The Hinduphobia : An agenda of pseudo-seculars & False Liberals
On the evening of
May 14, the whole country witnessed the massive peaceful road show of
BJP president Amit Shah on the streets of Kolkata. People in procession
chanted “Jai Shri Ram”. As the procession reached near the university
campus, student brigade of TMC attacked the procession. They were
carrying TMC and black flags and were, therefore, quickly identified.
With the fury and preparation they attacked the procession, it was
apparent that the attack was pre-planned to disrupt the roadshow not to
let it end at Swami Vivekananda’s birthplace.

BJP workers and members of various Hindu organisations protest outside TMC office in Delhi against the reign of terror in Bengal
Finally, the cat
was out. The TMC goons were implementing the election agenda of
Hinduphobia of their ultra-secular leader Mamata Didi. She has been
assiduously pursuing the minority appeasement by visiting the mosques,
covering the head in the fashion of Muslim ladies, holding meetings with
the Muslim religious heads and compromising over law and order
situation by suppressing the majority Hindu population. She was
convinced of her move because during the 2014 general elections BJP
could not make much headway in Bengal. The corollary of the minority
appeasement was to implement the Hinduphobia agenda to please the
minority population. She would put halt the Durgapuja procession on the
eve of minority festival as if the Hindus only would disrupt their
procession. She could not even tolerate “Jai Shri Ram” chanting on her
way just a few days ago. No sooner she heard the chanting, she stopped
her car and came out as if to pounce on the people chanting these
slogans. Intolerance towards the chanting of Shri Ram was a glaring
instance of Hinduphobia that seculars and pseudo-seculars have developed
over the last 5-6 decades.

‘Time’ under Modiphobia!
Many
of those who have commented against the article have asked the ‘Time’
as to why another article by Ian Bremmer titled ‘Modi the Reformer’ was
not made the cover instead of the Taseer’s article. ‘Time’ has not
provided with any explanation as yet
Partha Pratim Mazumder
The ‘Time’ magazine, known for
its chronic bias against India and Hindus, has now targeted PM Narendra
Modi. In its cover story titled ‘India's Divider in Chief’ by Aatish
Taseer, it alleges that Modi is seeking to be re-elected while he has
“helped create an atmosphere of poisonous religious nationalism in
India”. He also contends that the economic miracles failed to
materialise. The author is son of a prominent Indian journalist and a
Pakistani businessman and politician.
The timing of this cover story is under serious questions. When India is
amidst its general elections, the choice of the author and the
disparaging title have raised questions on its intent and objectivity of
the magazine itself. While Modi's opponents in India and across the
border latched on to the article with glee, average Indian reader of
English and common man of India differed with the article and its
purport in its entirety. A cursory look at Indias’s social media tells
that common users were against the poisonous article with most
commenting that it was devoid of facts and objectivity.
The Indian diaspora spread across the world too has decried the cover
story and title with many accusing the magazine of Hinduphobia. Indians
across the world have been writing and tweeting against the inherent
bias of the magazine and its authors. Many of those who commented
against the article have asked the ‘Time’ as to why another article by
Ian Bremmer titled ‘Modi the Reformer’ was not made the cover instead of
Taseer’s article. ‘Time’ has not provided with any explanation as yet.
Already a petition titled 'Protest against defamatory article by Aatish
Taseer in TIME Magazine against PM MODI' was started by Ashwin Johar and
is petitioned to the Editor of the Time magazine. The petition says
that the article ‘is not only factually incorrect but it also questions
the wisdom of Indian electorates who have overwhelmingly supported him
in 2014’. Further it states that 'Mr Taseer is wrong on most of his
arguments, may be it economy, development, women empowerment or
Hindu-Muslim divide’.
The
petition questions the objective of the column and alleges that it is to
defame Modi, Indian electorate and India in general. The petition
questions the wisdom of its editors who chose to make this 'derogatory
column' as its cover story instead of Ian Bremmer's article.
There are ironies and contradictions galore in Taseer’s piece. “The
Great Divider” was a moniker invented for none other than Barack Hussain
Obama, the darling of Left Liberals the world over. If Donald Trump
inherited it, it was by its sheer currency as an established political
descriptor. The big contradiction, when it comes to Modi, is that Modi
is actually India’s great Unifier-in-Chief. Modi has not only united
Hindus as never before, but also integrated the great Indian middle
class into a powerful political formation. He has given them a voice in
addition to a vote.
