The 'Intolerance' Brigade is back! And just like the last time they take liberty with facts to suit their politics
- In Current Affairs
- 10:57 AM, Jul 26, 2019
- Ankit Verma
As reported by several media platforms including India Today on July 24, 2019, 49 Signatories wrote to the PM about rising intolerance in the country, once again. Every citizen in the country has the right to question the PM and government on any issue, no one should question their step as it’s their democratic right.
Similarly, anyone can question these celebrities for their intentions and their biases. With several social media platforms and other digital portals even the commoners can express their opinion on anything. Now, these celebrities, do not enjoy a special status in the society where they are beyond questions. Not only will they be questioned for their performance but for their opinion as well.
Before commenting on the letter, we should be very clear that atrocities against any section of the society are condemnable. All Such acts should be dealt with the full force of the law enforcement agencies. They should also be fast tracked, so that it instils the fear in minds and the hearts of perpetrators. In any heathy democracy, right to violence should only be with state.
Now coming back to this intolerance debate. How many of these so-called celebrities were known to us before this letter? We can count on fingers. Also, it’s interesting to note, that some of them are famous for their hatred towards current dispense, more so for Mr. Modi. Some of them signed a letter written before 2019 elections reported by The wire on April 6, 2019, asking people to not vote for BJP. So, it is business as usual for a few of them.
Hence, let’s not get into the whataboutery and remind everyone about their influence on general public, which is now clear, as several such attempts made by them since 2015 are of no consequence. We are aware of "Award Wapsi" before Bihar election in 2015, as reported on rediff.com. That actually was the starting point for this headline management stunt.
However, we can suggest following points which these celebrities can refer in future before trying similar entices: -
• These celebrities should have the basic understanding that Law and Order is a state subject. So, it’s ok to write a letter to PM, but they should not forget to write similar letters to the CMs of states, where the incidents took place.
• They should include atrocities committed to all the sections of the society instead of mentioning words like Minorities, Dalits etc. because a crime is crime and it shouldn’t matter who was the victim. As before law there is not differentiation among the victims.
• They should write similar letter to non BJP states too if there such cases. They missed the bus before 2014, where they didn’t write anything when riots like Muzaffarnagar were happening.
Unless they feel that everything was perfectly fine then, and people of this country were stupid to kick that government and leadership out of the power in 2014 and again in 2019.
• They should add more diversity and some new faces in the list of signatories. It is the same face including those who will sign on any letter written to criticize this government. This will make sure that people won’t fall for these stunts in the upcoming elections.
• If they are seriously worried about the issue, then they should stay away from making political insinuations and innuendos Like “Jai Shree Ram” in this letter. Otherwise such utterances take the nuance out of the argument. There’s no denying that such cases have also come to the fore, but then in some cases it’s stated by the investigating agencies itself that it was fake news.
• They can also suggest a few steps that government should take to stop these incidents. It will help in creating an atmosphere of dialogue and stop the chain of confrontation.
• They should also avoid involving convicts like Binayak Sen as it raises serious questions about their credibility. It actually enforces the concept of "Urban Naxals" which they keep complaining about.
So, if these celebrities want to be taken seriously, without their intentions and credibility being questioned, they can refer to these points. If they don’t follow proper channels and keep writing such letters, neither the government nor general public will take them seriously. They have already become a laughing stock.
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