Vandalism In Nainital: Dangerous Trend
By A Special Correspondent
First publised on 2021-11-17 01:51:59
About the Author
In an incident that should be condemned by all, miscreants, allegedly belonging to the Bajrang Dal, protested before the Nainital home of Congress leader Salman Khurshid and later vandalized it and burnt a portion. They were protesting against Khurshid for his remarks against Hinduism and Hindutva in his book "Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times" which were not to their liking.
A group of around 25 persons, some of them allegedly armed, descended on the property and started the protest. Later, they entered the house after intimidating the caretaker (who has identified one of them and has claimed that he pointed a gun at his daughter-in-law), vandalized it and burnt a portion. Reports also say that the protestors also fired several rounds. The police have registered an FIR against around 20 people.
Khurshid had written in the book that "Sanatan Dharma and classical Hinduism known to sages and saints
were being pushed aside by a robust version of Hindutva, by all standards a
political version similar to the jihadist Islam of groups like ISIS and Boko
Haram of recent years." The Hindutva votaries think that he has
defamed them by comparing them with the jihadi group.
But this is a debate and not a war. Khurshid has his point of view. If the Hindutva votaries think he is wrong, they can counter his views by showing how Hindutva is different from jihadi Islam. Further, no one denies the protestors their democratic right to peacefully protest against anything. But when these protests turn violent and property is damaged or people are injured, it turns into a criminal act. That cannot be tolerated. The police must act fast and apprehend the perpetrators.
