The Common Man Speaks

Reaction to Tanishq ad reveals THREAT to the very idea of India

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The recent advertisement by Tanishq Jewelers gives a heartwarming message of unity in a country that is divided by various segments. In other words, it speaks about peace and harmony among two different communities.

So when the makers of the advertisement are forced to pull it down for this very reason, for showing the India penned in the Constitution, it speaks volumes about how ideas about secularism and religious harmony have come under serious threat in the last few years.

Just imagine – an ad is pulled down for giving the same message its constitution promotes… Let that sink in!

In this period, I have come across countless comments on social media where people mock secularism. Those who believe in it are looked down upon as criminals. To quote a couple of real examples, one Right Wing troll once asked me in a What’s App group whether I have improved or am I still secular.

Not so long ago, a friend faced ouster from his housing society’s What’s App group after being ‘accused’ of being secular. Let this sink in too!

These are the same people who always claim to be most patriotic. Either they don’t know or are pretending not to know that the very idea of India is based on secularism, which is promised by the Constitution of the country.

Tanishq

And since they are clearly not following the basic idea of India mentioned in the Constitution, how on earth can they proclaim to be deshbhakts?

It won’t be right to say that these are just paid or professional trolls who spend most of their time writing toxic posts and targeting people who don’t agree with their dangerous views. Unfortunately, such people are now found in our close friends, relatives or even in our homes.

I am sure all of you must have witnessed people from your close circles not only sharing communal posts in What’s App groups but also justifying them. There are a set of people who are paid to promote such stuff but there are many others, like our near and dear ones, who are doing it for free!

The ones who fall in the latter are more dangerous because they are not doing it for any monetary reward. They are doing it simply because they believe in such toxic ideas. It’s becoming more and more clear that education only makes you worthy of being employed. It doesn’t guarantee you not walking into the communal trap laid by the political class.

Also read: How Kangana’s comments exposed FAKE patriotism of these people… again

Therefore, the response to the Tanishq ad with such a pure message can’t be a co-incidence. It is a result of what all is transpiring in a lot of minds in recent years, including the educated class.

It just proves yet again how hatred and bigotry are slowly becoming the new normal.

But all such incidents have also made it clear that these toxic trolls get panic attacks at the very mention of secularism or harmony between two faiths. Hence, this should encourage us to do things that irk them the most.

Let’s keep sharing not only the Tanishq ad (see below) but also other videos and posts that promote what they fear the most – unity!

Jai Hind!

Additional reading:

‘Anti-nepotism’ brigade has created a TOXIC atmosphere online

You might be triggering DEPRESSION in someone without even knowing it

How Kangana’s comments exposed FAKE patriotism of these people… again

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One Bhakt was ill since last few days, so he hadn’t kept track of any news. Mr X decided to have some fun with him.

Mr X: You know, Aamir Khan compared Mumbai with Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Pakistan

Bhakt: WTF! Such a ba***rd! How dare he say such a thing for the city that gave him name and fame! I always felt these anti-nationals and traitors should be thrown out of India and be united with their ilk in Pakistan!

Mr X: Lol. Thoda masti kiya tere saath. Actually Kangana Ranaut gave this statement. See here (shows his mobile)

Bhakt (shocked): What!!!

Mr X: I will be sharing this conversation on Facebook. I will attribute your reaction to Kangana. Chalega na? (Starts typing on FB)

Bhakt (tensed): Arre wait!

***********************************

The above conversation is imaginary but it is based on the real ideologies of Bhakts, whose fake patriotism has once again got exposed. Last week, Kangana Ranaut compared Mumbai with Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and, later, with Pakistan. This triggered anger among the people from India and outside.

However, there was no outrage visible from Bhakts on social media. These are the same people who consider themselves more patriotic than anyone else. They slam any film star raising a voice on an issue India is facing left, right and centre and ask him or her to leave the country and migrate to Pakistan [their biggest fantasy].

Kangana Ranaut Bhakts

Compare Kangana’s comments with that of Aamir Khan where he quoted his wife Kiran Rao merely suggesting that India has become unsafe. All hell broke loose and the actor was lynched on social media for months to come. There was a demand from Bhakts to boycott every Aamir movie in the future.

