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What kind of a ruler will get
over 7000 people arrested on extremely serious charges of sedition when what
they actually did was to criticise him or his political party? 7000 plus. Yeah,
that is the number of Indians arrested for sedition after Narendra Modi became
the Prime Minister. The youngest among them was an 11-year-old girl. In that one
case alone related to that little girl, 85 children aged between 9 and 11 were
questioned by the Karnataka police for crimes of sedition.
Let those
numbers sink in. And then try to imagine a nine-year-old child committing an
act of treason. And then absorb a few more figures.
Of the 7000
plus Indians arrested for treason from 2014 onward, 149 were arrested just for
criticising Modi and 144 for criticising Ajay Mohan Bisht aka Yogi Adityanath.
Many of the arrests are plainly ridiculous for any sensible observer though
they are very agonising for the people concerned. Take one recent example, just
for example’s sake.
A Manipuri
journo, Erendro Leichombam, was arrested under the draconian National Security
Act on 13 May this year. His crime? He wrote in Facebook that cow dung and cow
urine cannot cure Covid-19 as the ruling BJP was propagating. Just that. Now
get that clear, please.
Did he say
anything wrong? He spoke what is plainly true for any sensible person. Yet he
was arrested for treason.
What is
happening in this country? What is love for nation here? Is it love for cow’s
excreta?
Yeah, cow’s
excreta has become more sacred here than human beings. Certain human beings, of
course. And who are those certain human beings.
One, people
belonging to certain religious communities. Two, people who think independently
or differently from the ruling dispensation.
What kind of
a ruler will be so scared of whole sections of his country’s population? Obviously,
one who suffers from a lot of insecurities.
TJS George, journalist,
thinks otherwise. In his weekly column
in today’s New Indian Express, he says that “The Hindu Hriday Samrat
seems more secure in his seat than any of his predecessors, not excluding
Jawaharlal Nehru.” George thinks that none other than Modiji could have
remained untouched by so many calamities that hit his people. “Terrible things
happen in his watch,” George says, “but they do not affect him and he doesn’t
really care.” So many unaccounted-for deaths, bodies mixed up in hospitals,
mass cremations/burials – and the loss of hope: yet the show goes on
unimpaired, unquestioned, says George.
I don’t think
so. The ‘un-impairment’ is just a façade created by the monstrous juggernaut of
Modi’s propaganda machinery. The numbers of people perishing behind the bars
tell us the real story.
George also
mentions in the same article that Modi is the only Prime Minister in the whole
world who is scared to meet the press. Yes, Modi is scared. His 56-inch chest
is mere sham. [His tailor once unwittingly let out the secret that it wasn’t 56
inches really.] Sham is his new mystic look with the lengthening hairs. Sardar
Patel statue is already forgotten. Maybe, the Ayodhya Temple will redeem his to
some extent. Maybe, Lord Ram will save him from his own insecurities.
But the
country is paying a huge price for all that. That is rather tragic. History is usually
not magnanimous towards rulers who are driven by their insecurities. That will
be Modi’s personal tragedy.
PS. This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon. I usually
choose a particular theme for Blogchatter campaigns. I’m not doing that this
time. Rather I have chosen ‘everything under the sun’ as the theme. The
metaphor of a hirsute leader has been haunting me relentlessly these days.
Everything under the sun seems to revolve round some shagginess nowadays. This
marathon runs till the Independence Day this year. Hmm.
Great theme - Everything Under The Sun - and, as always, a brutally honest post that tells us what we need to hear. Love your writing style, so crisp.
ReplyDeleteI had yet another disturbed night. I don't know why the country's affairs should affect my sleep. Maybe, I'm a better patriot than I think. The crispness of the writing here comes from a disturbed patriot.
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteCriticism - personal opinion which may differ and offer insight to that difference
Sedition - speeches/essays of opposition that may incite others to take up criticsm or sedition in their turn
Treason - national betrayal or acts of harm towards those in power (as in a coup)
It seams that Modi cannot accept anything but sycophancy and adoration, and consequently concatenates all these. How he is modelling himself is detestable in the extreme. As you say, such personalities are ultimately undone... the question is, how long until and how much more damage made in that while? YAM xx
India is a country whose first PM, Nehru, encouraged cartoonists to mock him so that he will learn to be modest. What a contrast we now have! Modi's ego is growing too big even for himself to handle.
DeleteThe nation has never been a democrcy, a collection of the fragemented pieces of neumerous classifications. So, classified interests never allow it to evolve as a democratic nation; Modi or no Modi at the helm.
ReplyDeleteMafia groups ruled us mostly, it's true. But there was a semblance of democracy. Now there's only falsehood everywhere.
DeleteSuch a thought provoking piece
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteA new depiction . Must read for sure.
ReplyDeleteGlad you arrived here.
DeleteWhen there is freedom of expression in the name of sedition, we know how it ends up. And currently, we are heading towards it with each passing day and it is really a concern.
ReplyDeleteEvery day i used to wake up with the hope that my government would correct its errors. But it's actually getting worse each passing day. Matter of serious concern.
DeleteThese are crazy figures. I am appalled.
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of scary facts around.
DeleteHonest as always Sir.Really find your posts so pertinent and thought-provoking
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm only sorry that we are condemned to write such sad stuff.
DeletePhysically speaking, a 56 inch chest can only be of an extra-ordinarily built body-builder. The present Indian premier's chest must be measuring much less than 56 inches. The facts and thoughts presented in this article are undeniable and present a pathetic state of affairs in India which (unfortunately) appears to be perpetuating throughout the life time of the present ruler of India. George Orwell had christened his great novel as 1984. He would have been accurate, had he christened it as 2014 (in the Indian context). I get stunned when I talk to well-educated people who despite admitting whatever bad happening (and has happened) in India, are gaga over the ruler of India and still adore him. This contradiction has an explanation but it's a thing of joy for the man who despite being a destroyer, enjoy the image of being a saviour.
ReplyDeleteThe most striking point is just that: so many people who are educated and good too assume that Modi is the only saviour that India now has. This is one of the mysteries that remain beyond me. Why do people become selectively blind like this?
Delete