-Vidya Bhushan Rawat
Tabrez Ansari, a young man of 24 years, accused of theft was killed by a blood thirsty mob in Jharkhand. It is deeply painful and shocking how as a society this feeling of we verses them has penetrated among us. How as a system is encouraging such violence and refuses to act.
Even if Tabrez was an accused, who gave the authority to others to kill him. If the mob is doing the justice, then India will be defeated one day. No enemy is required to defeat a nation other than anarchy, chaos and lawlessness. If we have a constitution, why is our political class not able to educate our people to obey it and consider it the ultimate as the Prime Minister said in his speech in Parliament where he bowed before the Constitution.
The irony of Tabrez is that he lost his mother when he was merely 8 years of age and his father passed away when he was 12 years. How did he grew ? His wife informs that he was returning from Jamshedpur and the people killed him. She has lost everything. She does not have any one else other than her husband. What a society have we become that we dont even want to inquire about a thing and have given authority to the goons in the mob to do whatever they wish. This lawlessness and brazen disregard for constitutional provisions has happened because the so called lawmakers, a majority of those who have criminal cases against them, have encouraged this anarchy and chaos to fulfill their hate agenda to reap the rich harvest for their political gains.
Just a few days back, the US report talked about violence against minorities in India and the external affairs ministry rejected saying India remain a ‘secular’ country but one does ot need to be extraordinary thinker or analyst to understand that India is fast becoming the game for the dominant castes who are using the bogey of nationalism to promote their economic interests added with deep control in the political power structure. This is being strengthened daily with the way our civil services have been broken with the entry of Savarna elite at the higher level. Tabrez is 18th case of mob lynching in Jharkhand in the last three years. Well documented things can reveal what is the status in India. Can we imagine that there is not a hue and cry. There is no political protest. There is not a single word from the IAS or other civil services association. The parties of the Dalits and OBCs under different names are into the blame games. Sad and disappointing that when they needed to unite, they are openly displaying opportunism of the worst kind and no statements or political action against such things.
Whether lynching of Muslims or Dalits or Adivasis and the entry of individuals into civil services at higher level has one thing is common and that is that the Savarna hegemony is now complete. In politics, it is being played in the name of nationalism and violence against Muslims while in power structure, it is strengthened through ensuring that reservation become redundant. Why should the savarna parties and their association oppose these changes and mob lynching. The irony and tragedy is those who claim that their rights are being threatened and Muslims, adivasis are their natural allies, why are they quiet ? Why is there no political protest ?
Tabrez’s killing demonstrate how Muslims have become vulnerable in India under the fake propaganda. It is time that we build strong law against Hate Crime. As a citizen, we need to protect all and condemn all forms of violence. Can we allow our institutions to work, ask them to act impartially and remain faithful to constitution of India. Just thumping your chest on compariing with Pakistan will not take anywhere. Indian society, political leaders, chiller thinkers need to come out of this Pakistan phobia and think big. India is a big nation, a great history of democratic movement and an example of living together of so many diverse faiths. We need to retain our India, the India as our constitutional forefathers had visualised. We need an inclusive India where no Tabrez is punished without getting full opportunity to defend himself in a due court of law.
We need an India where law and statement are not selectively used and stated to humiliate a community and get the political benefit. Tabrez fell to hate crime and it is time we bring out a law against hate crime. We also need to send strong guidelines to electronic media how to debate and report such things. Many paid trolls are vitiating the communal harmony with their regular committing and fulmination against the minorities in general and Muslims in particular. This must stop. You cant abuse and doubt fellow citizens of this country just because they might not have not voted to your leaders or they dont belong to the faith you poractice. All citizens irrespective of their castes, and religious identities are Indian first and need protection as an Indian. I repeat this because I think the message must go to all. Those who violate the law of the land must be made accountable and should be brought before the law.
Why should a state like Jharkhand, where the presence of Muslims is so minuscule is now becoming the lynching ground for the Hindutva mob. And the answer lies in simple factors. The state goes to polls in the coming months. Modi ji is not contesting there and government is highly unpopular. In a state which is essentially related to Adivasi assertion and identity, BJP imposed a non Adivasi on people. Obviously, it can play a game too to get Adivasi votes at the end of the say because it play identity politics better than others. Fear of Muslims, blame on them for all your failures and non implementation for everything has given rich dividend to the party elsewhere. I hope now with this massive mandate, it is time that the Central leadership act and direct the state government to not to,tolerate such things. Tabrez need justice and coming days will prove the intentions of the government and how serious they are taking up this issue. The supremacy of the constitution should be restored everywhere to send an unambiguous message to defaulters and all those who take law unto their hand in whatever name, that they will be dealt with seriously. India cant afford to allow its citizens to be lynched by a mob justice. The day it become norm as happening, the idea of India will disappear and that is why it is our duty to protect that idea of India which has ensured the supremacy of the constitution and made the country united.
