Political Diary
New Delhi, 13 June 2023
Divisive
Grammar
WE LOVE TO HATE
By Poonam I Kaushish
Why do we love to
hate? And why do we revel in divisive grammar? The power of rhetorical public
abuse underscores disruptive discourse is not only rabble rousing abusive
devoid of any substance but also tilted towards widening the communal divide. Clearly,
hate paraphernalia is once again the cause celebre this week.
Maharashtra’s
Kohlapur saw massive violent protests and stone-pelting during a bandh called by pro-Hindutva outfits
seeking action against objectionable social media posts glorifying Mughal
Emperor Aurangzeb. Adding fuel Dy Chief Minister Fadnavis wondered “Suddenly
from where have so many Aurangzeb’s aulad
arrived? Some display his photo, others keep his image as their status.” Retorted
AIMIM Chief Owaisi “Aap Godse ke Aulad
ho.”
Coming against the
backdrop of Hindu Jan Akrosh rallies by
various right-wing outfits to press for laws against “love jihad”, “land jihad”
and ‘Hindutva is in danger’ card, Opposition Parties accuse the Saffron Sangh
of playing out divisive issues: how Muslim population’s growth rate threatens
the primacy of the “Hindu” nation with a cynical eye on electoral gains.
Notwithstanding, this dog whistle politics spells bad news for communal
harmony.
Shut one’s eyes, it
sounded like a replay of electioneering for the recent Karnataka polls littered
with acerbic, hate-spewing discordant venom. “We have to bring BJP to power….We
don’t need Congress’s Muslim appeasement’… we want Ram Janmabhoomi. There
is no need for madrasas in new
India.” Countered by “Ban RSS, say no to ‘Hindutva
laboratory.”
Who does one fault?
Given our netas have perfected
intemperate language to inject poison in society over the years. Alas, politics
has meandered into narrow confines of polarisation and appeasement rhetoric,
not only spreading hatred but also tilted towards widening the communal divide
pitting Hindus against Muslims.
Undeniably, BJP’s new
Hindutva rajneeti of polarization is
attempting to make inroads into areas and regions even with little or no
significant minority presence as it revolves around its pet slogan Sab Ka Saaath, Sab Ka Vikas, Sab Ka Vishwas which translates: There is
no need to treat Muslims as a separate social entity. Yet it realizes the
‘Muslim mind’ is still problematic.
As for Opposition
Parties despite taking the Hindutva brigade to task over their anti-minority
plank and opposing aggressive Hindutva consolidation, they do not want to be
labeled as “pro-Muslim.” Reading the ‘Muslim mind’ as an anti-BJP phenomenon on
which they base their political strategy.
Sadly, our polity
has made nationalism and Hindu-Muslim vote-bank the tour de force of politics. With every leader propounding his
self-serving recipe of ‘communal’ harmony harbouring the same intention: Keep
their gullible vote-banks emotionally charged so that their own ulterior
motives are well-served. Never mind, the nation is getting sucked into the
vortex of centrifugal bickerings.
Alongside religious
festivals have a brash aggressiveness. They are loud with people chanting
provocative slogans and abusing those from other religions as if to make a
point along-with followers freely brandishing swords leading to them being often pockmarked with clashes,
bloodshed and waves of hatred that continue much after the festival ends. All
clear-cut deliberate ploys to polarise and create a divide between Hindus-Muslims.
Raising more
questions: How does one control hate mongers and blunt them? Have netas realized the ramifications of their actions?
Wont it further divide people on creed lines and is antithetical to hope of
narrowing India’s burgeoning religious divide, thereby unleashing a
Frankenstein.
Clearly, in a
milieu of competitive democracy, discordant speeches and abuse of heroes and
Gods has better chance of polarising voters inducing raw emotions of hostility
and hate. Who cares if it is destructive and stokes communal violence and sows
seeds of rabid communalism.
As there are people
looking for trouble all times who are there in all communities everywhere, but
this senseless hatred across religions that our lives are getting drenched in,
is not helping us see or worry about real pressing issues: rising prices, poverty,
unemployment etc.
Asserted a senior
leader, “there is a lot of heat generated on TV and social media which is
exaggerated suggesting there is rising religious intolerance but in the last
decade there has been no major communal violence. In fact, hate speeches and
hate crimes existed before Modi came to power. People should stop bickering and
quarrelling, respect all beliefs and religions. Let laws contain fringe
elements and those stoking communal fires.”
Added another, “Why
has no Muslim leader or clergy denounced killing of non-Kashmiris in the Valley
or riots which flared up as Ram Navami processions snaked through various
States? The skullduggery of conciliation given the political worth of 20%
Muslim electorate, leaders go on an overdrive, encouraging Maulvis like the one who offered a prize to anyone who blackened
Modi’s face or turn a blind eye to Maulanas who ban TV, music, photography and
interaction with Kaffirs.
Obversely, there
are Hindu fringe elements who recently called for banning Muslim vendors around
temple festivals in Karnataka, prohibited school and college girls from wearing
hijab and lynching a person because
he looked Muslim and for eating beef.
Certainly, warped
religious nationalism spun by self-styled religious-political authorities and
their cheerleaders who consider members of a certain community as pariahs and
who spread fear and hate amongst the minority community need to be taught a
lesson. Else, who will be safe in this country?
Pertinently, the
CSDS-Lokniti Social and Political Barometer Survey 2023 shows majority Muslims
believe their economic condition has remained the same in the last four years.
While 28% said their lives had bettered, 44% stated it was same and 28% worse. Interestingly,
both Muslims-Hindus concurred that unemployment, poverty and price rise are the
biggest issues.
Surprisingly, 41% Muslims
concurred Government has done a good job, 45% thought to the contrary. Overall,
only 31% Muslims were satisfied with Modi’s performance and 67% dissatisfied.
Nearly 15% contended they would vote BJP in 2024, 6% increase in vote-share since 2019
elections. However, for 44% Congress is their first choice with over 40%
pluming for Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister against 16% for Modi.
Succinctly, for a
majority Muslims the communal divide does not affect their perceptions about
everyday life and their resolve for collective survival. Two, they are
uncomfortable with aggressive Hindutva even as they continue their struggle for
meaningful existence in contemporary India. It is the fringe elements across
the political spectrum one needs to reign in.
Time our leaders
adopt zero-tolerance on offensive and divisive language. Their Constitutional
office calls for sagacity and restraint. The message has to go out that no
leader belonging to community, caste or group can spew hatred, and if they do,
they lose their democratic right to be heard. Such rhetoric has no place in a
civilised polity.
Time now for our
leaders to delink divisive grammar from politics and open a “mohabbat
ki dukan in a nafrat ka bazaar.” It’s inconsequential which
side of the secular-communal coin one is. The aim should be to raise the bar on
public discourse, not lower it any more. Parties and fringe elements need to realize
the collateral damage it causes will be permanent. Wounds do not heal for ages.
Will they heed? ---- INFA
(Copyright, India News
& Feature Alliance)
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