But somehow they didn’t troll Kangana, whose comment was much more alarming than that of Aamir. The answer to this is simple – she is a die-hard fan of BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party]. Plus, the place she criticized is in the state which is not ruled by BJP.

Time and again we have seen Bhakts criticizing and being okay with criticizing a state which is not ruled by their favourite party. The biggest example is how they indulge in all types of name calling to Kerala, a state where their party has been struggling to find any landing.

But this isn’t the biggest hypocrisy of Bhakts. Their fake love for the country was exposed last year when BJP leader Pragya Thakur hailed the death of the late ATS (Anti-Terror Squad) Chief Hemant Karkare at the hands of terrorist Ajmal Kasab during the 26/11 attacks.

Also read: Kangana’s war against Shiv Sena v/s SRK’s: Similarities and dissimilarities

Here was a politician openly applauding a terrorist for killing an officer who laid down his life while fighting for the country. But she wasn’t trolled by Bhakts or their IT Cell or the loud-mouthed anchor who shoves the party’s ideology down your throat each night. The same anchor who is allergic to the very mention of Pakistan.

Somehow, the patriotism of Bhakts goes on a sick leave if a supporter of their favourite party gives a derogatory comment against India.

Remember this the next time they slam any famous personality for allegedly hurting their patriotic sentiments.

Additional reading:

SSR case: Why is KARNI Sena forgiven & shown respect?

Expecting MIRACLES from CBI in Sushant case isn’t smart

Expecting MIRACLES from CBI in Sushant case isn’t smart

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Few days back I saw a video of the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) team arriving in Mumbai after they were handed over the Sushant Singh Rajput suicide case once the Supreme Court (SC) gave its nod. They were hounded by tens of journalists screaming out the same question repeatedly – “Will Rhea Chakraborty be arrested in the Sushant case?”

The CBI team had just taken over the case at that time. So, how can these journalists expect them to take a decision as major as arresting Rhea just less than a day after they started working on it? This isn’t a case of a driver jumping a signal in which an instant challan is issued.

When the media behaves this way, you can well imagine the state of the mind of the keyboard warriors; the ‘die hard’ fans of Sushant who feel they are fighting for the truth by typing out orders on social media for the CBI to arrest Rhea Chakraborty or anyone else in the case.

I have seen countless posts where people have just assumed that the CBI will perform instant miracles now that they have taken over the case. I can understand primary school kids having such expectations. But these are educated grown-ups working at senior levels who are impatiently expecting results in the case.

Sushant Singh Rajput and Rhea Chakraborty
Sushant Singh Rajput and Rhea Chakraborty

All such expectations aren’t surprising though when a large contingent of social media users can start believing that disliking trailers of films starring ‘insiders’ can give justice to Sushant [about which I have written HERE]. These people were literally dancing in joy when the CBI was given the nod to take over the case.

And they were given massive encouragement to go wild by a ‘news anchor’ who considers himself to be the only judge in the nation who matters. He and his panel on the debate literally clapped with wide smiles when the SC allowed the CBI to be involved in the case. Have we forgotten that the very foundation of the case is a tragic death of a talented artiste?

It is also funny to see this anchor put pressure to get the CBI involved and then applaud the same when he has already solved the case on his channel and concluded the suicide to be a murder, much before the CBI got involved. In fact, he refers to the case as ‘Sushant Singh Rajput murder’ after a series of sting operations his team carried out.

Also read: ‘Anti-nepotism’ brigade has created a TOXIC atmosphere online

Right now nobody would like to be in the shoes of the CBI team which is assigned the case. I hope the super excited media and the social media let them work in peace without pressure. I don’t have much hope though going by the crazy expectations from them.

In case, the results of the CBI investigation don’t bring the same results that the media and social media are expecting, it won’t be long before the CBI too is targeted from the studios and the keyboards.

What will they demand then? A CBI inquiry on the CBI itself?

