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Madhya Pradesh is being ruled by the
BJP Government from last several years. This is one state where
BJP and its erstwhile avatar, Bhartiya Jansangh had a good deal of
following in the past also. During last few years one has seen
with the BJP Government in the saddle, the state is imposing the
norms which are intimidating to minorities, the BJP associates
have become more assertive, state is promoting the outright Hindu
culture, and it is also the place where the terror component of RSS affiliates has been having its dens at various places in the
state.
Recently (March 2011) the police
stations got a circular from the head office which required them
to collect the information about Christian minorities. This
information pertained to various facet of social life of the
community. The order candidly sought information about Christians
of all denominations such as number of priests, bishops, schools,
institutions, political patronage, Christians with criminal
antecedents, economic sources, among many other things. When one
priest refused to divulge the information, meant to profile the
community, he was taken to police station. When the community
leaders took the matter with the top police officers, they
expressed their ignorance, and it seemed like the case of ‘No One
Killed Jessica Lall’, as if no one has issued the circular, or the
one who issued this illegal circular is being shielded. With this
the subtle ways of operation by the RSS controlled state mechanism
became clear.
With BJP government in the seat of power the RSS associates have
become much more dominant and there are activities, which begin as
‘religious’ one and end up being hateful to minorities the way the
events are tilted and given shape by those controlling these
organizations. This is one state where the RSS has been very
active in the Adivasi areas. Like in case of Gujarat, on the
pretext that ‘Christian missionaries are converting’ many acts of
violence have been taking place in these areas. One recalls the
rape of nuns in Jhabua, followed by the comment by ‘B.L. Sharma
Prem’ from RSS stable, who proudly boasted that the rape of nuns
is the act of nationalism. In the same areas the followers of
Asaram Bapu have been very active, spreading venom against the
minorities.
Pursuing this line of action, they had earlier also organized
meetings in Adivasi areas, now this agenda got culminated in the
organization of Narmada Samajik Kumbh (Feb 2011), on the lines of
Shabri Kumbh in the Dangs of Gujarat. These Kumbhs have been
creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity amongst Christians
in particular and in these events they undertake the “Ghar Vapasi”
(Returning Home), which in real sense means the conversion of
Adivasis, to Hinduism under direct or indirect pressure. Now these
efforts are totally being backed up by the facilities from the
state Government. There is a plethora of anti Minority literature
which is distributed en masse. Such intervention in Adivasi areas
is dampening the educational and health welfare work of
Missionaries in the Adivasi areas.
With this Government in power, the Muslim minorities were clearly
told that MP is not going to implement Sachar Committee report.
Rather than seeing it as a necessary affirmative action for the
poor Muslims, it is being projected in the divisive communal
language.
Going against the spirit of Indian Constitution, the MP Chief
Minister has given a call to the Government servants to join RSS,
while being on the active service. One recalls in Gujarat similar
call was given by Narendra Modi. At that the Atal Bihari Vajpayee
was the Prime minister, he felt so embarrassed by this move that
he insisted upon the state Government to withdraw the circular
permitting state employees to join the RSS. As such it is RSS
trained and coordinated Swayamsevaks, who not only work in BJP, in
the important positions of power but they also manipulate politics
in more ways than one. To argue that RSS is not a political
organization is factually wrong as RSS is has a political agenda
of Hindu Rashtra, which it operates through multiple progeny. So
while the Government servants are barred to join politics, MP
government is openly flaunting this norm.
In Gujarat one witnessed the advent of Hindu Rashtra through
massive anti Muslim violence backed up by cultural manipulation.
In MP the cultural instance is more dominant and visible. Hindu
terminologies are being picked up for every instance and
implemented. For School teachers the term coined was Rishi, as in
ancient India, it was Rishis committed to giving knowledge.
Interestingly, Rishi is a masculine gender, so the large number of
women teachers is out of this ambit. And more interestingly these
Rishis were lathi charged when they came together to demand for
implementation of better pay scales!
M.P. has also been the place where the Hindutva terror groups got
a good shelter, safe heaven for them. People like Sunil Joshi,
Pragya Singh Thakur, Kalsangra, Devendra Sharma, Sandeep Dange and
others could operate comfortably due their saffron association in
a BJP ruled state. State has been totally insensitive to the
feelings of minorities and all its schemes have been named in the
Hindu terminology, Girls welfare scheme: Ladli Laxmi, Child
Nutrition program: Anna Prashan, Water Harvesting: Jalabhishek are
just few of the names of state government schemes currently in
operation in the state. Similarly the schools have been made to
start Surya Namaskar, (Sun Worship), a sort of exercise-worship
routine from the Hindu mythology. The state officials openly
participate in Arms Worship (Shastra Puja) a ritual on Dusshra
festival. In this worship the Guns and weapons from police
department are freely used. This taking out arms from armed police
must be regarded as a serious violation of law. Yoga was initially
introduced as a compulsory discipline. Now it is optional, but
than with majority Hindus opting for it, the minority children do
feel left out.
State has showered the gift of land to various trusts formed by
RSS associates. Recently one donation of large plot of land to
Kushabhau Thackeray (the founder of RSS-BJP activities in the
state) trust has been quashed by the Court, but such instances
abound.
Madhya Pradesh Government is combining subtle and overt
intimidation along with cultural manipulation to Hindutvaize the
state. The minorities are feeling marginalized and insecure due to
the atmosphere created by the state machinery and RSS affiliates.
After Gujarat, many a states are vying for emulating its model;
Madhya Pradesh already seems to be way ahead!
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