He has also
unified the opposition, as Taseer acknowledges, “with no agenda other
than to defeat him.”
Luckily, there is a silver lining to Taseer’s febrile lamentations. The
more Modi is berated in the Western—or for that matter the Indian—media,
the more popular he becomes with the Indian masses. Time Asia’s cover
story, negative though it certainly is, will strengthen the resolve of
the educated classes to vote for him. Especially given of the contempt
poured out on their choice of him as their PM, they will take such
denunciations as an additional reason make good on the promise, Phir Ek
Baar Modi Sarkar (one more time, Modi in power). In the end, of course,
what Time says, or does not, matters little to us. We have moved on. To
that extent, Taseer’s cover story may end up, if not as a last minute
free fillip to campaign Modi, then little more than a blip, a momentary
flicker or irritated swipe on a smartphone screen.
On the other hand, Bremmer’s article notes that while Modi’s economic
record is mixed, “India still needs change, and Modi remains the person
most likely to deliver. He has improved relations with China, the US and
Japan, but his domestic development agenda that has done the most to
improve the lives and prospects of hundreds of millions of people.”
(The writer is Assistant Teacher, Nalbari, Kazipara, Assam
Hinduphobic Brigade
Over the decades,
the erstwhile communist party which tried to sabotage the freedom
movement, was quick to fall in line with the Congress party, although it
dissolved the democratically elected Communist Government in Kerala at
the behest of Indiraji. They soon endeared themselves with Nehruji who
was avowed Hinduphobic, the first among the equals. He fought tooth and
nail over the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple; he tried to stop
President Rajendra Prasad from attending the inaugural function. There
are so many instances of Nehruji’s disdain known in the public domain
for anything Hindu. After the demise of Nehruji, the Communist brigade
that was by default anti-religious, treating religion as opium on the
lines of Godfather Marx, also became Hinduphobic by default. They
hoodwinked the anti-national activities of the minority religious
organisations funded by Christian missions and Islamic countries, but
repeatedly attacked and defiled the great and historic figures held in
veneration by the Hindus. Soon after the Indira Congress came to power,
the main bastion of the Hinduphobia affected academics, JNU was
established in 1969. Over the decades JNU spread tentacles in many other
institutions including the media establishments to give and take
favours and they thrived.

Congress leader Priyanka Vadra performing puja in Prayagraj
The latest
exposures on the Hinduphobia are Mani Shankar reiterating his old neech
stand, and actor Kamal Haasan calling Godse the first (Hindu) terrorist
in independent Bharat. In a recent article, Syed Ata Hasnain traces
radicalisation of the Muslim youth in Kashmir to the new generation of
radicalised Muslim preachers in 90’s who invoked the so-called
puritanical and totally exclusivist Islam in Kashmir funded by Pakistan
and the Arab countries (Times of India May 14, 2019). Why did it not
attract the attention of these intellectuals for decades? It was a thick
layer of the Hinduphobia that didn’t let any streak of anti-national
activities to enter their eyes. That’s how JNU has come to harbour the
Bharat Todo Brigade. JNU criteria for being labelled as an intellectual
is to be a Hinduphobic.
As Priyanka Vadra jumped in
electioneering, she too imitated the electoral Hindu identity, often
visiting the Hindu temples, Ganga aachman etc. in a visible fashion. As
happened never before, Robert Vadra visited Mahalaxmi Temple in Mumbai
As
of late English writers and pseudo-intellectuals have come to realise
that their Hinduphobic stand will no more be acceptable to the majority,
i.e. Hindus in the country. They will be sidetracked. So, they have
started pointing fingers at the funding and nurturing of the
anti-national sources. As Suhasini Haidar acknowledges in the context of
Iran-US confrontation, ‘while states like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan
have funded and sheltered Islamist terror groups they are still treated
as “frontline allies” on terror (The Hindu, May 13, 2019). Please note
the terminology used: ‘Islamic terror’, tag erasing clichĂ© ‘terror has
no religion’. It is in tune with a change in the political wind
direction. The election results on May 23 will be decisive in curing the
Hinduphobic infection of many of these affected pseudos whom a
celebrated author from Maharashtra, Sachchidananda Shevde calls,
“Jamat-e-Purogami”.