(Additional reading)

An open letter to Arvind Kejriwal

Fact check: Was Deepika Padukone was paid Rs 5 crore to attend JNU protests

‘Anti-nepotism’ brigade has created a TOXIC atmosphere online

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The debate around nepotism in Hindi film industry has been going on since last few years, ever since Kangana Ranaut accused Karan Johar on his show for favoring star kids.

The incident triggered never-ending debates on social media on whether star kids are plain lucky to get an easy entry into the film world and more chances than someone who isn’t from a film background.

Despite the controversial nature of the subject, the star kids debate was still under control. But Sushant Singh Rajput’s sad demise a couple of months ago has made things go completely out of control. In fact, that’s a mild way of putting it.

Sushant didn’t come from a film family. In today’s times, he is known as an ‘outsider,’ who made it big in the Hindi film world, where there’s cut-throat competition. Slowly after his death, theories started cropping up that he was depressed because a number of big producers from the industry had boycotted him. Strangely, there is no such proof of this except those What’s App forwards and unverified ‘news’ reports.

This thought has become so deep-rooted in the minds of a large number of people that they have started hating any artiste who comes from a film family. Negative comments are being posted against them almost every second, just because someone from their family had made it big in the industry.

Star kids and nepotism

This didn’t start immediately after Sushant passed away. It has gradually increased since last one month and has now reached an unimaginable level. These trollers are making it look as if it is a crime to be born in a film family.

So now films are categorized as those starring ‘nepo kids’ and those with a cast which doesn’t come from a film family. Leave alone general public, I can see such divisions even made by few journalists, who are expected to be neutral and unbiased.

And if you don’t like a film starring an ‘outsider,’ you get judged for being a supporter of the ‘nepo gang’ and an enemy of self-made actors. For example, recently a reviewer didn’t like Khuda Haafiz and the person was judged for the same, not just by Twitterati but also the film’s lead actor Vidyut Jammwal.

It looks like it has also become a crime to judge a film objectively instead of being heavily biased by taking into account whether it has any star kids.

Also read: You might be triggering DEPRESSION in someone without even knowing it

The dangerous levels to which this anti-nepotism feeling has reached became clearer last week when the trailer of Mahesh Bhatt’s Sadak 2 released. This anti-nepotism gang pounced on that trailer like a hungry wild animal pounces on its prey. In just few days, the trailer has got over 60,000 likes and 1 crore 10 lakh [or 11 million] dislikes!

Sadak 2 trailer with 11 million dislikes

But there’s more. Sadak 2 has a Google rating of just 1.1 after as many as close to 20,000 votes.

You don’t even need to be a regular internet user to know this is a powerful campaign against the film because it has the likes of Alia Bhatt, Pooja Bhatt and Sanjay Dutt, who are now addressed as ‘nepo kids.’

Average rating of 1.1 for Sadak 2 on Google

Although the trailer hasn’t been lauded by large section of the audience, having so many dislikes and low rating is not normal by any means. Race 3 (2018) and Joker (2012), two of the most hated trailers in recent years, didn’t receive an iota of such negative ratings.

Also read: Fact check: Was Deepika Padukone paid Rs 5 crore to attend JNU protests?

This is clearly a planned strategy which has spread like wildfire. I hate to say this but this is exactly how political trolls and their IT cells operate. They target a film and start spreading negativity through dislikes, down votes and toxic personal attacks on people related to the film.

Believe me, your ‘dislikes’ isn’t going to give justice to Sushant Singh Rajput but I guess common sense is not very common, especially when the minds are brainwashed so deeply. Also their rude comments and intolerance for a different opinion instantly remind me of these political trolls.

Then there are people like KRK who are making full use of the controversy to gain popularity by trending topics like #JusticeForSSR and #CBIInquiryForSSR. He is the same person who used to personally attack Sushant in his ‘movie reviews.’ On more than one occasion, he also went onto say that Sushant is just a TV actor, he shouldn’t consider himself a film actor.  

Just like these political trolls this anti-nepo gang too believes in the false notion that they are warriors fighting against injustice. But instead they are making things go chaotic and toxic online.

And the world is watching us.

