Intolerance politics

The debate in the country set off after the murder of rationalists and writers by Hindutva adherents and of ordinary Muslims in different parts of the country on the suspicion of cow slaughter can hardly said to have abated. The Winter Session of Parliament has been all about this so far. “Secularism” and “tolerance”, in the context of our Constitution and everyday life, have been discussed. The government has stuck to the view that the protest by writers, artistes, intellectuals and others is “manufactured”, “artificial”, and politically motivated.

This is an unfortunate. Such a view furthers the suspicion that BJP MPs, ministers, and high-profile Hindutva leaders can carry on as usual. Protesters make the point that the government has not reacted to the spread of hate. Thus, writer Amit Chaudhuri spoke of “Wahabi Hinduism” last week, and Shashi Deshpande drew parallels with the McCarthy era in 1950s’ America.

Those who protest do not disagree that Indian society is tolerant; their deep disappointment is only with the government’s stance. It cannot be anyone’s case that India was a land of milk and honey before the Modi government came to power. Books, for instance, have often been banned before: Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses is a reminder. But murders of writers, and governmental silence, were not a noteworthy feature. That’s the difference. Silence can be interpreted as encouragement and support.