We all stand to lose if we just let such extremism pass

Times of India
20 Jun 2008

Editorial

He Loves to Hate

Bal Thackeray has reminded us again that he is very much around. So is his brand of hate politics. His latest comments in an editorial in the Shiv Sena's mouthpiece, Saamna, are preposterous.

He suggests that Hindu suicide squads should be formed to counter the threat of Islamic terrorism. This is just one of the incendiary statements he has made while commenting on a case where two young men have been arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad for allegedly planting crude bombs in auditoriums in Navi Mumbai and Thane recently.

Thackeray is not pleased that Hindus are, in his view, capable of planting only "low-intensity duds". He has called for "an equally strong Hindu terrorism movement" to "eliminate Islamic terrorists and protect India as well as the Hindu community".

Thackeray's comments could invite criminal proceedings under Section 153-A of the Indian Penal Code, since it amounts to promoting communal hatred.

It is welcome that the BJP and the Congress have condemned his statements, but it is unlikely that the administration will take any strong measures.

That's because moving against Thackeray raises the spectre of violence by his followers. Sadly, the inability of the political and police establishment to take on Thackeray over the years has led to a situation where he can do or say virtually what he likes.

Our society's ability to tolerate intolerance has also steadily, and sadly, increased. It's unfortunate, but true, that voices that argue in favour of liberal and democratic principles across the country are increasingly drowning in a cacophony of competitive identity politics.

Nowhere is this truer than in Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai. The metropolis that we once held up as a fine example of cosmopolitanism and inclusive public life is fast turning into a cauldron of animosities.

The Shiv Sena has, over the years, targeted migrants — south Indians, Gujaratis and Biharis to name a few — and Muslims.

It made its political fortune by adopting regional chauvinism and now others are following suit. Recently, we have seen Raj Thackeray and his men target non-Maharashtrians and NCP-backed organisations go on the rampage over perceived slights to Shivaji.

Politicians across the spectrum lack the will and wit to counter divisive politics because many of them indulge it in one form or another.

As we have repeatedly written in these columns, intolerance — religious or parochial — chips away at India's republican and democratic foundations.

We all stand to lose if we just let such extremism pass us by.