(Additional reading)

An open letter to Arvind Kejriwal

Why people in their 30s should stop believing they are 70

You might be triggering DEPRESSION in someone without even knowing it

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The shocking death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput through suicide has once again highlighted that depression is something that needs to be taken very seriously. People can be depressed due to various reasons. The most prominent among them is making an individual feel worthless.

Here are 8 ways in which the society makes an individual feel like a loser without any fault of his or hers:

— It starts from childhood itself when parents compare their child’s marks with their cousins’ and neighbors’. In case their son or daughter has fared much worse than other children, he or she is made to feel like a loser. Remember, wounds inflicted during childhood take the longest time to heal, which ultimately turns into depression.

— When an individual chooses an off-beat course like Arts, he or she is considered a loser because becoming doctors and engineers is a must when it comes to gaining respect from the society. It has happened with me and my brother when a family friend once asked my mother, “How did you even allow your kids to pursue Arts?” It was as if the two of us chose to become underworld gangsters.

— Similarly, if you pursue a creative field as a profession and are even doing well in it, you are still looked down upon by the samaaj. Indirect remarks will be made. And asking your salary in front of others gives them a different kind of a high.

Depression

— I guess I don’t need to explain much about how people are judged based on their physical attributes, including skin colors and they are made to feel like losers which slowly leads them to self-guilt and depression. Matrimonial ads are the best place to know how deep-rooted this mentality is.

— The question of marriage is the biggest menace in our samaaj. In case you are 30 and unmarried, you are a criminal. As simple as that. More so, if you are a girl. The society will look down upon you as if you don’t deserve to live if you are unmarried at this age.

At times people think that a person hasn’t got married even after crossing 30 because he or she has some problem. Firstly, it’s an individual’s personal issue and none of your business. Secondly, if he or she has a problem, is that a crime?

— When unmarried people are being looked down upon, you can well imagine how a divorcee is made to feel in our society. There are plenty of cases where a person has no other choice but to opt for divorce. But instead of understanding his or her problem, the person is made to feel like a criminal, especially girls, which thereby leads to depression.

For example, a friend of mine who is highly educated considers divorcees as ‘second hand maal’ and feels it is normal to say so.  

— If you thought getting married will gain you acceptance from the samaaj, you are grossly mistaken. This is followed by the stage where people look at you with suspicion if you haven’t become a parent even after few years of marriage. The thought of either the husband or wife having a ‘problem’ will creep up again and you will be made to feel guilty. Giving support is out of question.  

In case you decide not to have kids, which is a couple’s personal decision, you are considered lunatic.

— Being jobless is another crime. In case you leave a job without having another offer simply because the work and work culture was affecting you mentally, very few would understand that. In fact, even if you are laid off for no fault of yours, you are still made to feel guilty.

The tragedy is that society doesn’t even realize that they are inflicting pain on an individual through, what they believe, is ‘general talk and questioning.’ They have no idea that this slowly leads to a person feeling worthless, which is the starting point of being depressed.

Additional reading:

Why people in their 30s should stop believing they are 70

Coronavirus: Contact these NGOs for DAILY WAGERS’ welfare

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The deadly Coronavirus has put the entire world into turmoil, including India. The cases and deaths are increasing every day as the country enters the third stage of Covid-19.

But along with those who are affected by Coronavirus, there are lakhs of migrant workers all across India who have lost their jobs overnight after the country went into a lockdown.

Worse, they are forced to migrate to their native places without any means of transport. What is more dangerous is that thousands of people are forced to walk in huge crowds. This has put them under direct threat of being in touch with Coronavirus since social distancing is out of question.

These workers or daily wagers have taken upon themselves to walk hundreds of kilometers to their native. They are short of food supply too.

Coronavirus Daily Wagers
Photo source: IndiaToday.in

As per latest updates, 21 deaths have taken place among the workers who have been travelling on foot. In such a situation, it is of utmost importance to provide them with food and shelter, so that they at least stay alive, along with ensuring that they don’t get exposed to Coronavirus.

Which government or party is to be blamed for this can be thought later. Right now they need immediate relief.

