demonstrators is taking a very personal and violent turn. Since when have the people as a community started to take the law in their own hands? Since when has a democracy initiated a blind killing? We are all forgetting that this is the country of Mahatma Gandhi who gave the world a very important concept of satyagraha. He believed that an eye for an eye will make the whole world blind and this is exactly what’s happening all over the country. Personal attacks and grudges are taking precedence over actual issues.
There are multiple ways of showing opposition to the Government but killing of people can by no means be held acceptable. Damaging public property, violating the rights of fellow citizens inter alia shows how brutal we have become. However, we often forget that in all these acts of cruelty the real purpose and essence gets lost and the real issue is lost. What makes the Ichamati violence more worrisome is it’s alleged form of targeted structural violence that has taken the form of fight between locals and non locals( AKA outsiders). KSU and HNYF leaders are demanding the government to immediately check the papers of people and evict those who don’t possess the required documents. Will they also show this orientation in dealing with the issue of NRC? Would they now support the exercise of NRC in the country?
My only request to the concerned stakeholders, of which the normal people are a party, is to be reasonable and rational before falling prey to the structural and engineered violence. We should not forget that by instigating violence, the image of the state goes down and with National Games 2022 approaching, we surely can’t let this happen. How will we expect the non locals to come and invest in our Meghalaya if they encounter a constant fear of getting assaulted. This divisive politics has to end and we must learn to live together in harmony. We should celebrate and respect the diversity of the country. We must also respect the hard earned normalcy in the state which was absent for many years and that had caused much loss to the economy.
Yours etc.,
Vidhi Sharma
Delhi
Delhi riots hurt humanity
Editor,
Till last week the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was hugely applauded as the party that would restore democracy. Today it is hard to believe that certain APP leaders are allegedly found to have instigated riots and violence. How can we have a leader who allows throwing of petrol-bombs and acid pouches on citizens from atop his building? The violence and terror activities of the last two months in the country, more particularly in New Delhi, have clearly revealed the ground realities which will never augur well so far as the sovereignty and integrity of the nation is concerned.
A huge amount of public property has been destroyed, trains, motors vehicles, buildings have been set ablaze while innocents have been shot and killed. There are increasing numbers of political leaders who are allegedly involved in planning and orchestrating such terror activities. Inciting the crowds has become a new game. In this even the senior BJP leaders are blameworthy for their pre-election comments because of which other junior leaders such as Kapil Mishra, Parvesh Verma and Anurag Thakur got emboldened. Being the leaders of the ruling parties, be it BJP or AAP, or Congress they should first learn how to keep their cool instead of instigating violence.
Of course, our elected leaders who have promised to serve each citizen, irrespective of his/her caste, creed and language, should always weigh their comments many times before spouting hatred. I believe, it is the time now to measure the TEMPERAMENT of each leader before he/she is legally allowed to contest elections because a even a little deviance may lead to major catastrophes and confrontation as we have been noticing. Each elected leader should uphold the constitution and put sincere efforts at maintaining peace and harmony among diverse communities. The country’s integrity and the “heart of humanity” should not be hurt by any political leaders and celebrities or by any citizen. Let us learn to make peace with humanity which is now at the receiving end.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali
Shillong
India faces sharp criticism
Editor,
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government of Modi has come under fierce international criticism over the Citizenship (Amendment ) Act, 2019 and the violence surrounding anti-CAA protests and the communal riots in Delhi. From business leaders to political leaders across countries and the Chief of the United Nations and international media, there has been substantial criticism of the Indian government.
Of course, some of these reports in the international media may be distorted, but all are not. The government argues against such criticism and the protests. It staunchly defends itself by arguing that the criticism and protests are the work of forces opposed to India. However, for India that takes great pride in the prominent and leading role it has played in solving international issues and which has received praise and appreciation from other countries and world leaders, the present state is not a desirable one.
Many other factors have also significantly worsened other countries’ perception of India. India’s economy has slowed down significantly. The absence of a sound economy has changed other countries’opinion about India. The government changed Jammu and Kashmir’s status and many political leaders in J&K continue to be under detention. The region is under tight security cover. There has been no sincere efforts from the side of the government to bridge the ideological divide. The government’s disinterest and reluctance to enter into a dialogue has caused confusion and apprehension.
The anti-CAA protests and the violence developed from it, the communal riots in Delhi in which both Hindus and Muslims lost their lives and resulted in massive loss of property, hate speeches delivered by some BJP leaders that instigated violence have all caused other countries to develop negative attitudes towards India.
The central government should try to resolve these issues. It should shed its stubbornness and ego and work towards achieving closure on CAA.
Yours etc.,
Venu GS,
Via e mail