As the citizens of India vent their rage on the
Mumbai killings carried out by the young men hurling bombs and going on an indiscriminate shooting spree, there is also a need to look within. This is no less
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20090082294.
There are more than few parallels that can be drawn between the two incidents. Similar to the group of young men who shot hundreds in
Mumbai, this was a group of young men (goons) belonging to a rightist non-political party who
attacked the innocent people at the pub in
Mangalore. More than being shameful, it is alarming that the common man in India has no better status than probably a slave during the era of colonialism.
The mob alleged that the young girls and boys at the pub on a
Saturday afternoon were indulging in drugs, prostitution and
nagn (naked) dance. Well this can't be far from truth, as it is quite evident from the video footage that it was a regular restaurant lounge where people were even having a snack with probably a few drinks. Their claim to be the defenders of
Hindu religion is a farce. Imposing the moral rule in an immoral way is only deterrent to the advancement of the civilized way of life.
Even if the innocent victims were indulging in something illegal what is the loss in punishing them within the law. If there were drugs being taken at the location, one would expect a police action and a legal proceeding to take the wrong doers into task.
The leader of this non-non-political party states that his men were just doing a service to the society and their country, and that the media is making a mountain out of a mole. This is disgraceful, we are ashamed of these
Indians. The leader even tries to derive political mileage by blaming the current rule of the party to have encouraged the 'pub culture'. I wonder what culture is this 'gentleman' is trying to patronise - 'woman beating culutre'. I desire to see the highest authority in the country to come out and make a statement condemning this act and commit to bringing them to justice. Alas, it may not happen. We need to treat these men from this
Hindu outfit in the same way as
Qasab, the lone terrorist nabbed in the
Mumbai killings.
Bringing them to justice under one law will only go on to prove that neither
Qasab was a
Muslim nor are these men Hindus. Religion has become hollow in this age. The foundation of religion is laid with love, respect, kindness, tolerance, individual freedom and to an extent, law to protect the rights and liberties of an individual. And religion is definitely not what these uncivilized men make it to be.
I wonder what frustrations do these right wing outfits have that they vent it out on the common man. The women being beaten up, pulled by their hair, pushed on the ground and the men who were protecting them were beaten up black and blue - LET THIS BE CLEAR - this is not even policing forget it being moral. Digressing a bit from the incident but not the issue, there is another incident that is as dastardly as this one. A few policemen in the state of Uttar Pradesh (sadly my home state) beat a five year old (yes you heard it right !) girl for allegedly stealing Rs. 280 (less than $ 6). Here is the incident,
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20090082297.
Here is a picture for the strong hearted, it seems in the picture that they have held the little child upside down by her feet. POLICING ? This is terrorism. Far worse than religious because it is more deep rooted and almost goes unnoticed. Even the police needs to know its limitations when it comes to their high handedness and their indiscreet assault of common man.
Is there an end to this ? Well, let there be a beginning to the evasive end.