Here is the list of NGOs and organizations who are providing help to the daily wagers:

Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (Delhi)
Contact: 011 2371 2580

Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA) (Mumbai)
Contact: 091520 51717

Safa NGO (Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi)
Contact: 9866174665

International Association for Human Values (IAHV) (Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru)
Contact: 9818150404, 9886660006

Hasiru Dala NGO (Bengaluru)
Contact: 097421 12362

Janta Rasoi (Mumbai)
Contact: 093243 71989

Janta Meals (Gurugram)
Contact: 088000 00358

Uday Foundation (Delhi)
Contact: 011 2656 1333

Goonj Foundation (Delhi)
Click HERE to help the daily wagers

Delhi Youth Welfare Assocation (Delhi)
Contact: 011 2702 8090

Ramesh Raman, CEO of IAHV, which is listed above, spoke to us about their efforts. “We are giving away packets of 5 kilo rice, 4 kilo wheat flour, 2 kilo dal, half litre oil and various condiments like pepper, salt, etc,” he said.

He added, “Ten thousand packets have arrived already. We are doing it while tying up with local municipal corporations and other NGOs. We also have ground level volunteers. They will identify the people and take responsibility for the distribution. We did a similar thing during Chennai floods.”

An Open Letter to Arvind Kejriwal

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Dear Mr Arvind Kejriwal,

Firstly, congratulations for winning the Delhi Assembly Elections by a huge margin and becoming the Chief Minister of India’s capital yet again. Another feat you have achieved with this victory is that you have indirectly compelled me to do something I never thought I would – to write an open letter.

I have always admired you for showing guts when it comes to standing up against wrongdoers. But my opinion about you has always hanged between you being the best politician and way better from the lot we have [big difference between both]. But the one thing that has remained constant is that you have always proven me wrong.

I have been observing you ever since Anna Hazare’s India Against Corruption (IAC) movement. Like scores of youngsters, I too took part in it. It was only through this movement that I started taking interest in something like politics out of the blue. Trust me, before 2011 I didn’t even know the meaning of an MP and MLA and also the difference between both.

After nothing much happened due to the agitations and protests, you decided to form a political party in 2012. I completely disagreed with this decision and my interest in the movement started by Anna with able support from you diminished. The fact that Anna himself didn’t support the decision of forming a party was also responsible for this.

But you proved me wrong in 2013 by gaining people’s trust and winning 28 out of the 70 seats in your political debut in the Delhi Assembly Elections. But I again disagreed with your decision of forming the government with the help of Congress MLA’s since your entire IAC movement was against the corruption carried out by the leaders of their party.

But I was still happy to see you Mr Kejriwal at the helm of affairs in Delhi as the CM and appreciated the few decisions you made then. However, your resignation after 51 days came as a blow to a lot of Indians, including me. Then your party’s stint in the 2014 General Elections where you won only four seats despite contesting in the entire country forced me to accept that the new wave of Indian politics has come in danger so soon.

Arvind Kejriwal

But interestingly, you worked hard to gain people’s trust yet again and bounced back like never before in the 2015 Delhi Assembly Elections. Your party winning 67 out of the 70 seats came as a pleasant shock as no political pundits had predicted such a result.

The result coupled by your period of self-introspection before the elections made me your fan yet again. However, the post-results period of 2015 was when my feelings for you took some beating. The entire controversy regarding Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan following which they quit the party didn’t go down well with me and many others who admired you.

This was followed by your drubbing in the 2017 Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections where you won only 49 out of the 272 seats, which would have come as a shock to you too Mr Kejriwal. This was enough to make me feel that your time is slowly getting over.

From here onwards, surprisingly, we saw a changed Kejriwal. Your harsh and negative criticisms against the Centre and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular [‘coward and psychopath’ as you called him], which was a regular feature in the previous few years, was hardly to be seen. I don’t disagree with your views against the BJP or Modi but I just feel that a CM like you should let his work speak.