Political Hinduphobia
As the general
elections of 2019 were approaching, the opposition splinters realised
the need to put up a common front against ruling NDA and Modiji in
particular. They teamed up during Karnataka election making a wonderful
pretense of opposition unity. All of them stood with hands held together
and Soniya Gandhi holding hand of Mayavati showing solidarity with each
other. As the talks went ahead, a very different picture of unity
emerged. At all levels, Congress was outcast. The simple reason was the
campaign mode adopted by the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi. Rahul, it
seems was highly influenced by assessment in the Anthony Report on 2014
election debacle. Anthony declared that, even after all the propaganda
machinery at hand with Congress for decades, the BJP was successful in
projecting Congress as Muslim party and that Hindus did not vote for it.
As the campaigning for election started, the first protocol that Rahul
established was to frequently visit Hindu temples and impress it on
potential voters. He exposed himself and his advisors by wearing janeu –
sacred thread, in a most inappropriate manner. His followers vied each
other to establish his Brahmin gotra. On one occasion, he even went to
perform shraaddh of his ancestors. As Priyanka Vadra jumped in
electioneering, she too imitated the electoral Hindu identity, often
visiting the Hindu temples, Ganga aachman etc. in a very visible
fashion. As it happened never before, Robert Vadra visited Mahalaxmi
Temple in Mumbai to seek the blessing of the Goddess. It was not at all
made public whether he also visited Haji Ali Dargah nearby. It was a
realisation on the part of the top leadership of the Congress that it
has to secure its base among the Hindu voters in South while it lost a
foothold in the North.
For
almost five decades the Hindu society unknowingly played into the hands
of the Hinduphobic parties like CPI, SP, BSP, TMC and their many local
variantsIt needs to
establish that Congress is all set to erase the impression that it is
Hinduphobic. It was this mode of campaigning that came in the way of
accepting the Congress into coalition fold by Hinduphobic – secular (?)
opposition splinter groups. Congress found itself isolated in the
northern states in spite of having won and formed governments in as many
as five states. Not only parties like SP, BSP which still count on the
minority votes but even Kejariwal and Telugu Desam put Congress away
implementing the agenda of political untouchability. As it stands today,
Congress is totally isolated on the national level, treated as a
political pariah. Even politically astute veteran like Sharad Pawar is
not counting Rahul as Prime Ministerial candidate.
Hinduphobic Divisive Agenda
The electoral
agenda for the parties like SP, BSP, TMC etc. has indeed been typically
Hinduphobic. SP Supremo, way back in 1992 ordered firing on the
Karsevaks with impunity to earn epithet of Mulla Mulayam, is no less
than a Hinduphobic. They have time and again played the caste and family
centred politics that was detrimental to the unity of the Hindu
society. The Mandal Commission and the Sachar Commission reports were
the anchors for implementing Hinduphobic divisive agenda by the back
door. The latest salvo comes from remotely vigilant ‘Times’ which
projected Modi, who acted on ‘sabka satha, sabka vikas’, as
Divider-in-Chief. ‘Times’ appears to have played into the hands of the
divisive splinters. For almost five decades the Hindu society
unknowingly played into the hands of the Hinduphobic parties like CPI,
SP, BSP, TMC, and their many local variants. It only augmented the
fissiparous tendencies among some sections of the major castes and
highly arrogant attitude among the minorities. Minorities felt that it
was they who controlled the political fate of these parties, including
the ruling Congress coalition. It reflected in their social behaviour.
At a local level, the Muslim youth troubled and chased Hindu girls with
impunity. They were sure of the political patronage from the Hinduphobic
parties. The full account of the harassment of the Hindu girls who had
to abandon schooling was published in ‘The Indian Express’ of August 2,
2015. The report then refers to the compulsion of organising the
“Bahu-Beti Bachao Mahapanchayat” by local Hindus that led to
Muzaffarnagar riots. Why at all only Hindus have to hold such a
Panchayat?
It is the
Hinduphobic stand taken by these caste and family-based parties. Will
ever these Hinduphobic parties and pseudos introspect? If there is
Islamophobia in West, Kafirophobia in the Muslim world, then let us also
accept there is Hinduphobia in Bharat setting the election agenda. Can
it now be properly deciphered?
(The writer is a senior columnist and scholar of comparative religions)
Source: https://www.organiser.org/Encyc/2019/5/20/The-Hinduphobia.html
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