ANALYSIS
Pogroms, sadly, make electoral sense in India
And in another dreadful redux of the same old story, communal riots have erupted in the North-western town of Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh. The immediate provocation seems to be stone-pelting at a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ motorcycle rally held last Friday. In this rally, organised by members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, a 22-year-old Chandan Gupta lost his life.
Subsequently, people who were a part of Chandan Gupta’s cremation allegedly went on a rampage and vandalised public property. This new breakout of violence, once again, begs the question of why is it that the police time and again prove to be so incompetent in controlling these outbreaks of violence. Before one jumps to a hasty conclusion, one must also account for the fact that the police is often fettered, especially because of the express direction of the political executive to look the other way. A brief gander at the history of communal or political riots in India highlights the humiliating and complicit role of police during times of social upheaval.
Take, for instance, the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, when the political establishment had hijacked the police machinery. Despite hundreds of Delhi police personnel stationed in the capital, not to mention the presence of a sizable force of Central Reserve Police Force, armies of Congress-backed hooligans raised hell in the streets of Delhi and perpetrated a horrifying pogrom. Justice still eludes the victims of the massacre and those accused of orchestrating the pogrom still roam freely. As the violence in Kasganj escalates, expect senior leaders of Congress to make all the right noises. The same old tired refrains will be repackaged and deployed for immediate consumption on overheated TV debates: The BJP is instigating communal violence for political gains; Fringe elements that are ideologically coterminous with the BJP are responsible for the ruckus in Uttar Pradesh; The BJP is tearing apart the fabric of our secular society.
What the Congress leaders conveniently fail to account for is their party’s own legacy of electorally-motivated communal pandering, which includes but is not limited to, sidelining the interests, the voice and the security of the majority. Also, how can one forget the despicable leadership exemplified by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee during the Malda and Basirhat riots of 2016, when mobs ruled the roost? Even as the mobs blockaded roads, set a local police station as well as a BSF vehicle on fire and destroyed public property, the TMC government acted as if it was business-as-usual just so that it could make inroads in a Congress-stronghold.
In the coming days, when the same old motley group of opinion masters and intellectuals come out hammer and tongs against the BJP, criticising it of mining communal discontent for electoral prospects, would they remember the times when they had nothing to say- conspicuously so- during the violence in Bengal? It is obvious that states and the police machinery have been derelict in executing their duties with unreserved commitment.
Radhika Merchant changes name, shares thoughts on work and marriage
Renewable Energy: Power generation expert Shahroz Anjum leads way in solar optimisation
Meet man, Indian-origin VP, who uses vacations to determine if he's hired right people, he is...
Ricky Ponting hits back at Gautam Gambhir's 'minding own business' advice, says, 'He is…'
Decision between renting and owning: Krupa Goel's perspective on what's shaping choices today
SC pronounces verdict on 'bulldozer justice': 'Having a home is a longing that never fades...'
Archbishop of Canterbury resigns over Church of England sex abuse scandal
Why world's most valuable company Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang doesn’t wear a watch, know here
Renowned Yoga guru Sharath Jois passes away at 53
Guru Nanak Jayanti 2024: Know date, time and significance of festival
DSP tracks down vegetable vendor after 14 years, reason will leave you surprised
Chennai Rain Alert: Heavy showers expected today, IMD issues warning to 11 districts
Ankur Warikoo shares details about his annual salary, reveals he earns Rs...
Donald Trump chooses Elon Musk to lead THIS new Department, it is...
Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024 LIVE UPDATES: Voting for first phase begins
IND vs SA: Arshdeep Singh on verge of scripting history, need 8 wickets to achieve THIS massive feat
Bulldozer justice: SC to pronounce verdict today on pleas for guidelines on demolition of properties
IND vs SA, 3rd T20I: Predicted playing XIs, live streaming details, weather and pitch report
Russia plans to boost birth rate with 'Ministry of Sex', here's how
Jharkhand HC issues notice to MS Dhoni in business deal case, asks him to...
IND vs SA, 3rd T20I Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for India vs South Africa match
Meet IAS officer, aka 'Collector Bro', who cracked UPSC exam in 2007, now suspended due to...
Here’s why Chunky Panday wouldn’t stay in Shah Rukh Khan’s house in London
Yash's Toxic in trouble? FIR filed against producers of KGF star's upcoming actioner for illegal...
Meet Dr Priti Challa, Kangana Ranaut film director Krish Jagarlamudi's second wife, she leads...
Yaariyan actor Himansh Kohli ties the knot with mystery girl in Delhi temple, first wedding pics out
‘Sometimes I wish I was more tough, more thick-skinned,’ says Aishwarya Rai in viral video
KL Rahul sweats hard in Perth nets ahead of BGT series, WATCH video here
Shahid Kapoor, wife Mira Kapoor rent out their Rs 580000000 luxury Mumbai apartment for Rs...
South Korean actor Song Jae-rim dies at 39 in Seoul apartment
Viral video: Thar SUV gets stuck on railway track after man tries to shoot reel, watch here
Elon Musk's new X post claims Putin must not be blamed for Russia-Ukraine war, instead names…
Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives fame Shalini Passi reveals 'Mom used chilli powder in my...'
My experiences with dating apps
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal reveals how company got its name, says 'we wanted…'
Key Differences Between the Indian Stock Market and Global Indices
Stock prices vs company valuation: Is your stock worth it?
Navjot Singh Sidhu is back on Kapil Sharma's show after five years, but there's a twist
Mukesh Ambani set to invest Rs 65000 crore in THIS Indian state, it will be Reliance's biggest...
Mohammed Shami to return to competitive cricket; star pacer set to play for…
Makoons World School brings a new approach to K-12 education across India
Pakistan Cricket looking to take BIG step on Champions Trophy issue, planning to...
Did Isha Ambani lend Neetu Kapoor her Navratna necklace? Reddit users react
J-K: Gunfight underway between security forces and terrorists in Bandipora
Viral video shows women as 'live mannequins' in mall, sparks fury; WATCH
As Vistara bids goodbye, Air India-Vistara's first flight takes off from Mumbai to...
GATE 2025 Schedule: Exams to begin from February 1; Check full timetable here
CBSE announces BIG changes in Class 10,12 board exams 2025, know details here