Fortunately, this is what you and your government in Delhi have been doing since close to last three years. Your turnaround in government schools has been revolutionary to say the least. Your efforts in giving free water and electricity to the Delhi citizens have also been praiseworthy. [I didn’t think much of the Lok Sabha Election results of 2019 as that was mainly contested to choose the Prime Minister for the next five years.]

Following this, your victory in 62 out of the 70 seats in the recent Delhi elections is another proof of how much the people of the city are pleased with your work. And hence, you proved me wrong yet again and I don’t mind this at all.

But this also reminds me of the controversial period that started for you and your party just after the huge 2015 victory. I really hope such a thing isn’t repeated and you continue your good work and show the kind of maturity you have been showing in the last few years.

The reason why I am writing to a politician for the first time is because I have hopes only from you Mr Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party. It was you who made me and many others realize that one should not bury politics under the carpet believing it’s a place only for the crooked and the wicked.

Also read: To choose Gandhi or Godse: Confusion of a Bhakt

More importantly, the stakes are very high this time around. The Right Wing fascism has escalated tremendously in recent months. And I see you as a major force that can stand up to it. As we can see, the Congress party is hardly any force to reckon with now.

I don’t know whether you should now go national as you have better knowledge than me. But my only advice for you would be to look at long-term goals for Delhi and slowly and unhurriedly make your way to the rest of India.

From here on, it is you who will decide the future of Indian politics. So, please take each step carefully.

I hope, for a change, you will prove me right this time. Wishing you all the very best as you start your third term as the CM.

Yours fellow Aam Aadmi,

Keyur Seta

(Additional reading: How Maharashtra leaders made a FOOL of their supporters)

To choose Gandhi or Godse: Confusion of a Bhakt

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Ever since Narendra Modi became India’s Prime Minister, he has shown tremendous respect towards Mahatma Gandhi. He started the nationwide Swachh Bharat Abhiyan dedicating it to him. The PM has also spoken highly of the father of the nation during his numerous speeches. But senior members of his party have been showing support for Nathuram Godse, the person who cold-bloodedly murdered Gandhi.

Gandhi and Godse

The one person that immediately comes to our mind is MP Pragya Thakur [Sadhvi for some]. She hailed Godse twice last year. In one statement, she went onto say “Nathuram Godse was a patriot and will remain so. People calling him a terrorist should introspect. They will be given a befitting reply in these elections.” She is also someone who hailed the death of cop Hemant Karkare at the hands of terrorist Ajmal Kasab but that’s another story. (See the video below)

Just last month, BJP leader Amitabh Sinha, during a debate with Kanhaiya Kumar, refused to answer whether he is against Godse. But when Kanhaiya persisted with the question, Sinha openly said, “He is not against Godse.” (See the video below)

Similarly, BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj said in an interview that Godse was a nationalist but then quickly made a U turn. (See the video below)

Amit Malviya, head of the BJP IT cell, also defended Godse’s act of killing Gandhi. (Read it in detail HERE.)

Shockingly, members of a Right Wing group recreated Godse’s murder of Gandhi. The ‘event’ was attended by BJP leaders, including the ex-Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan. There was an uproar in the nation and social media over the event but none of the BJP leaders even criticized it, leave alone taking action against them. (See the video below)

And just today, BJP’s senior leader Anant Kumar Hegde said that Gandhi’s freedom fight was just a ‘drama.’ (See video below)

These aren’t small-time karyakartas of the party who can be ignored. CMs and MP’s are chosen as the representatives of the people of India and if they are openly showing support to the murderer of Gandhi, it raises several questions on PM Modi’s unending praise for the Mahatma.

Also read: Only living people can protest, rest are dead, says Aarey tribal activist Prakash Bhoir on CAA and NRC

Interestingly, Modi has never uttered a word against Godse.

If not for us, at least clear the dilemma for your Bhakts. They defend PM’s sweet words for Gandhi. But on some days they are forced to defend Godse, the diametrical opposite of Gandhi, to support the statements of the aforementioned leaders.

Whoever felt being a Bhakt was easy.

Jokes apart, this clearly looks like a clear strategy to keep the supporters of Gandhi as well as Godse happy. If only the people of India can see the bluff.

