I was indeed surprised and troubled reading the persecution of Dalit community in Gujarat after the marriage incident when bridegroom arrived on a horseback for the ceremony. Gujarat is birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi who fought tooth and nail to give equal social standing to Dalit community, visiting and having dinner with Dalit families in their own homes when it was unthinkable to mix with Dalits socially.
So how come Gujarat is moving back to Dark Ages! The last such incident when then CM Anandiniben failed to act promptly, brought her downfall. Popular Dalit leader Jignesh Mavani has rightly demanded that Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, accompanied by Home Minister should visit the place and talk to family members, as well as take action against perpetrators of these outdated heinous crimes that divide Hindus. It is time to shed politics of posture, politically correct spirituality, in favour of politics of courage and action!
Under the aspiring leadership of PM Modi, we expected more integration and less such crimes. Instead harassment and rape of young, innocent girls has gone up substantially, although the Central Government has introduced tough laws, including death penalties for such crimes. But in reality, hardly anyone is facing death penalty; as such crimes are mostly committed by children of the influential, Armani-clad people with political connections. India is endowed with the capacity of being the most integrated nation on earth, if it uses the well-educated human resources wisely, under the wise but firm leadership of PM Modi.
It is high time that these criminals are flogged publicly and named and shamed in media before being hanged, which may be more effective than lengthy jail sentence. I would also like to urge influential British Indians who have direct line of communication with PM Modi and other leading BJP politicians, always seen at Modi’s side when he visits London, to use their influence, let PM know how badly this reflects on overseas Indians, especially as we have managed to irradiate caste division, united Hindu community beyond stretch of imagination, climbed summit of serenity! It is time they make useful contribution, do some useful work rather than being fair weather friends of PM Modi!
Bhupendra M Gandhi
Via Email
