By Albert Thyrnaing
After the backlash from Muslim countries the BJP suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and removed her from the primary membership of the party. Sharma, who had been associated with the BJP for over 15 years, allegedly insulted Prophet Muhammad during a television debate. The saffron party also expelled the Delhi media in-charge Naveen Kumar Jindal over his media posts calling the ‘Prophet’ a rapist.
Reports have also appeared that following the controversy the ruling party has introspected and has identified 38 leaders as offenders and warned 27 leaders. The strong actions were taken due to the outrage in the Islamic world including the super oil rich Middle Eastern countries like Kuwait, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Indian ambassadors were summoned; strong statements were issued and calling of boycott of Indian products was spread on social media. Forced to act the BJP stated that it was “against any ideology which insults or demeans any sect or religion,” adding it did not “promote such people or philosophy”. Diplomats explained to the incensed countries terming the offensive comments “views of fringe elements”.
We ought to know by now that Sharma and Jindal are not the fringe. They are very much mainstream. The former firebrand spokesperson has Prime Minister, Narendra Modi among her more than half a million followers on Twitter. Following her TV outburst she tagged PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda in her tweets. Her supporters praised her and raised her to the status of “a lioness, a fierce and fearless warrior”. The Nupurs and the Naveens are among thousands of hardliners in the BJP and they are not to be dismissed as ‘fringe’ constituents.
Vitiation of the religious atmosphere; the creation of communal disharmony and the spread of hatred for the minorities are synonymous with the present nationalist and Hindutva regime since the last eight years. Voices of concern within the country and churnings from democratic countries across the globe have been constantly directed at the current dispensation but to no avail. It is shameful that theocratic nations of Kuwait, Iran and Qatar and Saudi Arabia had to compel the secular country of India to respect all religions.
Though the constitution of Kuwait provides for freedom of belief and religious practice, Islam is the state religion and the feared Sharia is a source of legislation. In Iran though Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism are officially recognized religions religious intolerance is very high. In Qatar the Constitution provides freedom but worship is restricted and proselytizing by non- Muslims is prohibited as the state religion is Islam. Saudi Arabia is an Islamic fascist absolute monarchy and Sunni Islamic country firmly ruled by Sharia law. Non-Muslims can’t practice their religion in public lest they face prosecution, discrimination and deportation. In the Saudi and much of the Muslim world blasphemy and apostasy are punishable crimes.
So, it is sheer hypocrisy for these countries to lecture India on religious freedom. Painter MF Hussain who painted Hindu goddesses in the nude was honoured and given citizenship by Qatar. But that is precisely the point. The situation in India, the birthplace and the habitat of many religions, has reached to such a low that practitioners of double-standards had to preach us. We, whose Constitution is firmly founded on inclusion, have to bow to the Arab nations where religious freedom is virtually non-existent. This is because the present leadership ridiculed the cries of citizens who have been ringing the alarm bells for a long time. The ‘fringe elements’ were never reined in. The BJP had to learn it the hard way. It has been practicing the policy of majoritarianism at home but it has to realise that its actions have repercussions far beyond the boundaries of the Indian sub-continent.
With the Arab world up in arms the Indian ruling hardliners had to be termed the ‘fringe elements’ overnight to protect the image of the Prime Minister, Modi. Economic reasons too play a part. The call for boycott of Indian goods left the government with no choice. Grocery shops were already boycotting Indian goods in the ‘aggrieved’ countries. India’s trade with the Gulf countries was worth 87 billion dollars in 2020-21. The region has millions of Indians who live and work in these countries. The consequences are too grave to be ignored. The insult took place on May 27 but till June 4, no action was taken in spite of the protests and violence in Kanpur. It was only the outcry by the Islamic world that ensured the branding of the former proud party spokespersons as ‘fringe’.
Recently International Environment day was celebrated. Trees were planted to emit more oxygen and cool the ever-increasing heat due to climate change. Cleanliness drives were organised to prevent public places from being eyesores. The environment is not limited to the physical surrounding. It includes the human surroundings as well. In fact, humans are the most crucial elements of the environment. It is humans that are responsible for the alarming degradation of the environment. Planting respect, tolerance, inclusiveness and the like should be undertaken to emit better air in the country. The garbage of hatred, disrespect, intolerance should be cleansed up in our minds so that the beautiful values of India can come alive again.
In Meghalaya too Environment day was celebrated enthusiastically. The Chief Minister, other ministers, officers, the deputy commissioners, government departments, schools, colleges and organisations posted images of tree plantation on social media. But no one asks, “What has happened to the trees planted last year and the previous years?” I posed this question to someone. With proof and example he replied, “95 per cent have died or were eaten by cows. We plant but we don’t care whether they survive or not”. Regarding cleaning up he said, “We may make children clean but the government has not come up with a sustainable waste management solution. Neither Shillong nor Tura nor Jowai has healthy dumping grounds. They are hazards.”
Anyway, let us go beyond the physical environment. What is the social environment in the state today? Corruption is the talking point right now. Corruption in the illegal mining and transportation, in the construction of the Shillong ISBT, in the erection of the dome of the Legislative Assembly building, in the state electricity board, in the coke factories, in the operation of illegal gates, in the district councils and the like. The latest allegation is from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) which has trained it guns on the three ADCs. According to the CAG these institution don’t prepare accounts and maintain records of expenditure thus engaging in mismanagement, misappropriation, wasteful expenditure for years. Earlier when the government’s attention was drawn to all the above misdemeanours the reaction was stout denial. When the coalition partners threatened to pull out, the warning is linked to elections. But what is not associated with election? The solution of border disputes is aimed at elections. The present government is in a hurry to come up with the MOU with an eye on elections. The date line of the completion of the new legislative assembly building is connected to 2023. The Harijan colony is an election issue. It is another matter that these matters can go haywire because of the ambition of leaders in the present government. When the MP of the Congress alleges corruption, the ministers remind him of the time his party ruled the state. Under what circumstances will this Government be forced to accept the reality? Perhaps under humiliating and embarrassing settings!
The gruesome murder of the two children in Nongrah points to an underlining problematic environment. This shows how things can happen when families fall apart. The other day in a YouTube video, a person revealed that 40 per cent of the female hawkers have illegitimate children (without husband). This is an undesirable environment that needs to be addressed urgently. Connected with this is the issue of gender equality. Niti Aayog’s North Eastern Region District Sustainable Development Goal Index in 2021 places Meghalaya at the bottom of the gender equality table. The state’s matriliny doesn’t seem to help gender equality. All districts in the state are right at the bottom of the ranking. This poor performance is an unkind message. We better pay attention to it. The Nongrah incident is a voice that needs to be heard. Unless the issue is attended to, more painful symptoms may appear. The father must be punished as per law. But there is a serious underlying social issues and ignoring them could be disastrous.