Mob Violence In Maharashtra And Karnataka

I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.

- Mahatma Gandhi

Activists belonging to a Maharastra youth organization, Chhava Sanghatana, have torched a Karnataka State Road Transport bus in Latur. A cab bearing Karnataka registration plate was also stoned in the bordertown of Kamalanagar injuring one person. In a related development two Bangalore-bound trucks carrying goods from Mumbai were stopped and torched by activists allegedly belonging to Karnataka Rakshana Vedike.

These incidents follow days of rising tensions between Maharastra and Karnataka on the Belgaum border dispute. Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has been shaperning his rhetoric over the past couple of days on the issue and now they plan to take a delegation to the Prime Minister and President to apprise them of the situation. Karnataka chief minister, BS Yeddyurappa, is also urging center’s intervention on the issue.

Mob violence has been the bane of contemporary Indian society. Mumbai and Maharastra has seen many of such incidences in recent history. Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) was attacked by the members of Sambhaji Brigade for helping an American author James Laine to write a biography of Shivaji. Incidentally BORI, the victim in this case, now is demanding a ban on the book (which reminds me of Salman Rusdie confessing his “sin” and proclaiming himself to be a true Muslim after the death fatwa was issues against him). There was violence against Dalits in Khairlanji where four people were killed and women were paraded naked and then allegedly gang-raped.

Then there have been shameful incidents of violence in Mumbai and elsewhere in Maharastra targeting North Indians leading to many deaths. And finally there have been riots, the most gruesome being the post-Babri Masjid demolition riots in 1992-93.

One of the reasons people can attack public or private property with impunity is that there is no fear of legal reprisal. The government lacks the will to deal with such miscreants. Even though six people were sentenced to death in the Khairlanji in September 2008, largely the culprits go unpunished.

We should understand that what goes around, comes around. If the people of Maharastra tolerate violence against people in their state then it will come back to haunt them. People like Raj Thackeray are playing with the emotions of people and now with two Senas, there is a competition for the most “hardline” advocate of the Maharastrian cause, whatever that means. Coming on the heel of 26/11 Mumbai attack when the entire nation responded as one, Maharastra politicians are in danger of losing the goodwill that was created for the state. It is hard to find parallels in other states of India where hate-mongers like Bal and Raj Thackeray have been tolerated for so long. 

The Karnataka government should also act against the miscreants that are causing disturbance in the state and perpetuating violence against Maharastrians. It is also an opportunity for the BJP leadership to show some spine and do away with their alliance with Shiv Sena. Regional satraps such as Thackerays whose entire careers are based upon inciting hate and violence against other Indians have no place in contemporary Indian polity. Let 2009 be the end of such divisive politics.

Tagged as: Bal Thackerey, BJP, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Raj Thackeray