Doublespeak? Why India's authorities are silent on anti-Gandhi hate campaigners

Gandhi statue desecrated in US

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*
January 30 was Gandhiji's martyrdom day. He was killed by a fanatic who claimed to be a Hindu and felt that Gandhiji was working against the interest of the Hindus. A fake narrative has been built since then. It was indeed sad to see Gandhi's statue being desecrated in the United States. I don’t think that it served any purpose.
Gandhiji was a political leader who played a big role in bringing anti-colonial forces together in India and led the country’s freedom movement. One may disagree with his views on caste system as well as religion, but one cannot ignore his pivotal role in the freedom movement. It is possible to reject his theories on caste and untouchability as also his socio-economic model. But let us not take away his role as a leader who brought together people from diverse communities and faiths.
The Government of India 'condemned' the desecration of Gandhiji's statue in US. It is strange to see this government is so 'active' to protect Gandhiji's 'honour' in US and elsewhere, but failed to do so in India. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed power, he converted Gandhiji into a #SwachchBharat icon, even as completely ignoring his monumental contributions.
The murderer of Gandhiji, Nathuram Godse, was from a dominant Hindu caste. His lunatic followers even today celebrate Gandhiji's killing. Can anyone imagine a Twitter hate campaign in the United States siding with those celebrating Gandhiji’s killers? Twitter and Facebook showed spine to block president Donald Trump in US for his tweets which they claimed were unsubstantiated.
However, the same social media platforms have shown no responsibility and accountability in India on the manner in which goons continue to use social media for hate campaign, intimidating their opponents with active support of the ruling party.
The collapse of institutions in India has ensured that those who fight for their rights are treated as criminals and face numerous cases filed against them while the goons sponsored by the ruling regime become the 'rashtrabhakts' (ardent nationalists), supported by the police.
Whatever happened in the recent past in the Jawaharlal Nehru University, the Aligarh Muslim University, the Jamia Millia Islamia, around the Rohith Vemula case and during and after the Delhi riots are all examples how police have behaved as the militia of the ruling party. This is surely going to have a devastating impact on our democracy and institutional impartiality.
It is not unsurprising to see the hate campaign against Gandhiji on Twitter and Facebook without any action being taken against them. After all, the leader who termed Gandhiji as 'chatur bania' (clever merchant) is the second most powerful person at the moment.
Gandhiji was not killed by a Muslim, or a Dalit or an Adivasi. In fact, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar “saved” his life by signing the Poona Pact, yet none claimed that they saved Gandhiji. But, ironically, Hindutva leaders, who dislike Gandhiji, want to use Gandhiji by chanting his name even as allowing their campfollowers to carry out hate campaign against him. It is hypocritical that those who are seeking to benefit from Gandhism are crying against him.
Today, when the Government of India has condemned vandalism against the Gandhi statue in US, one wonders why it has failed to act not act or did not ask any of the social media heads to take action against those have celebrated Gandhiji's murder. Nobody can beat Indian political leadership at the moment on the issue of doublespeak: Condemn what happened outside India but allow your ‘chelas’ (camp-followers) to abuse. Demagoguery at its best!
---
*Human rights defender

Comments

Stagnating wages since 2014-15: Economists explain Modi legacy for informal workers

By Our Representative Real wages have barely risen in India since 2014-15, despite rapid GDP growth. The country’s social security system has also stagnated in this period. The lives of informal workers remain extremely precarious, especially in states like Jharkhand where casual employment is the main source of livelihood for millions. These are some of the findings presented by economists Jean Drèze and Reetika Khera at a press conference convened by the Loktantra Bachao 2024 campaign.

'Assault on civic, academic freedom, right to dissent': TISS PhD student's suspension

By Our Representative The Mumbai-based civil rights group All India Secular Forum (AISF) has said that the suspension of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) PhD student Ramadas Prini Sivanandan (30) for two years for allegedly indulging in activities which were "not in the interest of the nation" is meant to send out the message that students and educational institutes will be targeted if they don’t align with the agenda and ideology of the ruling regime. TISS in a notice served to Ramadas has cited that his role in screening the documentary 'Ram Ke Naam' on January 26 as a "mark of dishonour and protest" against the Ram Mandir idol consecration in Ayodhya. Another incident cited in the notice was Ramadas’ participation in the protest against unfair government policies in Delhi under the banner of the Progressive Students' Forum (PSF)-TISS. TISS alleges the institute's name was "misused", which wrongfully created an impression that

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.

Magnetic, stunning, Protima Bedi 'exposed' malice of sexual repression in society

By Harsh Thakor* Protima Bedi was born to a baniya businessman and a Bengali mother as Protima Gupta in Delhi in 1949. Her father was a small-time trader, who was thrown out of his family for marrying a dark Bengali women. The theme of her early life was to rebel against traditional bondage. It was extraordinary how Protima underwent a metamorphosis from a conventional convent-educated girl into a freak. On October 12th was her 75th birthday; earlier this year, on August 18th it was her 25th death anniversary.

Bill Gates as funder, author, editor, adviser? Data imperialism: manipulating the metrics

By Dr Amitav Banerjee, MD* When Mahatma Gandhi on invitation from Buckingham Palace was invited to have tea with King George V, he was asked, “Mr Gandhi, do you think you are properly dressed to meet the King?” Gandhi retorted, “Do not worry about my clothes. The King has enough clothes on for both of us.”

Modi win may force Pak to put Kashmir on backburner, resume trade ties with India

By Salman Rafi Sheikh* When Narendra Modi returned to power for a second term in India with a landslide victory in 2019, his government acted swiftly. Just months after the election, the Modi government abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution of India. In doing so, it stripped the special constitutional status conferred on Jammu and Kashmir, India’s only Muslim-majority state, and downgraded its status from a state with its own elected assembly to a union territory administered by the central government in Delhi.

Why it's only Modi ki guarantee, not BJP's, and how Varanasi has seen it up-close

"Development" along Ganga By Rosamma Thomas* I was in Varanasi in this April, days before polling began for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There are huge billboards advertising the Member of Parliament from Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The only image on all these large hoardings is of the PM, against a saffron background. It is as if the very person of Modi is what his party wishes to showcase.

Following the 3000-year old Pharaoh legacy? Poll-eve Surya tilak on Ram Lalla statue

By Sukla Sen Located at a site called Abu Simbel in Nubia, Upper Egypt, the eponymous rock temples were created in 1244 BCE, under the orders of Pharaoh Ramesses II (1303-1213 BC)... Ramesses II was fond of showcasing his achievements. It was this desire to brag about his victory that led to the planning and eventual construction of the temples (interestingly, historians say that the Battle of Qadesh actually ended in a draw based on the depicted story -- not quite the definitive victory Ramesses II was making it out to be).

Joblessness, saffronisation, corporatisation of education: BJP 'squarely responsible'

Counterview Desk In an open appeal to youth and students across India, several student and youth organizations from across India have said that the ruling party is squarely accountable for the issues concerning the students and the youth, including expensive education and extensive joblessness.

Poll promises: Political parties 'playing down' need to retrieve and restore adivasi land

By Palla Trinadha Rao* The Scheduled Tribes population of 10.43 crore constitutes 8.6% of the population in the country inhabiting 26 States and 6 Union Territories. Parliament elections along with Assembly elections in some states have been notified this year.

Counterview

Search This Blog