HVK Archives: A poser to 'secularists' - Editorial
A poser to 'secularists' - Editorial - The Daily
Editorial
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1 June 1996
Title : A Poser To `Secularists'
Author : Editorial
Publication : The Daily
Date : June 1 1996
The violent clashes in Calcutta during the Moharram pro-
cession is a fitting reply to all those who are claiming
to be truly secular. The clashes were so fierce that the
West Bengal government was forced to seek the assistance
of army to quell the riot. The Communist Party of India
(Marxists) has been ruling West Bengal for 19 years and
has never let a day go by without drumming up its
achievements. What is more, the CPM has boasted that its
administration is without blemish, that it has no prob-
lems on keeping communal amity. But the serious riots
that broke out on Thursday have demolished the Jyoti Basu
government's claim coincidentally, in Kerala, where the
communists have staged a come-back, a BJP activist was
murdered. Animosity between BJP and Marxist activists in
Kerala is not a new development. The rivalry between the
two parties have claimed many lives in the past. Now
killings have again started in Kerala.
What explanation the Marxists can give to these spurt in
violence in West Bengal and Kerala. Had this sort of
bloodlettings occurred in Maharashtra where a Sena-BJP
government is in power, the so-called champions of secu-
larism would have immediately condemned it. They would
have said that innocent people of the minority community
are being butchered. They would have even demanded the
dismissal of the Sena-BJP government. But in sharp con-
trast to what has happened in Calcutta, no violent inci-
dent has taken place in Mumbai or in other parts of the
state. It is also interesting to remember in this context
that when the Srikrishna Commission, inquiring into 1992-
93 Mumbai riots, was scrapped by the Maharashtra govern-
ment, the Leftists and Congress leaders described it as
an anti-Muslim act. But the Leftists and Congress politi-
cians have conveniently chosen to forget that the Sena-
BJP government has been able to maintain communal amity.
The recurrence of riots in West Bengal, the home state of
Jyoti Basu, has shattered they myth that communism can
bridge all differences, whether they are over religion,
caste or language. While criticising the BJP as communal,
the communists have not bothered to look at what is hap-
pening in their states where they have been ruling for
years. Condemning a particular party or a particular com-
munity as communal-minded, the virus of communalism will
not die. It is the appeasement policy of the Congress and
the communists that are responsible for riots. That riots
should break out even after 46 years of Congress rule
clearly shows that there is something seriously wrong in
the policy of the Congress. Many secularist advocates
have demanded that more representation should be given to
minority community members in the police force so that
rioters will be dealt with impartially. Now after the
Calcutta, Moharram riots, will the CPM government recruit
to the Calcutta police more people from the minority com-
munities, if it has not already done so?
At least from now onwards. Congressmen and communists
must stop criticising the BJP or the Shiv Sena. The com-
munists and Congressmen must set their own houses in or-
der before meddling in the affairs of others. The need is
for moderation, to understand the point of view of oth-
ers. The BJP cannot be branded as communal.
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