Conduct Unbecoming

by Rohit Kumar

Writing in the OUTLOOK ( India), the Mr Jawaharlal Nehru's niece Nayantara Sehgal called Varun Gandhi's speech in Pilibhit 'disgraceful'. Varun Gandhi is the son of the late Sanjay and Maneka Gandhi. This qualifies him as a genuine fourth generation scion of the Gandhi dynasty. His hate speech singles him out as the only member of the Gandhi clan to have spoken such words---words that damage India's image and disgrace its politicians.

Varun was obviously establishing his credentials as a BJP candidate and in his twisted mind he thought that all the BJP stands for is hate, Hindutwa and atrocities against those Indians who are not Hindus. He was evidently inspired Narenda Modi of the Gujerat massacre fame and the architect of one of India's blackest episodes.

Radical intolerant Hinduism is gaining strength in India. It is dividing India on religious lines. The BJP supported by fanatic Hindu movements is the vanguard of this movement. This party serves only Hindus and only wants their votes. India's secular image badly tarnished by the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat, the train burning incident in which serving military personnel joined hands with radical Hindus, the atrocities against Christians and the treatment meted out to the Dalits has been dealt a mortal blow by Varun Gandhi. True that he is just one individual and a lightweight if his Gandhi connection is overlooked but what he has said is also what rabid Hindu leaders like Thakeray and Dal have been saying for years.

Varun's speech brought back memories of the BJP led demolition of the Babri mosque and all the other incidents used as a pretext for rampaging war painted mobs of Hindu radicals. Varun has stoked the fires of hate and intolerance. Those who have suffered and have suffered will think of the only recourse open to them to safeguard themselves---asymmetric retaliation. This is how societies are torn apart and violence spawned.

Nayntara Sehgal is a brave woman. She has said what needed to be said. It is sad that more voices---especially BJP voices -have not condemned him and his thinking.