India – Religion and Political Dichotomy

August 8, 2020

India – Religion and Political Dichotomy

Padmini Arhant

Synopsis

In the height of ravaging corona virus largely known among the rich, famous and powerful, economic depression with gloom and doom overcast and national security threatened by China’s brazen incursion in the Himalayan higher altitude down to the lakes, river and valley along eastern Ladakh and north eastern territory not barring southern end in the Indian Ocean, religious platform serve as the ideal distraction deflecting public focus and concerns on burgeoning health, economic and national security issues.

The Hindu temple foundation ceremony in the long embattled site in Ayodhya arousing religious fervor and sentiment widely telecast nationwide is classic event management – RSS directed political activity is BJP’s specialty and party head PM  Narendra Modi’s signature act.

Now on the subject of religion and the much debated, used and abused Lord Sri Ram, the main character in the epic Ramayana besides being the incarnate of Lord Vishnu, the protector of the Universe.

While BJP’s religious zealots representing political ideology and Hindutva doctrine that has done more harm than any good in polarizing society based on mandir (temple) masjid (mosque) cacophony creating rancor in the media circus on such topics, Gau rakshak, the self-declared cow vigilantes’ heinous violent crimes against muslims and the so-called Dalits despite being Hindus worshipping Hindu Gods subject to constant raid of their homes in search of beef and hide, the occupation relegated to the so-called Sudras designated the lowest caste in caste oriented system.

Among them many sects segregated as the untouchables. The inhumane discriminatory hierarchy fraudulently claimed by the self-proclaimed upper caste as Vedic and Holy scriptures ordained structure.

In recent memory, the mob lynching of muslims and the so-called Dalits in the name of Lord Ram is fanaticism ad nauseam committing sacrilege and blasphemy against Lord Ram and the idea of religion.

BJP’s subversion of religion, God and godliness justifying violence, fundamentalism and denigration of Hindu Gods like Lord Hanuman, the incarnation of none other Almighty God Shiva mocked as servant of Lord Ram is discarded emphasizing historic achievement.

Furthermore, Lord Hanuman was not spared from the spell of casteism either. The deity was called Dalit noting the deity for not being in human form. Never mind ignorance discounting human ancestry (Monkey) in human evolution. In religion wise Lord Hanuman proselytized as Muslim during national election campaign in 2019 in Uttar Pradesh hosting the much touted Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya. 

The reference Sant (Sainthood) frivolously used to describe anyone whose profile and legacy is paradoxical to idealism and the concept of spiritualism. 

The contradictory ascriptions merit detailed analyses for appropriate perspective on religion, sainthood and anachronism. 

The topic will resume shortly to discuss religion, the convenient pawn to evade accountability on all matter in contemporary politics. The topic will also touch base on political opposition surrender due to excess baggage associated with corruption and criminality leading to democracy demise. 

Please refer to the sequel.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant 

Author & Presenter 

PadminiArhant.com

Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com

 

 

 

India – Unconditional Release of Human Rights Activists

September 10, 2018

India – Unconditional Release of

Human Rights Activists

Padmini Arhant

The latest development on human rights activists’ extension on house arrest pending Supreme Court hearing on September 12th, 2018 is suo motu in the backdrop of absence of credible evidence against all of them compared to the other two members Hindutva leaders Milind Ekbote and Manohar ‘Sambhaji’ Bhide, associated with BJP government accused of instigating the Bhima-Koregaon violence and accordingly FIR filed against them.

The contrasting treatment highlights the misappropriation of judicial process detaining the former in house arrest while exempting the latter from any inquiry.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed BJP government in Delhi directing the Supreme Court is evident as claimed in another controversial national issue on Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, where the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath representing the BJP government in Delhi asserted BJP’s unilateral influence on Indian Supreme Court over all matter.

Upon reviewing the facts on the arrests of five human rights activists and government concerted crackdown on dissent violently pursuing journalists, civil rights activists, writers, poets and intellectuals in society targeted for voicing concerns on the plight of marginalized, disenfranchised and isolated segments as well as women and minorities in India, the government action clearly is a blatant violation of constitution that guarantees all citizens in the Republic of Indiathe inalienable right to express views and opinion on any issues including disagreement on any government policies and programs or the lack thereof affecting citizenry.

Since these five human rights activists have been unlawfully held on unsubstantiated charges, the government and judiciary combined could no longer prolong the case that is arguably politically motivated to set precedence in curbing democratic rights nationwide. The overcast leads to prejudice besides failing to meet the legal requirement on judgment against the accused in the satisfaction of beyond reasonable doubt for conviction.

Under these circumstances, the state infringement on civil rights of the human rights activists denying them constitution granted freedom of expression in public or private sessions is a serious contravention deserving civil debate and legislation to prevent misuse of authority at any level. Those who were engaged in this instance against the human rights activists are to be investigated and held accountable to set the procedure for future reference. The judicial reform in Parliament is equally pertinent to allow the legal course to function flawlessly expediting hearings and decisions across the board beginning with law enforcement action on citizens complaints to court proceedings without state intervention in obstruction of justice.

The five human rights activists – Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonzalves, Arun Ferreira, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha are to be released unconditionally effective immediately and all allegations against them discharged restoring their dignity and sanctity of Indian democracy that would otherwise be reflected under siege.

Padmini Arhant

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