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Stark reminders

It has been customary that on every 25 June editorial comment in several newspapers was captioned “Lest we forget” ~…

Stark reminders

Representational image (Photo: Getty Images)

It has been customary that on every 25 June editorial comment in several newspapers was captioned “Lest we forget” ~ or something similar that recalled the imposition of the horrific Emergency of 1975-77. This time there are living examples of the nation, cutting across political lines, retracing at least some of those much-condemned steps. For while no such draconian proclamation has been made, nor does one appear likely, there is some replication of the bitter realities that were ushered in on the night of 24/25 June: “the night”, which the inimitable Piloo Mody subsequently recalled, “that Fascism came knocking at my door”. No, no equivalent of the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) is being invoked to throw dissenters behind bars ~ today folk are being booked for sedition both easily and sometimes routinely. There is no censorship of the media, instead financial “incentives” such as lavish advertising are being used to tone-down criticism: and when such subtlety does not work, the financial “policing” agencies are let loose ~ as NDTV will testify. Legislators think nothing of abusing their undefined powers of privilege to shackle critical voices. There was little TV in 1975-77, now the channels are being used to blow governmental trumpets. The orchestrated anti-Pakistan hype is an indirect way of projecting the “toughness” of government, a toughness also unleashed on those who do not hail our rulers as administering by divine decree. The film industry has unlimited instances of intolerant high-handedness to lament.

The vicious campaign against minority communities courtesy anti-conversion campaigns, cow vigilantism, closure of abattoirs etc all fit into a pattern: then it was a sin to be seen as anti-Congress (specifically, the Indira Gandhi edition of the party), today the sledgehammer is wielded against those who do not see “India” and “Hindu” as synonymous, and there is no camouflaging the campaign towards a Hindu Rashtra. “Secularism” is the contemporary four-letter word, multiculturalism the casualty of bigoted thinking. Many promises of less government and more governance have proved empty, a new version of “inspector raj” prevails. The police appear to have a free hand, shooting down jail-breakers and agitating farmers, and an Army officer is formally commended for using a human shield. Totally ignored are basic human rights. No doubt those championing today's rulers will quote chapter and verse to deny that an Emergency-like situation prevails: technically they are correct. The real “authoritarianism” exists in the mental sphere, and dare anyone deny that liberal thinking is under attack? A fair summation would be that while heads are sometimes held high, especially in light of some of the country's achievements as in the launch of satellites, few minds are without fear. The bedrock of our existence as a nation-state ~ the Constitution ~ is under attack and its custodians seem unconcerned. These are the many emergencies of our times.

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