Skip to main content

Modi, Adityanath "undermining" Ambedkar's view on theocratic state, Constitutional values

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*
As the ruling leaders continue to violate the principles of Constitution, converting them into a hierarchical Brahmanical state, it is time for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the ideals of Constitutional morality as defined by Baba Saheb Ambedkar, who felt a theocratic state of Hindutva variety would be as dangerous and detrimental to India as Islamic theocracy.
The incidents of the past few days have shocked all of us. We are witnessing this prejudice and partiality in our administration as well as the language of the ministers. A police inspector, who was honestly doing his duty and sacrificed his life so that a city does not burn to the communal hatred, was not even noticed and acknowledged by the state government of Uttar Pradesh!
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, rather than ordering an inquiry into the murder of inspector Subodh Kant Singh, actually sought to investigate cow slaughtering. What kind of man is he who is going around the country and digging up pasts and deliberately speaking up poisonous language. The problem is that our Constitutional bodies have totally surrendered to those in power, so these people are let off without any punitive action against them. The action, if ever taken, actually benefit the culprits politically.
The Bulandshahar incident has shown us that till next elections the ruling party will ensure such things to happen with the chief minister or prime minister will not have time to speak up on these issues. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his last four-and-a-half years, has rarely spoken on issues of public concern. Perhaps his advisers think that he and Adityanath should continue to dig things, speak about Nehru and Muslims.
Every five years we have elections and people are supposed to respond to how the governments work, but Modi still wants to fight a wrestling match with Nehru, who is not there to respond to his slanders.
The Sangh Parivar and its offshoots have been attempting everything stop the assertion of Ambedkarites. It was on this day that they demolished Babari Masjid so many years ago. On any civilised society, the first question the courts should have asked, is why not rebuild the mosque?
The criminals, who destroyed the mosque, are roaming around, claiming heroes' status and getting political mileage. They want the judgement to be given according to their faith, and that is why Supreme Court is being pushed to deliver a favorable judgement. If the judgement come against them, they will put the country on fire. All the politicians, particularly those of the Sanghi variety, respect courts and court verdicts if they suit them, otherwise Manusmriti and its caste-based morality is the most likable thing for them.
India is passing through a very tough phase when those in power are determined to divide it as much as possible. They are proving that Aryans were invaders and have no love lost for the nation or matribhumi. Any ruler, on assume responsibility, would want to make society or country better and peaceful, but here they are determined. The virus of ideology has spread across various instruments of state apparatus like army, police, administration. Media is already a gone case.
Those of us who feel that there is hope continue to fight despite all the depressions. This is a solemn occasion for all of us, as Baba Saheb departed today, yet we need to defend his legacy, the constitution, its inclusiveness, its respect for diversity as well as our faith in equality, liberty and fraternity. Those who are against these principles are instigating masses, injecting them with the poison of religion and threatening everyone.
How long will India remain caged in tainted ideas? Let us hope that a fitting tribute to Baba Saheb Ambedkar would only be possible in real sense the day India is truly administered by Constitutional principles and not through Babas and Mahants, who have no respect for them, even when they came to power through the value of Constitutional principles. We hope people's power will ultimately win and establish the rule of the law in the country which at the moment is in serious crisis.
---
*Well known human rights defender. Source: Author's Facebook timeline

Comments

TRENDING

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

'Anti-poor stand': Even British wouldn't reduce Railways' sleeper and general coaches

By Anandi Pandey, Sandeep Pandey*  Probably even the British, who introduced railways in India, would not have done what the Bhartiya Janata Party government is doing. The number of Sleeper and General class coaches in various trains are surreptitiously and ominously disappearing accompanied by a simultaneous increase in Air Conditioned coaches. In the characteristic style of BJP government there was no discussion or debate on this move by the Indian Railways either in the Parliament or outside of it. 

Why convert growing badminton popularity into an 'inclusive sports opportunity'

By Sudhansu R Das  Over the years badminton has become the second most popular game in the world after soccer.  Today, nearly 220 million people across the world play badminton.  The game has become very popular in urban India after India won medals in various international badminton tournaments.  One will come across a badminton court in every one kilometer radius of Hyderabad.  

Faith leaders agree: All religious places should display ‘anti-child marriage’ messages

By Jitendra Parmar*  As many as 17 faith leaders, together for an interfaith dialogue on child marriage in New Delhi, unanimously have agreed that no faith allows or endorses child marriage. The faith leaders advocated that all religious places should display information on child marriage.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Ayurveda, Sidda, and knowledge: Three-day workshop begins in Pala town

By Rosamma Thomas*  Pala town in Kottayam district of Kerala is about 25 km from the district headquarters. St Thomas College in Pala is currently hosting a three-day workshop on knowledge systems, and gathered together are philosophers, sociologists, medical practitioners in homeopathy and Ayurveda, one of them from Nepal, and a few guests from Europe. The discussions on the first day focused on knowledge systems, power structures, and epistemic diversity. French researcher Jacquiline Descarpentries, who represents a unique cooperative of researchers, some of whom have no formal institutional affiliation, laid the ground, addressing the audience over the Internet.

Article 21 'overturned' by new criminal laws: Lawyers, activists remember Stan Swamy

By Gova Rathod*  The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Gujarat, organised an event in Ahmedabad entitled “Remembering Fr. Stan Swamy in Today’s Challenging Reality” in the memory of Fr. Stan Swamy on his third death anniversary.  The event included a discussion of the new criminal laws enforced since July 1, 2024.

Hindutva economics? 12% decline in manufacturing enterprises, 22.5% fall in employment

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  The messiah of Hindutva politics, Narendra Modi, assumed office as the Prime Minister of India on May 26, 2014. He pledged to transform the Indian economy and deliver a developed nation with prosperous citizens. However, despite Modi's continued tenure as the Prime Minister, his ambitious electoral promises seem increasingly elusive. 

Union budget 'outrageously scraps' scheme meant for rehabilitating manual scavengers

By Bezwada Wilson*  The Union Budget for the year 2024-2025, placed by the Finance Minister in Parliament has completely deceived the Safai Karmachari community. There is no mention of persons engaged in manual scavenging in the entire Budget. Even the scheme meant for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers (SRMS) has been outrageously scrapped.