Varun Gandhi, the prodigal grandson?
The Constitution of India says that a person who wants to stand in elections should be of minimum 25 years of age and be a citizen of India but the Constitution of 'Contemporary Indian Politics' goes far beyond. It says that one should have gone to prison at least once, one should have incited communal tensions somewhere or should be involved in some scams in his recent past. Leave apart some exceptions, Varun Gandhi, the new scion in Indian Politics is certainly no exception. He was booked under National Security Act (NSA) recently by UP government for inciting communal hatred between the two community groups while addressing a rally in Pilibhit from where he is contesting in coming general elections. This whole political drama forces a common man to retrospect in his past, think and re-think about his existence in the 'Union of India' and his probable future.
Pilibhit, which comes under one of the most minority-concentrated districts of India, has been represented by Menaka Gandhi, mother of Varun Gandhi, for five times in the Parliament. It is one of the most forest rich areas of Uttar Pradesh and has immense tourism potential. Being near to Indo-Nepal border, it is also sensitive for security reasons. The most important thing, it hasn't seen any major communal riot between Hindus and Muslims since Ayodhya aftermath. The 'trickle down effects' of economic growth are yet to percolate in the common man as 40% of the population is still living below poverty line. In these conditions some of the claims of Varun Gandhi are certainly questionable whose words aroused so much tension between the district administration and the people while he was sent to prison after being booked under NSA.
Infact, the ex-CEC, N Gopalaswamy even said that the speech of Varun Gandhi was much more poisonous than what was aired on the media. Some surveys have predicted that the population of majority communities is slowly decreasing because of their non-preaching nature and that of minorities is increasing and once majority goes below 50 %, integrity of the nation will be in danger. It is very well evident that Muslims of India have got alienated from the socio-economic-political mainstream of the country and an average Muslim is living in an environment of fear and suspicion. In this building scenario, speeches like that of Varun Gandhi will only harm the social fabric of the Indian polity. Certainly, there are some loop holes in the articles like Article 25, 26 or 27 of the constitution, of which some rogue elements are trying to take benefit for their own cause. But they certainly don't permit one to go on and wage a war on the opposite community. Such proselytization of religions will only break the peace between communities. Secondly, Varun Gandhi said that he is being punished for saying against terrorism. But the research in some of the high profile cases like Gujarat riots or Ayodhya aftermath clearly say that a terrorist is actually born in these environments. 'Indian Mujaheedeen' terror group which was in news last year based its ideology on Babri Masjid demolition and Gujarat atrocities. Communal speeches of some of the big self-claimed bastions of contemporary Indian politics were shown to the lone captured 26/11 terrorist, Ajmal Kasab to incite his feelings against the Indian union. Hence, if we really want to weed out such issues from our mainland we'll have to look much deeper or better say, at the grass-root level of the society.
Varun Gandhi certainly tried to take a short-cut to enter the 'sansad', banking on the poor, illiterate and deprived votes of the minority communities. It would be a sad state of Indian politics which had great vision of people like Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Azad, Vallabhbhai Patel and the list is endless. It is certainly lacking talent today and desperately looking for its 'Indian Obama'. That Obama who will follow the Constitution of India and not the Constitution of Indian Politics. Obama who will garner a development led economic growth and burn his midnight oil to raise the standards of living of the common man without distinguishing whether he is a Hindu, a Muslim or a Parsi. Every time we have democratic elections, the Election Commission boasts of 60 % polling under its surveillance and says that democracy has won but the reality is something different or rather painstaking. Common man of India is very optimistic! Every time he goes to cast his vote, he consoles himself that this time his wish will be fulfilled that he'll have better access to some of the civic amenities, he'll have food-safety, higher economic status, lesser corruption and a greater say in the mainstream. He doesn't go to poll because he has some fond love for his contestant. Once these hopes get shattered, problems like that of Naxalism, Maoism, terrorism and several other 'isms' are born when he sees his own existence in danger.
Thus, it would be a God-sent gift if our politicians keep aside some of these evergreen political rhetorics for some time and get involved in real constructive debates. Instead of targeting personal issues, concentrate more on 'sadak-bijali-pani' and the newly added term 'Suraksha'. The judiciary can play only a supervisory role but the trigger has to be pressed by someone amongst us only. The privileged and the elite have to come forward to counteract the effect of the 'outdated' politicians of our country and bring the isolated minorities on par with the majority world. If all the educated of this country take some time out of their busy schedules and cast their vote after firm analysis and judgement, such prodigal grandsons will not be able to bank on their 'strategies' and will effectively be shown the outside door.
-Rohit M
