Why has government failed to rein in those who ‘polarize’? Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad writes to PM Modi

PTI
NEW DELHI, MARCH 20

THE Congress on Sunday expressed surprise over the Modi government’s “inability” to rein in affiliates of Sangh Parivar “brewing communal hatred and mistrust” for electoral gains giving rise to “suspicion” that it is part of the deliberate strategy to “polarize and divide”.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting the “growing attacks” on the minority community, including the latest in Latehar district of Jharkhand where two cattle traders were tortured and hanged to death by “radical bigots”.
“With great dismay, I am impelled to observe that such episodes of brutality and mob violence seem to give a spectacle of some parts of the world where democracy does not exist not of India which is widely respected as a vibrant and secular democracy governed by rule of law,” Azad, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, said in his two-page letter.
Azad termed as unfortunate the “spurt” in incidents of threats, intimidation, mob violence and vigilantism after the BJP government took office at the Centre.
“Majoritarian view of democracy is being propagated and promoted consciously and deliberately. This has serious implications for the survival of democracy, pluralism, social harmony and peace besides growth and development of the country,” he said.
He said Congress Party and civil society have been continuously drawing the attention of the government towards “growing phenomenon of communal hatred and polarization”.
“Ministers, MPs and MLAs, leaders of the ruling party and affiliates of Sangh Parivar have been persistently making provocative and offensive statements to divide and polarize the communities.
“What is suprising is that no perceptible effort on the part of the government and BJP leadership is being made to rein in such elements, giving rise to the suspicion that it is part of the deliberate strategy to polarize and divide,” he said.
“I would like to underline that entire nation is worried about the unchecked growth of communal hatred and mistrust being brewed for the sake of electoral politics. There is an urgent need to stem this rising tide, lest it is too late,” he said.
Complimenting Prime Minister for his recent statements at World Culture Festival and Sufi Conference, Azad, however, said the message was audible to the entire world, “but what about our own house which is simmering with communal distrust and hatred.
“Why your message has failed to reach such elements within our own country?” he asked and said “inaction” on part of the government was “emboldening and encouraging” such elements.
While attending the two functions, PM Modi had stressed on India’s diversity and called for celebrating the country’s pluralism.
In his two-page letter, Azad, who is the former chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir and served as Union minister in UPA rule, highlighted various incidents ranging from Dadri to arrest of Kashmiri students over the charge of cooking beef in Rajasthan.