An intergral part of any democracy is
for society and individuals to express their views, though some may not
accepted it and even a few may get offended. And this is bound to happen, it
never happens so that a single particular view is accepted by all. In today’s
day and age it is the duty of the Government to protect such freedoms.
The death of M F Hussian bought up the
question of the freedom, of a painter who was hounded away just because he
expressed his ideas differently. Many mourned the loss of the painter who had
put himself in self-exile due to threats from fanatical groups and who
eventually gave up his Indian citizenship. The controversy surrounding the
arrival of Salman Rushide is a disgrace to the Indian Government and the people
have been against him.
In today’s day and age, I would have not
thought it possible for such a thing to happen, but a large number of people
are still in the dark ages, where freedom of expression seems to be denied and
yet in the name of stability and communal harmony the Government bows down to
these pressure groups.
And though is physical presence was
denied by the Congress led government of Rajasthan, the organizers tried to get
his virtual presence and even this was denied. This is a direct violation of
anyone’s freedom of expression.
The Government cannot point towards
concerns of stability and communal harmony, when it is the one who is supposed
to the safe guard the them; and by denying Salman Rushide’s presence they have
admitted that they are agreeing to their inability to keep stability and
communal harmony.
And yet it is not just so simple. The
Congress led Government is playing a vote banks politics for the Muslims as the
election were about to take place in neighboring States with significant Musilm
population and as it were a large number of Muslim groups that objected to the
presence of Salman Rushide in the first place.
One of my greatest fear is that the
Indian society is growing more intolerant and even as open minded as it seems,
that much underlining intolerance is present.
