After last Thursday’s incident when a youth brandished a firearm and fired at an ongoing protest against CAA near the Jamia Millia Islamia in the heart of the national capital injuring a student, there were efforts from some quarters to establish the case as an isolated one. That it is not so, but rather an indication of something grim that might be awaiting which can shake the very foundations of the pluralistic pattern of Indian society has been proved by a replica of an incident on Saturday. This time no one was injured as the fires were shot at air. But, there should be no doubt that both the incidents derived ‘inspirations’ from the ‘appeal’ which goes on like “desh ke gaddaro ko...” and reciprocated by the crowd’s unison completion "goli maaro …”. The duo  have a common feature- hatred against a particular community and proclamation of the nation as a fundamentally single-religion dominated land. It’s most unfortunate that at a time when the entire country is passing through a phase of expressive neo-religious intolerance, incidents of rabble rousing are taking place, and that too from official posts holders.

Reactions to this particular provocative slogan have been of two diametrically opposite characters. While on one hand it had attracted wide anguish and reprimand from the sections of society which still believes in tolerance, it has, on the other hand, evolved as a source of encouragement to the intolerant segment. The fierce expression of the latter will be rather difficult to tally with the existing socio-religious parameters that had for centuries acted as guiding lights of the Indian way of life. The first shooting incident had been remarkably unsettling due to the fact that the entire episode had taken place reportedly in front of at least 20 policemen who did nothing except watching the self-proclaimed ‘desh bhakt’ do as he liked. But, it needs no deep analysis that intolerance of any sort, especially religious will take the nation to nowhere except chaos, mistrust and all imaginable disorders. Many social commentators have even expressed apprehension that if religious fundamentalism manages to become the new normal of the nation, then, India’s place in the same bracket with Pakistan and similar other fellows would be guaranteed.

Amid this current harsh reality which might be a prelude to a more critical future, Shaheen Bagh has stood apart due to its unrelenting protest against CAA through democratic and peaceful means, which is otherwise also an expression of deep faith in secularism. It is actually a representative expression of the national sentiment which abhors the culture of religious fanaticism.

To nip it in the bud is the foremost national responsibility now. Hope it is done at the earliest.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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