The other day I was watching a TV debate on terrorism. Politicians and experts aired their views. The Congress spokesperson said that under the circumstances he could very well say that this is the handiwork of the BJP so that they could blame the opposition Congress in Bangalore and Ahmedabad! But he said that he is not saying it! Then what was he doing? - the Channel moderator asked and so on and so forth, and that is the way our politicians speak.
The next day I heard a BJP spokesperson saying just the opposite. She said that the planning of the bomb explosions in the BJP ruled states was the work of the Congress in order to divert the attention of the public from the money for votes scandal which shook the Parliament only a few days ago. The Congress spokesperson was immediately back on the TV rubbishing the allegation and condemning the desperation of the BJP and so on!!!
It was however refreshing to hear Mr. Bandookwala (who suffered great personal loss during the Gujarat riots), speak without any animosity towards the establishment or the Hindus who are seen to be the wrong doer.
Mr. Bandookwala quoted several passages from the Holy Koran to establish that Islam is against killing of innocents. This is true of all religions because human welfare and spiritual upliftment is the purpose of all religions. The problem arises because the definition of “innocents” is not clear and experts in the matter give different meanings to the word, like those whom we Indians call terrorists are freedom fighters according to our neighbour Pakistan!
A learned man explained (in a TV debate) that the word “Kafir” is not at all a bad word and it means only “non-believer”. Why should one get offended by the word, like if you call lady a “bitch”, why should it offend her!!
A former Chief Minister (who is no more) compared himself to Lord Krishna to explain his love for wine and women. But his explanations neither absolved him of his gross misdemeanor nor diminished the love the Hindus have for Lord Krishna! Only the chief Minister looked a joker!
Omar Abdulla made a fiery speech in the Parliament and every one spoke highly of it. He was scathing in his attack of BJP and said he made a mistake joining the NDA in the last Lok Sabha. He rubbished the BJP sponsored strikes in Jammu regarding the Amarnath land deal and gave a solemn undertaking that the Kashmiri Muslims would see to it that not a single pilgrim will be harmed. But what worth are promises? How many thousands of Hindu Pandits have been driven out of their homes in the valley during the past decade and a half? Who is responsible for their safety?
Kashmiris are afraid that people from other parts of the country would go there and settle there if they are not checked and the “Kashmiriath” would get polluted or diluted!! This is a specious argument because, in the present times, it is only at the cost of progress and a higher standard of living can any community isolate themselves from the rest of the world. The Kashmiri leaders have all the fun in the wide open world but when it comes to the poor and needy the “Kashmiriath” need to be preserved. The leaders enjoy all the fun and they want to protect their fiefdom back home!
I am a Malayali by birth and I know the richness of the Malayali culture, the language and traditions which are very different from those of other parts of the country. I am very proud of the Malayali ethos and sometimes I feel very sad the way the lifestyles and traditions have changed in the past fifty/sixty years. How can anyone hold on to traditions and progress in life at the same time. Resisting change is our instinctive behavior but stubbornness is cussed.