This Article is From Nov 27, 2015

Thank You, Aamir and Shah Rukh

Why does the BJP think it is necessary to lecture its critics about India being "a tolerant nation?" Is it because they don't get what's being said, or is it because in their arrogance, they equate criticism of the Hindutva brigade as criticism of India, and thus any concern about the growing intolerance in India becomes an accusation of being anti-national.

When citizens express concerns about the environment of growing intolerance, it is not to criticize India, but to protect India from the forces who are straining every nerve to transform India into an intolerant authoritarian theocratic State.

There is a wide chasm between what the idea of India is and what some people want India to be. The idea of India is a tolerant nation with pluralist cultures, shared histories, diverse languages, ways of life, multiple cuisines, ways of dress, customs. These are objective realities which provide the material basis for a robust, secular and equality-based polity. Whether that idea will ever get translated in its totality is yet to be seen, but it was this idea that the Prime Minister laid claim to when he addressed the British Parliament and earlier the British press. India is tolerant, he said. Yes, Mr. Prime Minister, India is tolerant but not the brigades who act in the name of Hindutva who enjoy political patronage and who have the license to purvey hate day after day ever since your government assumed power.

Aamir Khan is the most recent target of the Hindutva brigade. He spoke his heart out and that of his equally talented partner Kiran Rao. Whether they are practicing believers or not is their personal matter, what is in the public domain is that belonging to different religions did not prevent them from loving each other and getting married. They have a child. When a person at Aamir Khan's level of success can express feelings of concern, of apprehension, of fear for the future of his child, instead of taking it seriously, the government spokesmen call it "alarmist" and "ingratitude to fans".

It is this dismissive arrogance of the government and ruling party spokesmen which then get backed by the vicious trolls on social media, which has been the hallmark ever since eminent citizens of India have started warning about the growing intolerant trends.

When Nayantara Sehgal protested, she was brushed aside as a member of "the dynasty"; when some of the most respected writers returned their awards, they were branded as being "selective", when 107 of the most brilliant scientists addressed an open letter to the government they too were damned, when historians raised their voices they were called "communists"; in other words, the government and the ruling party, while railing against these intellectuals, have refused to address the real issues.

It is a real issue today that a young couple in love with each other, one a Hindu the other a Muslim, are fearful of being lynched by those who spread hate in the name of love jihad. Anupam Kher and other supporters of the government have called such elements "fringe" elements. Members of the Cabinet, Members of Parliament who make the most provocative statements inciting violence against such relationships are not the fringe; they are the core, in important positions in the ruling party and government.

It is a real issue that a Muslim was lynched and beaten to death on the manufactured rumour that he had slaughtered a cow and stored beef in his home. It is said this was an aberration. But then what was the message sought to be conveyed by the official BJP advertisement splashed in all the newspapers on the eve of the Bihar elections with the cow as the symbol of Hindu Pride being "insulted''? It was no aberration, but a deliberate plan to rouse religious sentiments as a vote guarantee. The anti-cow slaughter campaign continues to target Muslims in vile ways.

It is a real issue when intellectuals, rationalists who write against the unscientific superstitions spread by the Hindutva brigade are targeted. When Comrade Pansare was brutally killed, when Kalburgi was savagely murdered, when Perumal Murugan is targeted, when Girish Karnad is threatened because he expressed a different view on the history of Tipu Sultan... these are issues.

What is required is for the Prime Minister to use his authority in the government and the party to take action from the top, to stop the threats, the abuse, the bullying, the violence by those who owe allegiance to the Sangh Parivar.

In the meanwhile, salute to Aamir Khan and before him, Shah Rukh Khan, for speaking the truth regardless of the personal cost.

(Brinda Karat is a Politburo member of the CPI(M) and a former Member of the Rajya Sabha.)

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