The terrible video of a man, identified as Pravesh Shukla, a member of BJP's youth wing in Madhya Pradesh urinating on the face of a helpless Adivasi boy, is an outrageous act of terror. It is doubtful if it will ever become the point of Prime Time debate on TV. The question needs to be asked is: Why has the BJP-ruled state reduced to such a nasty condition where a local leader who happens to be associated with the ruling party not only abuses his political position but also uses his caste privilege to humiliate and torture an Adivasi boy?
Narendra Modi and BJP will have to ponder sooner than later as why India's savarna samaj is discovering new forms of brutalities under their regime. Though Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has condemned the incident and call for punishment against the perpetrator of the crime, the fact is the upper caste loyalty to BJP is actually emerging from the hatred they had for years against India's Dalits, Adivasis and other marginalised communities.
This hatred and contempt is reflected in acts of new forms of violence, which include videographing of heinous crimes and popularising them on the social media.
In fact, the fact is, acts of crime, which shame humanity, are being propagated as an 'acts of valour', a contribution of the Sangh Parivar in the post-2014 India, where every act of terror and caste discrimination is being celebrated. The Prime Minister and his various ministers find no time and space to discuss mob lynching incidents.
In fact, the fact is, acts of crime, which shame humanity, are being propagated as an 'acts of valour', a contribution of the Sangh Parivar in the post-2014 India, where every act of terror and caste discrimination is being celebrated. The Prime Minister and his various ministers find no time and space to discuss mob lynching incidents.
There is not a single regret on any of the incidents happening. Contrary to this, BJP and their 24x7 hours darbaris on the Prime Time are using their space to divert the attention of the people and cast aspersions on those who question the silence of the government.
Such brutalities, as the one that happened in Madhya Pradesh, would not have happened if Narendra Modi and his team had acted swiftly and condemned such incidents. The hostile media will 'discover' a new issue to deflect attention from the outrage.
Such brutalities, as the one that happened in Madhya Pradesh, would not have happened if Narendra Modi and his team had acted swiftly and condemned such incidents. The hostile media will 'discover' a new issue to deflect attention from the outrage.
India's Prime Time discovery over these years has been to find a Muslim villain for debate. If there is no issue in India, they bring in France, without even pondering over the fact that the French issue is not really about Islam but about racial discrimination.
One hopes the Madhya Pradesh police and the judiciary will take up this matter as a serious crime and sentence this thug to maximum penalty. Past experience suggests, after the incident is forgotten, these criminals again assert. Dalits and Adivasis have often felt the Brahmanical violence on them, and it is time we in India come out openly against such criminal acts.
The only way for all of us to survive and unite is to ensure that the Constitutional morality becomes the hallmark of our socio-cultural life. Constitutional morality as described by Baba Saheb Ambedkar should become part and parcel of our cultural value system; only then we will be able to call ourselves a civilised nation.
Even as one has to watch out and see how the government acts, the incident proves how the Brahmanical corrupt system in Madhya Pradesh continues to exploit Dalits and Adivasis. It is not unknown how Dalit bridegrooms are not allowed to ride the horse during their marriage.
The only way for all of us to survive and unite is to ensure that the Constitutional morality becomes the hallmark of our socio-cultural life. Constitutional morality as described by Baba Saheb Ambedkar should become part and parcel of our cultural value system; only then we will be able to call ourselves a civilised nation.
Even as one has to watch out and see how the government acts, the incident proves how the Brahmanical corrupt system in Madhya Pradesh continues to exploit Dalits and Adivasis. It is not unknown how Dalit bridegrooms are not allowed to ride the horse during their marriage.
The Madhya Pradesh Hindutva model should be defeated. Hindutva politics seeks Dalit and Adivasi support but not their emancipation and participation in power structure.
One also hopes that the Adivasi boy would be counselled and his family is properly compensated. The case against Pravesh Shukla must be filed not only under the anti-atrocities Act but also under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, and he should be immediately arrested. One hopes the boy gets justice, and not intimidation and threat to withdraw the complaint.
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*Human rights defender
One also hopes that the Adivasi boy would be counselled and his family is properly compensated. The case against Pravesh Shukla must be filed not only under the anti-atrocities Act but also under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, and he should be immediately arrested. One hopes the boy gets justice, and not intimidation and threat to withdraw the complaint.
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*Human rights defender
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