Author: Kumar Chellappan
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: November 3, 2015
URL:   http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists/oped/in-india-the-left-does-no-wrong.html

Intellectuals blaming the Modi Government for ‘growing intolerance’ in the country should take note of the actions of communist, Marxist and other Left-wing leaders, who tolerate no dissent among their ranks

 So-called eminent historians, film personalities and scientists have now joined the bandwagon of Sahitya Akademi award winners who have been returning their awards, to protest growing social intolerance in the country. All these intellectuals have been critical of the Modi Government.

 The reasons for their protest are well-known: The Dadri lynching incident in Uttar Pradesh, the murder of three rationalists in Maharashtra and Karnataka, and Delhi Police’s ‘beef raid’ on Kerala House.

 In the last case, Delhi Police had received a complaint that beef was being served at the Kerala House canteen. It is not known whether Kerala House in New Delhi has some sort of ‘diplomatic immunity’ but friends in Kerala tell this writer that it is a den for all kind of nefarious activities by politicians, bureaucrats and ‘dealers’.

 The most anti-Modi newspaper published from Chennai, which is also considered to be the unofficial mouthpiece of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has reported that two policemen went to Kerala House and asked the manager if cow meat was being served at the restaurant. When they were told that the restaurant does not serve cow meat, the officers left without making a fuss.

 But by the next day, hell broke loose and television channels were beaming with pictures of Marxist MPs, staging a protest in front of the Kerala House. Mr Anirudhan Sampath, a self-styled intellectual among the Marxist MPs, was heard accusing the Modi Government of violating the federal structure of the Constitution! Ironically, Mr Sampath represents a political party which does not tolerate any dissent. Remember the gruesome murder of TP Chandrasekharan, the Marxist rebel? Marxists speaking of freedom of expression is, indeed, odd.

 While the Hindutva forces are demanding a total ban on cow slaughter, the Marxists in Kerala organised a beef festival all over the State. Mr VS Achuthanandan, former Chief Minister of Kerala, reportedly said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had consumed beef during his official visit to the United States. Poor people tend to believe his words and are under the impression that the cow slaughter issue is about the Government seeking to monitor the people’s dietary preferences.

 The ‘eminent historian’, Mr KN Panikkar, had no qualms in accepting the post of Vice-Chancellor of the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit at Kalady near Kochi in Kerala, though he does not know Sanskrit. The first thing he did after assuming office was to have the pictures of Adi Sankara removed. This is the same Mr Panikkar who signed a statement which said, “Differences of opinion are being sought to be settled by using physical violence. Arguments are met with not counter-arguments but with bullets.” Mr Panikkar and his communist colleagues should clarify exactly who uses violence against those with whom they have a difference of opinion.

 Also, the demand that the Prime Minister should react to each and every murder happening across the nation is childish. State Governments have full authority to maintain law and order, and it is for these Governments to investigate the chaos in their States.

 The communists and a section of the Opposition feel threatened because they stand exposed. They had just been misusing academic and democratic institutions to further their ideologies. All of this is now out in the open, with the change in Government at the Centre. The agitation by the students of the Film and Television Institute of India, over the appointment of a pro-BJP actor as chief, is proof that there’s no scope for lies and double standards.