[Reader-list] Fwd: [Secular Perspective] Looking forward to Peace and Justice Article for circulation

[Venugopalan K M]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ram puniyani <ram.puniyani at gmail.com>
Date: Sat, May 23, 2009 at 9:37 AM
Subject: [Secular Perspective] Looking forward to Peace and Justice
Article for circulation
To: ram puniyani <ram.puniyani at gmail.com>


Looking Forward to Peace and Progress

Ram Puniyani

The defeat of divisive forces in the recent elections (May 2009) is a
matter of great relief. The rule of BJP led NDA (1999-2004) had
created a situation whereby the norms of Constitution were given a go
by and two set of norms, one for majority community and other for
minorities started becoming visible. The worst of this is seen today
in Gujarat where the minorities have been reduced to the status of
second class citizens, bereft of the citizen’s rights which are their
due. During the same regime the communalization of text books and
infiltration of practitioners of religion based nationalism in
different walks of life took place in a big way. The result has been
the plethora of organizations which are part of RSS, called Sangh
Parivar became very assertive and aggressive.

The manifestations of this are visible not only in the justice
deliverance system but also in the sporadic attacks on minorities
scattered here and there. The manifestation of their rising assertion
becomes painfully obvious in the attacks on Women, (Mangalore),
Minorities, (Kandhamal) and total insensitivity to the victims of
Gujarat violence. The base of many of this negative phenomenon in
society does lie in the social common sense which has been propagated
against the minorities and weaker sections of society, in a consistent
and dangerous manner.

It is in this background that the Indian electorate rose up to give a
mandate for positive goal for an inclusive nation. This verdict also
shows that communal politics may succeed once a while, but in a plural
country like ours, inclusive agenda based on the values of freedom
movement should hold on for long time. It is heartening to note that
the National vote share of BJP has declined by around 2%, and even in
Gujarat, where the leaders of carnage of 2002 are ruling; their vote
share has gone down. Again in the background of 2004 verdict there is
overwhelming verdict for a coalition which should stand for
democratic-secular values. One hopes this mandate will give them an
encouragement to uphold these values in a more sincere and honest way.

The problems of people prevail in all arena of life; farmer’s suicides
suggest agricultural situation needs more than just the farmer’s loan
waivers. The levels of poverty and unemployment do tell us that time
has come to take the next logical step of employment guarantee scheme
to look at the pattern of growth and development where we can do away
with the rampant poverty and illiteracy at a deeper level. A lot needs
to be done to ensure the upholding of human rights of weaker sections
of society, against atrocities against dalits and women.

The state of health of a democracy has to be judged by the equity and
security of minorities. What is the condition of minorities today? It
is facing the problems of equity and security, the problems of
identity are becoming more dominant in such situations. One
compliments the UPA Govt for instituting Sachar Committee. The point
is that now it requires topmost priority in its implementation. It be
the education amongst poor, poor Muslims, we need to go miles to
ensure that education and employment of minorities is looked from the
angle of affirmative action, the pseudo criticism of appeasement
notwithstanding. The question of security is deeply related to the
question of justice. The recent shoe throwing episode demonstrated
that the scars of injustice remain; they don’t heal unless justice is
done. So many state Governments have failed in their duty as far as
punishing the guilty of violence is concerned. In Mumbai, Shrikrishna
Commission report has remained on the shelf despite the repeated
promise to implement it. In Gujarat one hopes the work of Special
Investigation Teams (SIT) brings out the truth and the Central
Government musters all the courage at its command, to punish the
guilty of the Gujarat carnage, whatever be their threatening and
aggressive postures.

In Kandhmal also the guilty are roaming with bloated chests while the
victims have been feeling scared to return to their villages. An
immediate effort to rehabilitate them, by bringing in the rule of law
is of paramount importance. In Gujarat also the Modi Government has
not bothered to distribute the relief to the riot victims. These riots
victims are living painful life bereft of facilities and are ignored
by state administration. The central govt has to remind the state
government of its constitutional obligations failing which strict
action must be taken. Overall a lot needs to be done to ensure that
SIT (Special Investigation Team) work goes on smoothly and unlike in
previous cases where BJP workers got Zahira Sheikhs testimony changed
by giving her money, the witnesses should be given total protection
and concrete assurance that Modi Government will not be able to harm
them in any way.

One also recalls that during the previous UPA rule the National
Integration Council met just couple of times. This body needs to be
activated as the regular watch dog on the state of affairs related to
the National Integration. The nation is looking forward with hope and
anticipation that dark period of communal ascendance, the temple
mosque issues are put in the pages of history, the place where they
belong and as Nehru put it, new temples of learning and job creation
are brought to the forefront.

The popular perceptions are the base of sectarian violence, which are
the base of divisive forces. Lot of misconceptions about minorities,
terrorism, conversions has had a field day. The RSS shakhas have been
spreading it, their schools are adding on to the problem, and rumor
mills are adding to the problem. It is time that a multilayered
approach is undertaken to promote the values of amity and harmony
which were the core of Indian society as seen in medieval times-Bhakti
Sufi traditions- and as seen during the freedom movement when all the
communities rubbed shoulders to get freedom from British rule. The new
Government has to evolve this basic program to sow the seeds of long
term harmony in the society.

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