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COMMUNAL
POLITICS AND ELECTIONS: A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE -
MPK
Kutty |
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What does it take to rouse a nation's
conscience about atrocities upon innocents? In a
pluralistic society like ours , with its share of
conflicts of interest, meting out justice remains a
perennial issue. Just a shoe thrown at a minister
achieved for the cause of the protestor what torrents of
words poured into pages and processions taken up through
streets etc could not achieve.
The action of the journalist of Daily Jagran Jarnail
Singh in hurling shoe at Home Minister Chidambaram
during exchange of words with him at a press conference
in Delhi on April 7 can not justified from the angle of
media ethics. A reporter's duty is confined to reporting
the Press conference objectively and truthfully. He must
not get emotionally involved.
As it turned out later, he had acted on the spur of the
moment and admitted that the manner of his protest was
wrong while the cause was right. Whatever that may be
his action stirred the Sikh community and also pricked
the conscience of Congressmen in power. The minister's
readiness to forgive the offender springs partly from a
realization that despite the CBI's good chit to Tytler
for want of evidence, there still persisted in the
public mind a certain conviction that the accused was
guilty.
The journalist who even admitted that his manner of
protest was not right, became an instant hero of his
community. The stir by the Sikh community against the
seemingly unfair conclusion of the CBI in the matter of
some leading Congressmen's role in the 1884 riots got a
fresh lease of life.
What is more that conscientious workers of the Congress
began to air views that it was not right on the part of
the Congress to have given the party ticket to men like
Tytler whose reputation is sullied by their role in the
riots. This is a welcome change.
The outcome of the shoethrowing episode may or may not
help awaken the conscience of the nation for a rethink
on the sufferings inflicted on body politic and
especially the minorities.
Communally inclined investigative agencies, courts,
police have the effect of nullifying the Constitution
which guarantees to each citizen the right to life,
liberty, equality and justice.
What surfaced at the hurling of a shoe is the suppressed
anger of a minority community that is denied justice in
the Sikh riots case even after 25 years. While the
victims of the riots lost their everything, the
criminals were hardly brought to book.
This is a phenomenon that had frustrated minorities in
the land. This frustration can only be removed by the
well meaning leaders of the majority community, who love
this nation and its Constitution.
The minorities, on their part, should strengthen such
leaders who are bent on standing by the Constitution.
The Congress party's stand on secularism and provision
of checks and balances to safeguard the interests of
minorities are quite laudable. But its record has been
spoiled by communal elements that had penetrated its
ranks. The Centre has watched helplessly all serious
violations of secularism in this nation and ineffective
in meting out justice. Examples are the Babri Masjid
demolition, the 1984 anti-Sikh rots, the massacre of
Muslims in Gujarat and lately the attacks on Christians
in Orissa and Karnataka. The details are too well known
to warrant a repetition.
How can mass murders, destruction of houses, rapes and
killing be done without evidence? How is it the
perpetrators of crime remain in politics and continue to
wield power? How can the leaders of a civilized nation
as ours turn a blind eye and allow injustice to prevail?
And numerous are the attempts being made, overtly and
covertly, to deny religious freedomeven through
legislation! The governments, the law ans order
machinery and the media must share the blame for the
tragic developments.
The BJP's attitude towards the minorities had been
rather hostile, to say the least and it has pampered
extremist groups which had terrorized the minorities in
various ways. There are allegations that the BJP which
ruled Orissa in partnership with the BJD (Biju Janata
Dal) effectively prevented action against anti-social
elements which had gone on looting , killing and burning
the homes of Christians in the Kanthamal region of the
state for a couple of months.
The left parties are considered champions of secularism
but they have, by their ideological pursuits had wrought
havoc to the two states they ruled. They were bent on
bringing down the Manmohan Singh government on the
nuclear pact issue because it did not suit their party
interests.
All things considered how should the Christians vote?
Surely religious freedom is important and whoever seeks
to restrict that does not deserve support . The one
party that swears by the Constitutional guarantee is the
Congress. It is the national party that makes a
pretension of guarding the interests of the minorities,
besides smaller political outfits which are confined to
regions and promoting regional interests.
It is important for the Christian community to ponder
over all these and exercise their vote with much care.
Corrupt and communal elements are not suited for our
legislatures. Only upright persons who adhere to values
of truth, justice and righteousness deserve support.
Though small in size, the Christian community has
contributed significantly to the nation's growth in
various fields. Now attempts are being made to erase
from public memory, the enduring contribution its
valiant members have made to the nation. However, as in
the past, the community must continue to love this
nation's poor and do its best for their uplift in all
ways possible.
The Christian community has remained complacent as
regards politics. Politics has to do with the building
up of a society in which justice and righteousness
prevail; a society in which every effort is made to
overcome all kinds of oppressions and wipe out every
tear and remove every fear. We may be a small flock but
all great reforms have been initiated by individuals and
small flocks. In the instance of the antiSikh riots of
1984, one single Jarnail Singh, caused nationwide
resurgence of protests against injustice, even 25 years
late. What of the 'rivers of righteousness' that are
expected of Christians? What of their duty to speak up
for the voiceless?
Democracy, as is evident by now, may not be the best
political system but then it is the duty of the citizens
to struggle and make it workable for the benefit of the
largest number.
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This page
is updated on April 20, 2009 |
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PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY
10 YEARS CELEBRATION
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