krishen kak on double standards

may 5th

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Ghazis Hindustani

VICHARAMALA no. 101
May 5, 2006

Thoughts on issues of current interest, including instances of some double standards of our public figures, especially in the construction of Hindustani identity (all those Macaulayan myths, and the hypocrisy that is Nehruvian secularism) - Krishen Kak

The previous Vicharamala showed how Aamir Khan, in reel life "Raja Hindustani", in real life is Ghazi Hindustani. This offering introduces to you some more Ghazis Hindustani.

Between 1986 and 1992, at least 93 temples in Kashmir have been documented as destroyed by Muslims ( www.kashmir-information.com/ Atrocities/Temples/index.html ). Neither the Government of India nor the Supreme Court of India nor any Nehruvian secularist felt any need to intervene and prevent the destruction of Hindu shrines and cultural symbols.

In early 2005,.in the historic temple city of Madurai, some 250 temples (including those a century old) were demolished, following a High Court order, by the municipal authorities ( http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr172005/national1233562005416.asp ). Neither the Government of India nor the Supreme Court of India nor any Nehruvian secularist felt any need to intervene and prevent the destruction of Hindu shrines and cultural symbols.

In early 2006, following due notice and a High Court order, municipal authorities in Vadodara demolished 42 temples ( http://dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=EDITS&file_name=edit1%2Etxt&counter_img=1 ). Neither the Government of India nor the Supreme Court of India nor any Nehruvian secularist felt any need to intervene and prevent the destruction of Hindu shrines and cultural symbols.

On May 01, 2006, as part of the same demolition drive, and following due notice and even an offer of land in exchange, a dargah was demolished, and Muslims reacted with an orgy of violence, including arson at the sessions court because it did not stay the demolition of the dargah. Four persons (both Hindu and Muslim) were killed. The Union Home Secretary spoke to the State Chief Secretary, the National Commission for Minorities intervened with the State Government, and the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs rushed to Vadodara to later declare that "the Vadodara administration could have avoided the demolition of the dargah in view of the people's sentiments". A few days later, though the local situation was under control and the Union Home Secretary said the State authorities "are doing their job", the Government of India filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court promptly stayed the High Court order and the demolitions. Among the government arguments that the Supreme Court found persuasive were that this is an "intrinsically sensitive" issue and "that the order if permitted to operate will result in grave and serious consequences on the law and order in the State and may have adverse repercussions on the 'secular fabric' of the nation as a whole". It is to be noted that the High Court order had been to "take immediate steps for removal of encroachment of religious structures on the public space without any discrimination" and this is exactly what the authorities had done. All affected religious communities cooperated, except the Muslim ( http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/02/stories/2006050211400100.htm ; http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/02/stories/2006050204511000.htm ; http://dailypioneer.com/archives2/default12.asp?main_variable=front%5Fpage&file_name=story2%2Etxt&counter_img=2&phy_path_it=D%3A%5Cdailypioneer%5Carchives2%5Cmay206 ; http://dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=front%5Fpage&file_name=story2%2Etxt&counter_img=2 ; http://dailypioneer.com/archives2/default12.asp?main_variable=EDITS&file_name=edit1%2Etxt&counter_img=1&phy_path_it=D%3A%5Cdailypioneer%5Carchives2%5Cmay306 ; http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/03/stories/2006050300960100.htm ; http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/05/stories/2006050507021200.htm ; "Vadodara incident-free as Army stages flag march", The Hindu, May 5, 2006).

..... more

A day earlier to the dargah demolition, Muslims massacred 35 Hindus in J&K. The Prime Minister of India was concerned enough to issue a statement and the Union Home Minister said that such killings will not derail the peace process ( http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/02/stories/2006050204501000.htm ; http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/03/stories/2006050300960100.htm ). Neither the National Human Rights Commission nor the Supreme Court of India felt the killing of Hindus by Muslims warranted their intervention.