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There is no doubt that the rising tide of illiberalism and intolerance is assuming alarming proportions. As the ideologue of the BJP, the RSS and the fringe elements of theàSangh Parivar areàtesting the waters in various forms. It is preposterous on the part of the Shiv Sena, an ally of the rulingàBJP in Maharashtra,àtoàdemandàrevocation of the citizenship of those who refuse to chant “”Bharat Mata ki Jai””. These are all manifestations of the Hindutva ideology which has been described in certain quartersàas highly reactionary even though the RSS has been variouslyàdescribed as a cultural organization.

Open Society – Diversity, Plurality

àMoral majoritarians fail to see the futility of their words and deeds. They are undermining the fundamental principles of an open and free society: diversity, plurality and choice. BJP president Amit Shah taking questions at the India Today conclave barely two days backà on Thursday à(March 17) emphasized that not chanting “”Bharat Mata ki Jai”” is being anti-national. This matter should be explained to those who don’t understand it.àItàstarted with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat declaring that all Indians are Hindus. A nationalist is one who spontaneously chants “”Bharat Mata ki Jai.”” Theàmatter flared up in the Maharashtra assembly leading to theàunanimousàsuspension of Waris Pathan, an MLA of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM), for the rest of this budget session. Hisàparty supremo Asaduddin Owaisi, a Lok Sabha member, had refused to chant “”Bharat Mata ki Jai”” in the first instance.

The Speaker of the assembly refused to cite any rule as none existed in this regard butàobserved the suspension was ordered because of the sentiment in the House. Legal experts questioned the suspension saying it is patently illegal. The Congress supporting the resolution is a pointer to the party falling prey to the far right nationalistic ideology. Reacting to his suspension,àPathan stressed: “”I love my country. I was born here and I will die here. I can never dream of insulting my country. Don’t judge anyone’s love for the country by just one slogan. Jai Hindi, Jai Bharat, Jai Maharashtra.“”àThisàhas created an element of unease amongàthe minorities. Owaisi whipped up a stormàby saying he will not chant “”Bharat Mata ki Jai”” even if a knife is put to his throat evokingàpolitical reaction flowing thick and fast. NCP spokesperson observed everyone might not agree with the views of the RSS and the BJP. Al-Nasser Zakaria of the Congressàalleged that the Shiv Sena is only indulging in politics of hypocrisy.

All this raises a serious question if liberal values are being subverted. There was also the attack on four Kashmiri students in Mewar University in Rajasthan for allegedly eating beef in their hostel room but it was later confirmed that it was not beef butàmutton. This is reminiscent of what happenedàin Dadri in September last yearàwith one unfortunate twist that Mohmmad Akhlaqueàwas lynched to death byàthe fringe elements of the saffron brigade for allegedly consuming beef which was not the case.àThough nobody should be asked to chant the slogan it is regrettably being projected as a test of one’s patriotism. This has the portends of leading to a dangerous religious polarization.àBollywood actor Anupam Kher tweeted that the only definition of nationalism for ‘Bharatwasis’ should be the slogan “”Bharat Mata ki Jai””.

Such moral policing is against the very grain of democracies. At the same time Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi made a tellingàpoint that “”respecting the Flag means respecting the opinion of every Indian…you cannot destroy the Indian flag àby destroying the relationship between our people.”” Simultaneously, the role of his Congress party in the suspension ofàPathan cannot be summarily dismissed. They must accept the blame.

Our Constitution – The Guiding Force

The Constitution remains theàguiding force. In such a large andàdiverse country as India, autonomy of opinion is being increasingly questioned. It is time that the political leadership which has inexorably maintained a stoic silence reins in the rhetoric before it gets out of hand.àThe hallmark of nationalism is accommodating various points of viewàrather than forcing down one’s throat a single definition of nationalism.

(T R Ramachandran is a senior journalist and commentator. The views are personal.)à“