How do we disagree in a civil manner? Any disagreement with a specific policy is portrayed as being anti-national.
This is increasingly silencing our disagreement, said Harsh Mander, activist and former bureaucrat, while giving a talk on ‘Challenges to India’s Constitutional Values’ at the Goethe Institut on Saturday.
The lecture was organised by the Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group (CAG).
“We have been told that people who disagree with the country’s economic models cost the country a great fortune,” Mr. Mander said, adding that Dalits, Muslims and other minority groups were being made the main targets by the ruling party.
Speaking about the extra-judicial killings by vigilante groups, Mr. Mander said these lynchings had sent out a message to the minority communities that they were not safe anymore.
He recalled his meetings with families of victims attacked by hate crimes, and the death of teenager Junaid Khan, who was on board a Mathura-bound train, when he was brutally killed by a mob that accused him and his brother of carrying beef in their bags.
“What is most distressing is that all the passengers, shopkeepers and everyone on the station merely stood and watched. There was absolute silence,” said Mr. Mander.
“I am worried about this silence. I don’t know if it’s coming from apathy, or if deep in their hearts, people share the same sentiments. If it’s the latter, then it’s dangerous,” he said.
“Hours after Donald Trump imposed an entry ban on a few Muslim countries, the American citizens gathered outside airports and went from door to door assuring Muslims that they are safe,”“ Mr. Mander recalled. “But in India, we have not been able to confront this force. We need to fight these betrayals and hold dear our Constitution, which we the people gave to ourselves,” he said.
Burning issue
He also addressed the burning issue of malnourishment which has cost the lives of many children and infants.
“We rank 100 out of 119 in the Global Hunger Index, and we are among the bottom three in Asia. Something like the Great Bengal Famine is right now happening right amid us. But it is not being addressed,” he said.
