The BJP Should Have Acted Earlier
The India Commentary view
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By Our Editorial Team
First publised on 2022-06-08 08:54:49
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The India Commentary view
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Even if a nation is not secular, respect for all religions and the founders of such religions should be a primary requisite for brotherhood and creating a nation where everyone, irrespective of religion, caste, creed and community, can live and work together in peace and harmony. India has always taken pride in being such a nation. But when hate speech started rearing its head since the last few months, it was a warning signal that some Indians were bent on othering some other Indians by poisoning the minds of their brethren. Right thinking Indians had warned the Central government and the BJP top brass to speak out against these concerted attempts - in so-called Dharam Sansads and other forums - to paint one particular religious community in vile colours and ask the Hindus to arm themselves to counter their 'vile' designs.
Now if Navin Kumar Jindal and Nupur Sharma can have the temerity to speak ill of Prophet Muhammad, it is but a natural progression from hate speeches against Muslims and has happened only because no one in government or the BJP had the good sense to put a stop to the mischief by speaking against it strongly. The present action was also not sou motu - it came after sustained violence in Kanpur and objections from India's Muslim friends in the Middle-East.
It is disturbing that the government has given a free run to habitual hate mongers. People have been arrested under draconian laws for minor offences by raising the bogey of crating disturbances among communities. But those who make hate speeches - leaders of the BJP or from the sant samaj - are either not booked or are booked after the Supreme Court intervenes but under less serious charges. This way they are getting emboldened and it is reflected in the way Jindal and Sharma could make such disrespectful and obnoxious remarks against the founder of a religion.
Expelling Jindal and suspending Sharma will not be enough to put a stop to the mischief. The BJP top brass should take a leaf out of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwatâs book and out rightly condemn these elements who seek to paint Muslims in vile colours and incite Hindus to wage a war against them. They must categorically say that these attempts will not be tolerated and take prompt action against such people. But if the state does not do anything, these attempts will get worse leading to riots.
