Ram Sene and Co.

RISING INTOLERENCE AND DEMOCRATIC INDIA

The consistently increasing incidents of violent and mindless ‘hooliganism’ being orchestrated by various self- styled groups and outfits of socio-cultural, religious and political ‘hues’ have raised a serious question on the credibility of our ‘legal system’ and law enforcement machinery. In the name of protecting the ‘pristinness’ of Indian culture, religion or regional interests and identity, these self - proclaimed ‘conscience keeper’ of our society resort to almost all the ‘variants’ of salacious savagery with least of concern for the ‘rule of law’ and the basic human rights. The menace of moral vigilantism, religious fundamentalism and the politics of regionalism- all put together- seems to have delivered a new ‘indigenous’ version of terrorism which is equally if not more capable of destroying the secular and democratic fabric of India much to the detriment of its unity and integrity. Unlike their foreign counterparts, these self styled moral and cultural ‘crusaders’ are not ‘non state’ actors, rather they are as much Indians as their unsuspecting victims are though with some palpable difference.

The impunity with which socio-cultural and political fundamentalism is expanding its draconian wings in different states appears quite admissible when viewed in the light of the nature and intensity of government’s response. Instead of ‘pre-empting’ such incidents and carrying out decisive strikes against it, our administration seems to have accustomed itself to a ‘self-defeating’ strategy of ad-hocism and reactionary mission, inspired no doubt by the philosophy of a pachydermic state. The enemy seems to be a ‘flattened beneficiary’ of our liberal democracy and competitive politics.

Successive incidents, one after another have kept on adding entries to the ‘glossary’ of vandalism followed by outrageously hackneyed ‘post-carnage’ response by the governments. The cosy smugness of normalcy regained after every incident acts to the detriment of our sincerity to evolve a concrete and credible set of measures against the menace.

The l’ affaire’Mumbai,Nasik,Mangalore or Cuttack do reflect certain similarities in terms of pervert profanities of faith and values marking a clear cut obliquity from basic concerns of humanity. The egregious defiance of the authority of the state and the complete absence of punitive deterrence displayed in all the cases do raise some serious questions regarding the overall efficacy of the Constitutionally- ordained ‘trinity of instrumentalities’ viz.Executive,Judiciary and Legislature though the greater amount of responsibilities lies with the Executive.

The otherwise usual problem in a vibrant democracy, more particularly in a land of bewildering diversity like India assumes serious dimensions when the state authorities fail to exact obedience to the ‘supreme law of the land and to enforce even the most ‘fundamental’ of the fundamental rights, that is ‘right to life’ and personal liberty, let alone other rights. The response of the political leadership and even otherwise ‘active’ Judiciary presents a picture of despair only, displaying actions ranging from general indifference, deliberate and calculated inaction or neutrality to even tacit complicity.

An emerging political leader in Maharastra,leading a political party, registered under ‘Representation of peoples Act’,suppoted by a bunch of hooligans (styled as party karyakartas) holds the state machinery to ransom in pursuance of the ‘noblest’ of the objectives that is restructuring of Maharastra and bringing back the lost pride of ‘Maratha- manus’. The ‘modus operandi’which is secret to none and similar to their brethren in even more sacrosanct profession of Bharatiya Samskriti and Hindu dharma involves beating up ‘black and blue’ poor, innocent, unarmed and unsuspecting common people with their fault being anything from ‘belongingness’ to a particular state, religion and profession or in general the exercise of constitutionally guaranteed freedom in a way contrary to the ‘code of conduct’ howsoever unthinkingly contemplated by them. The self-proclaimed ‘saviors’ of collective Indian conscience aim at protecting Indian samskaras and samskriti by hurling abuses, assaulting and molesting women in full public view.

Nevertheless, I find the story on the other side of the fence far more ‘disgraceful’ and discouraging. If the celebrated Chief Minister of Delhi ‘cautions’ women against moving around at night ,implicitly accepting administration’s inability to provide security against nocturnal hooligans, the state of Maharastra symbolizes the most perverted form of ‘competitive politics’ where the political parties in their unhindered zeal to protect the cause of ‘sons of the soil’ do fight like street dogs to take credit for beating up north Indian students.

A law abiding and hard working common man with wrinkles on his forehead, struggling to devise one or other survival strategy in an increasingly competitive world is beaten up, humiliated and sometimes killed by a subversive political and cultural ideology and agenda; political leadership under pressure issues assurance of punitive actions, police makes customary arrests with due respect and honor shown to the grand perpetrator and his militia; the logo machic courts bound by ‘full- of- fallacies’ legal system find it difficult not to release karyakartas on bail though accompanied by a warning which is adhered to more in violation.