Bal Thackeray: He Loves to Hate
Bal
Thackeray has reminded us again that he is very much around. So is his brand of
hate politics. His latest comments in an editorial in the Shiv Sena's
mouthpiece, Saamna, are preposterous.
He
suggests that Hindu suicide squads should be formed to counter the threat of
Islamic terrorism. This is just one of the incendiary statements he has made
while commenting on a case where two young men have been arrested by the
Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad for allegedly planting crude bombs in
auditoriums in Navi Mumbai and Thane recently.
Thackeray
is not pleased that Hindus are, in his view, capable of planting only
"low-intensity duds". He has called for "an equally strong Hindu
terrorism movement" to "eliminate Islamic terrorists and protect
India as well as the Hindu community".
Thackeray's
comments could invite criminal proceedings under Section 153-A of the Indian
Penal Code, since it amounts to promoting communal hatred.
It is
welcome that the BJP and the Congress have condemned his statements, but it is
unlikely that the administration will take any strong measures.
That's
because moving against Thackeray raises the spectre of violence by his
followers. Sadly, the inability of the political and police establishment to
take on Thackeray over the years has led to a situation where he can do or say
virtually what he likes.
Our
society's ability to tolerate intolerance has also steadily, and sadly,
increased. It's unfortunate, but true, that voices that argue in favour of
liberal and democratic principles across the country are increasingly drowning
in a cacophony of competitive identity politics.
Nowhere
is this truer than in Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai. The metropolis that we
once held up as a fine example of cosmopolitanism and inclusive public life is
fast turning into a cauldron of animosities.
The
Shiv Sena has, over the years, targeted migrants — south Indians, Gujaratis and
Biharis to name a few — and Muslims.
It
made its political fortune by adopting regional chauvinism and now others are
following suit. Recently, we have seen Raj Thackeray and his men target
non-Maharashtrians and NCP-backed organisations go on the rampage over
perceived slights to Shivaji.
Politicians
across the spectrum lack the will and wit to counter divisive politics because
many of them indulge it in one form or another.
As we
have repeatedly written in these columns, intolerance — religious or parochial
— chips away at India's republican and democratic foundations.
We all
stand to lose if we just let such extremism pass us by.
20 Jun
2008
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