Both sides had their own benchmarks for differentiating between good communalism and bad communalism. Is it not like America's differentiation between good terrorism (that suits them) and bad terrorism (that hurts them)?
Political parties in India championing the cause of secularism miss no opportunity in running down the neck of Narendra Modi for Gujarat riots of 2002. They start making high decibel condemnatory statements the moment they sniff communal odour in any sectarian flare up that targets minority community but the same class is silent when minorities belonging to a different community is targeted in Kishtwar.
Except for BJP, no other political party has come out in open support of the aggravated families. The vanguards of secularism are silent. Is this silence not deafening? Will it help the cause of genuine secularism?
Just look at how divisive this secular and communal divide has become in independent India. The moment, the main opposition party, the BJP, forwarded the name of Narendra Modi for the PM post, all hell broke loose. While Narendra Modi tried his best to redirect the debate on his concept of good governance, his detractors stuck to their secular-communal wicket. It was more like BCCI not willing to change the turf on Indian cricket fields despite humiliating losses overseas.
Is it not time for our political class to move on? For how long will we keep the issue of good governance under carpet? We are debating this secular-communal issue for last 66 years. We suggest to Pakistan that let's keep the Kashmir issue on the back burner for the time being as it's complex and focus on other issues that can enhance the living standard of common people in both countries.
Can't we follow the same advice in our domestic politics? Can't we put this secular-communal debate on back-burner for the time being? Can't we focus on issues of good governance so that those who are dying out of starvation in this country can live a respectable and dignified life? Isn't it shameful that famers are still committing suicide out of frustration in this country? For how long will we keep behaving like an ostrich?