Additional reading:

How Maharashtra leaders made a FOOL of their supporters

How 2019 ended on a hopeful note amidst hopelessness

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The date was 23 May. It was, as expected, a hot Thursday morning but we were inside the confinement of our air-conditioned Yoga class. It wasn’t an ordinary day. It was on that day that the fate of the 130 crore odd Indians rested on the results of the Lok Sabha Elections, which were also set to be as unsurprising as the weather. BJP was set to win it easily.

As we wound up around 9:15 am, I could hear the excitement of few BJP supporters from the class over the results declared so far. As expected, NDA was leading. That was obvious considering we had an almost invisible opposition that did little to pose any danger to the arch rivals BJP.

As I already knew what the outcome would be, I didn’t keep a tab of it as a travelled from my Yoga class in Matunga to my office in Andheri. However, because of their many blunders and blatant misuse of power by the BJP, I was sure the margin of victory wouldn’t be as high as it was in 2014.

But as I was about to reach my office, a friend from Kolkata pinged and said that they are all set to win with a much bigger margin and that they are performing well even in West Bengal, which wasn’t expected.

2019 Lok Sabha Election results
Source: BBC

As the day progressed, it became all the more clear that the BJP was all set to win more triumphantly than it did in 2014. They eventually finished with 303 seats and the total of their alliance NDA stood at a resounding 353 seats.

The last five years had seen a number lynchings out of mere suspicion of a person carrying beef, which was banned in 2015. One or two lynchings were even supported by BJP leaders. One leader even went onto garland a group of people convicted [mind you, not just accused] in lynchings. One of the lynchings accused was wrapped in the tricolour after he died and India’s Minister of Culture went to pay him last respects.

The overall atmosphere of communalism was evident with BJP leaders dishing out one atrocious comment after another. After a point, this became a routine exercise.

Demonetization was a blunder of another level. It killed more than 100 people and at the same time almost the entire currency came back to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Not to mention how bundles of new currencies were found in the residences of powerful people, including BJP leaders.

The next year Ajay Mohan Bisht, known as Yogi Adityanath, was made the CM of Uttar Pradesh. The same person who, on numerous occasions, openly incited mobs for riots. Instead of putting him behind bars, he was rewarded with such a post.

The most audacious antic came from Pragya Thakur [not Saadhvi for me] who expressed her happiness at the killing of the supercop Hemant Karkare by terrorists during the 26/11 attacks. On another occasion she openly praised Nathuram Godse for killing Gandhi. While India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi continuously heaps praises on Gandhi, he took no action against Thakur except lip service that he will never forgive her (wow, amazing!).

It came as a jolt to many like me to know that Thakur went onto win the election with a large margin despite such shameless statements.

This coupled with the overall results was enough for me and a number of friends to conclude that is desh ka kuchh nahin ho sakta. It isn’t surprising to see the saffron party carry out such atrocious acts. But it indeed was a rude to surprise to see that people have absolutely no problems with it considering the even bigger margin of victory.

The results took away our interest from politics because, we thought, when the masses of India themselves are okay with such rulers, there is just no hope.

Anti NRC protests against BJP
Protesters at Azad Maidan on 27 December

But things turned around right at the last month of the year when the same masses got involved in large numbers to oppose the passing of NRC and CAA bills. And these protests weren’t confined to just one city or state but in the entire country. One can find people from all kinds of backgrounds, faiths and age-groups participating selflessly in the protests.

There has been rampant use of violence by authorities to nullify the protest at various places in the country but that didn’t deterred people from taking part in the protests. Even as I write this, I am wondering how such a turnaround happened in the same year. [It reminded me of the protests during the Anna Hazare movement which also I had attended].

I don’t know for sure whether we will succeed in getting the controversial bills scrapped. But I am certain that people will come together to agitate any sort of tyranny unleashed by the government or the Right Wing as a whole in the future.

With that renewed hope for our great country I am stepping into the New Year and decade.

Additional reading:

Only living people can protest, rest are dead, says Aarey tribal activist Prakash Bhoir

Anti CAA protests against BJP

Anti CAA protests Mumbai against BJP