Unsubstantiated Allegations Against Hamid Ansari: Another Instance Of Minority Baiting
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By Our Editorial Team
First publised on 2022-07-15 08:14:56
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The India Commentary view
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The allegations levelled by BJP's official spokesperson against former Vice President Hamid Ansari are nothing more than another example of how some in the party keep on indulging in minority baiting. This is because the charges made against Ansari are based on a YouTube interview given by a 'spy' Pakistani journalist who is known create controversies by making tall claims. There is no way the charges can be proved (and the person making the allegations knows this) but in making them, the party has ensured that Ansari's reputation is shredded - at least in the eyes of BJP supporters. This serves the party's agenda of branding all Muslims, even those who occupied high official positions, as 'anti-nationals'. It is sad that no one from the party has come out in support of Ansari. In fact, the party has supported fresh claims against Ansari brought in by Dr Adish Aggarwala, chairman of the All India Bar Association, who has said that the former VP was offended that Mirza was not invited to the conference.
Hamid Ansari has defended himself vigorously. He has stated the obvious - even the Vice President is not authorized to directly invite people for any event. It is the sole duty of the organizers to choose who they wish to invite and the same is done after obtaining necessary permissions from the government of the day. Ansari has added that he has never met the person. Nusrat Mirza, the Pakistani journalist in question, makes other bizarre claims like the US causing the earthquake in Pakistan in 2005 for instance, and his words cannot be taken as any kind of proof. Such insinuations are defamatory when they are made by any person against any other person. But when they are made by the spokesperson of the ruling party against the former Vice President of the country, they seem to be a part of a sinister agenda. The BJP must advise its spokespersons to desist from making such unsubstantiated allegations.
