VIEW POINT

Camouflaging the Gujarat Issue

Nafisa Ali

My recent article "Let's Stop the Madness" was based on certain logical predictions, which have sadly come true, an attack on our men in uniform and their families. Innocent victims of the games, power brokers play. The ghastly evidence of a blatant retaliation of those fundamental groups that have time and again attacked soft targets and injured the secular fabric of our country. I grieve for the lives lost. When will this madness stop?

One might debate that the Gujarat violence was indeed a pre-planned retaliation that could not be contained anymore. These attacks and counter attacks can only be expected from the Fascist Regime but not from a democratically elected government under the purview of our constitution, which upholds liberty, equality and justice.

The battle cry of our Prime Minister on the floor of the Lok Sabha has the essence of nationalism, apparently. All political parties have unanimously expressed their solidarity with the ruling government to safeguard the nation's sovereignty, as has every Indian. "The other side of midnight" reveals a radically contrasting logic. The inability, blended with the disinterest of protecting the minority in Gujarat is now totally exposed. We are secular. Pakistan leave us alone. Stop this proxy war. Let us respect our differences. Work on seasonal changes that can make the world a better place.

May I refer to our Advocate General, Mr. Soli Sorabjee, who has supported the international concern for Human Rights which was blatantly snubbed by the Central Government. Who in turn went on to term international communities concern as an unwarranted interference in domestic affairs of our country. The Indians abroad have been affected by this double talk of our leaders in power. Is it time to re-examine ourselves? A war is being mentioned. Where will these lead India? Cross border terrorism is bad enough but to add fuel to a communal fire is politically shortsighted. The negative and positive co-exist. It is important to deal with it sensitively. We appeal for restraint from both sides. Is Mr. Yashwant Sinha being attacked by his own government for conceding that Gujarat will affect our Indian economy? Could be true. The international community is watching in dismay the corroding Indian economy scenario resulting in 70% downfall in foreign incremental investments in India since March 2002. The uncanny shadow of Gujarat is soon going to engulf the rest of the country socially and materially in the months to follow. Mr. Modi's Newton's Law theory is appalling. We have faltered in our progressive future.

The passengers on the NDA boat seem to be unaware of the calamity as demonstrated by Ashok Singhal's views of ascribing the Gujarat riots as an "awakening" of the Hindus. The Prime Minister reasoned with the Rajya Sabha that the removal of Mr. Narendra Modi as Chief Minister in Gujarat would create further violence. While Gujarat burns, Mr. Modi is busy playing the fiddle, holding democracy to ransom and violating the sentiments of the vulnerable.

Mr. Gill's arrival in Gujarat for implementing Article-355 seems to be leading down the wrong path. Why were the local police officers not allowed a freehand as they are now planning to give Mr. Gill? I happened to meet Ahmedabad ACP (Crime) A.K. Surolia, a recipient of the `Police medal' for outstanding service, a very committed officer who was supervising the investigations of riot cases has been suddenly shifted out. Is it not a blatant role played by the Modi Government and their hidden agenda? The State Government of Gujarat is dominated by the Hindu fundamentalists who have systematically promoted the influence of the fanatical Hindu organizations in the only BJP state remaining. The BJP bastion of power has culminated in the breakdown of good policing and the civil service.

The BJP made the average Indian believe that `Pokhran' was a trump card and `Kargil' a feather in their cap. Kargil was won by the secular force of our young men in uniform, they should be our role model. Their new agenda of making Indians believe that Hindutva is under threat is hurtful for our great country. Over six months ago, Mr. Modi on his black steed `Tamas' was sent charging in to Gujarat to play the Gujarat card for Hindus, by Hindus, at the cost of Bharat.

Is it possible where over 80% of India's population are Hindus that Muslims who remain in the 12% minority are an issue? Should this be a cause for alarm? Liberal Hindus do not speak any more! Should we all just lie down and die by reverting back to medieval attitudes trapped in the 21^st century?

Twenty five years ago we had the Emergency that Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee talks continuously about in his poetry through song, enacted by Shah Rukh Khan! … Yes, there was the curtailing of the democratic rights of Indians. A media censorship was imposed, thousands were sent to jail. Civil liberties were suppressed, but these trends were visible and foreseen. The Nav Nirman Movement against the inefficiency began symbolically and ironically in Gujarat by Jaiprakash Narain.

Now that an emergency of sorts faces our nation under the leadership of our four-year old BJP government, the time has perhaps come to rise up against forces and their leaders. We Indians need not ask for proof, the writing is on the wall in Gujarat. The Sangh Parivar leaders, Bajrang Dal, RSS with their Swayamsewak are doing community work but why are they trying to outdo our communal neighbours? Perhaps the agenda is different! Right now window dressing is being done in Gujarat. Conditions are now ripe for many shades of terrorist activities that are showing their colours.

We need to take note of certain facts. Is this all aimed against our neighbouring nation or the indirect sponsoring of counter-terrorism? Or is it a latent indication of perpetrating further offensives against the minority? Who do the political leaders want to appease this time? The Hindu fundamentalists or the large section of level headed secular minds who believe in linking India through co-existence. Or is this, yet again, a vote gathering exercise for the waning popularity of the BJP? This tension being created on our border could very well be a plan to divert the attention of the public, the media and the international community who have put the BJP on check-mate? Patriotic Indians please think!