Secularists are questioning the razing of illegal structures. They are not talking of riots and why unprovoked attacks on Ram Navami processions happened in more than one state. They want to keep their eyes shut from those who are determined to derail the governance agenda. Political losers have joined hands to sully the country’s image.
Attempts are being made to put the Madhya Pradesh Government on the dock on the issue of razing of illegal structures in Khargone on 11 April. This was subsequent to riots caused by those who attacked Ram Navami procession a day before. Similar attacks were launched in Gujarat, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and West Bengal. BJP ruled states have acted tough against rioters. Gujarat too has used this as an antidote to bring a semblance of peace. Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are the other two states that have used bulldozers to raze properties of goons and mafias and to remove squatters on government properties.
Some people have tried to give a communal narrative to the states’ actions. They have tried to see the actions through the prism of Hindu-Muslim divide. The Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind (JUH), claiming to fight for Muslim interests, has filed a petition with the Supreme Court of India asking to put a stop against the use of bulldozers.
Trying to put the entire controversy upside down the JUH has claimed that riots were started by mobs that were chanting highly provocative anti-Muslim slogans. The organisation is trying to defend those Muslim youths who got provoked and pelted stones and used other weapons to create riots. No provocation can justify a riot if you believe in law or the land.
The petition has come on the lines of those secularists who do not find any problems with people indulging in riots but find fault with state using bulldozer to raze illegal structures to the ground. Those squatting on Government land should know that their occupation is illegal and can be removed by the state any day without notice and without going to the court. Those committing illegal acts should not expect mercy from the state.
If notice and court orders become the norm before executive takes action, nothing can prevent miscreants and anti-social elements from occupying government lands wherever they find. Also, nothing prevents people from squatting on roads and creating chaos because they cannot be removed without notice or court orders. Removing nuisance is the duty of the state and it is adequately empowered to do so. The courts are supposed to supervise if the actions were justified.
The main issue that was discussed during the anti-CAA Shaheen Bagh protest was whether Delhi police needed the permission of the Court to get the roads vacated. Many experts questioned as to why the state was not acting. The executive must act in the larger public interest and not wait for directions from the court for actions that fall in the realm of the executive.
The most objectionable phenomenon is some people questioning the state for acting against the rioters. They have not spoken a word against those who indulged in riots. It is the worst form of crime emanating from hate and may result into mass killings, rape and destruction of government and private properties. Anyone indulging in such act does not deserve mercy since this is a crime against humanity.
In the era of mobile phones, acts get recorded and the task of identification becomes easier. If those rioters belonged to the group that illegally squatted on government properties, the Government may decide to act against them for disturbing peace and communal harmony. There can be no premium on illegalities.
The state needs to be feared by those who violate the law and challenge the combined will of people; and loved by peaceful, law-abiding citizens. The order cannot be reversed so that the state becomes the hand maiden of criminals and perpetrators of atrocities against the innocent.
Sadly, due to years of misrule, the reverse is true. While the common people fear the state and do not even appear to report a crime, the criminals use their money power and political clout to further intimidate them. This used to be the case when Yogi Adityanath became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. The situation is changing due to use of bulldozers (symbolic of the state power) to raze illegal structures made from ill-gotten money.
Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have used a similar technique to deal with criminals and rioters and the latest to follow is the Uttarakhand government which has been demolishing illegal structures after proper court orders. To remove squatters from government land is not an easy task.
The charge that the bulldozers have been used against Muslims is wrong. This would be correct to say that demolition was secular but most illegal squatters or anti-social elements belonged to the Muslim community. Some of the shops that were demolished in Madhya Pradesh belonged to Hindus as well. Some have questioned demolition of a house that was constructed under the PM Awaas Yojana. This could be considered collateral damage and the state must compensate. The Madhya Pradesh government has already started a process of rehabilitation of Hasina Fakhroo whose house was demolished.
Was the action against Muslims or rioters? If it was against Muslims, other Muslims would also have suffered. This is not the case. Defending criminals and anti-social elements in the name of community is travesty of justice. Those who indulged in crime must pay for their sins. The executive discharges many quasi-judicial functions. If the executive has exceeded its brief, the courts are there. Since it is individual crimes, individuals are free to approach the court.
The larger issue conveniently ignored by left-liberal brigade is why Ramnavami procession passing through “Muslim area” becomes sensitive. Is there anything called Muslim area where anything un-Islamic would not be allowed? How can a Ram Navami procession provoke Muslims living in a particular area? Are we justifying stone pelting from houses of these rioters?
One must not forget that such processions are undertaken after due police permission and protection. Who are the people trying to vitiate the atmosphere and destroy the social fabric where Hindus and Muslims co-exist peacefully? How can five states have similar attacks on Ram Navami procession the same day- Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Jharkhand and West Bengal. How can a procession undertaken during Hanuman Jayanti in Delhi’s Jehangirpuri be attacked by Muslim youths?
Have these Muslim youths forgotten that this is India and not an Islamic state that cannot tolerate other faiths and practices of other cultural beliefs? Or, are there agent provocateurs trying to sully image of India outside? The role of Popular Front of India has been investigated in detail. Why when you pick up leaf of any incident of Hindu-Muslim conflict, you end up finding a PFI connection? Is it possible that the Rohingyas have joined Islamic radicals to create disturbance? These are all within the realm of possibilities and must be investigated in full.
The role of political support in such riots also needs to be investigated. The way political parties come out to support these rioters on one pretext or the other suggests a pattern. Is it not true that these parties are frustrated that their chances of coming to power at the Centre anytime soon have receded far behind the snowline and there is no silver lining? So, they aim at maligning the government and creating hatred between communities.
Imagine Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan Chief Minister) making tall claims about upholding the constitution etc. and speaking against demolition. He is the same one who had used bulldozer to demolish ‘Darbar Entry Gate’ of famous Salasar temple in the wee hours of the night to make way for widening of roads. So, when temple can be demolished for widening of roads, why cannot illegal structures on government land be demolished for fighting anti-social and criminal elements determined to thwart peace?
There is a design to sully the image of the BJP and consolidate Muslims. An impression was gaining even in the minority community that BJP ruled states have controlled riots and given peaceful living to all. The focus on development has ensured that poor people get benefits from the Government schemes. This impression must be attacked. Muslims must feel that they are unsafe under the BJP rule. Survival instincts would guarantee they cannot be lured by good-governance agenda. The fact that even women were seen pelting stones from their terraces on Hanuman Jayanti procession in Delhi shows the level of radicalisation.
[The writer is the author of “Narendra Modi: the Game Changer”. A former journalist, he is a member of BJP’s media relations department and represents the party as spokesperson while participating in television debates. The views expressed are personal.]