Ensure justice is done to all
Events in Assam’s Bodo tribal areas appear to have set off a chain of events that could have serious consequences for the entire nation. What started as two targeted killings followed by retaliation has now led to rioting in Mumbai and Lucknow, stray incidents of violence in Pune, Bengaluru and Mysore, and an exodus of thousands from these and other cities.
The net result is polarisation along communal and ethnic lines. The people of the Northeast, already alienated, have quickly gone from euphoria at MC Mary Kom’s Olympian achievements to feeling threatened in “mainland” India. Muslims, many carrying a sense of persecution, have been driven to heightened anger and fear. Some Hindus too had their fears heightened by the mob violence in Mumbai and Lucknow.
These fears are being manipulated and amplified by rumours and exaggeration, morphed images and hard political rhetoric. If unchecked, it will be detrimental to people from all groups and the entire nation. Northeast people who have made livelihoods around the country will lose jobs. Muslims will be further ghettoised. And Hindu “nationalists” will harm the nation they profess to love by setting the stage for civil strife.
All this is easily avoidable. Every state government must do its duty with an even hand. As long as every citizen of India, irrespective of religion or ethnicity, feels justice is being done, attempts to stoke divisive fires will fail. Failure to ensure even-handed justice, however, could be disastrous for India.
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