Violence Rhetoric Of The Times
By Poonam I Kaushish
Violence is the rhetoric of the times. Pick any newspaper. Any day. Splashes of social schism gore into news headlines. Massacres, murders, gang rapes, and dowry deaths. Even the most gruesome violence shocks no more. Wherein, brutality and beastiality have become synonymous in modern India. Welcome the Ugly Debauched Intolerant Indian!
Saturday NCP (Ajit Pawar) leader ex-MLA Baba Siddique and prominent Muslim leader known for his close ties to several Bollywood stars and alleged connections to underworld dons like Dawood Ibrahim was gunned down reportedly by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in Mumbai. The reason? Friends with ‘foe’ Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. Igniting concerns over politicians safety and underscoring the persistent threat of underworld violence that has plagued the city for decades. High profile political crime is narrative fodder.
Predictable was Maharashtra, Chief Minister Shinde’s comment “Nobody will be spared, no matter who they are…strict action will be taken. Those who are receiving threats will have their safety ensured, as it’s the State Government’s responsibility.” Sic.
Since the 1960s, over half a dozen politicians in Mumbai have been killed by gangs, revealing the city’s dark underbelly of political rivalry intertwined with organised crime. The first murder was of CPI MLA Krishna Desai June 1970. Sixteen Shiv Sena supporters were arrested for his murder, paving the way for its entry into Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
The number of MLAs’ murdered increased dramatically in 1990s. From Shiv Sena MLA Vitthal Chavan mid-1992 by Guru Satam gang due to fallout over monetary issues to SS MLA and trade union leader Ramesh More May 1993 by Arun Gawli gang. Followed by BJP MLA Shankardat Sharma five days later by Dawood Ibrahim gang.
In April 1994 Muslim League MLA Ziauddin Bukhari was murdered by Arun Gawli gang. Followed by MLA Ramdas Nayak who crossed path with Chhota Shakeel was killed August 1994 and MLA Datta Samant by Chhota Rajan January 1997. Ironically, nearly all accused were acquitted by higher courts.
Primarily as crime and politics are intertwined in a milieu where power translates into a numbers game Parties brazenly link-up with mafia dons and criminals as they convert muscle power into votes at gun point. Alongside, greed for power translates to an MP-MLA tag, the ultimate ‘bullet proof jacket’ for mafia dons, katils and apradhees. A new ‘don’ (dawn) of criminals banne neta enveloping all Parties with many politico-criminals entering legislatures.
From criminalization-of-politics to politicization-of-crime India has come full circle. Consequently, the State has become a battleground of mafia dons, their senas, armed brigades and ideologically indoctrinated lumpens wherein our jan sevaks dance to their underworld benefactors tune. Whereby criminal-politicos get away like escape artists, thanks to legal delays, often abetted by political pressures, making convictions rather rare. So what if they are the biggest threat to society and nation.
Take any legislature all one sees is vandalism and hooliganism with legislators exchanging blows, hurling mikes, chairs, smashing glasspanes et al. Blistering scenes which strip India of all balance, open-mindedness, equilibrium and tolerance.
Shocked? No. Graze a car and you could be shot dead, nobody sees red at the sight of blood. Even if some blood is spilled in an ever-populated nation, what difference does it make? In the Union Capital gang wars are passé. The dichotomy? Gangs are operating from jails? How? Are jail authorities hand-in-glove? Why is no action being taken?
Recently, three women were brutally murdered, their body parts cut and stored in freezers and burnt, two others dragged 10 kms by drunk men in cars, yet not a wimp of a public outcry. Seven rapes occur every minute across the country so what’s the big deal? Murders are committed in broad daylight in busy thoroughfares, it’s difficult to distinguish between a bahubali, mafia don and neta as all are rolled into one, an 80-year-old grandpa deflowers an innocent five-year-old in Haryana etc.
Clearly, the level of aggression coursing through political and social India injecting venom in citizens is worrisome and fraught with serious ramifications. Certainly people have plenty to be angry about. Unemployment, rising prices, lawlessness etc. Two, polarization thanks to technology and social media is more extreme than any physical ghettoisation.
Underscoring, violent inputs across society with rabid politics of hate, communalism, religious hatred resulting in mob violence online and offline creating a domino effect destroying innocent minds and turning them into monsters of venom and hate. Pointing to society’s utter moral bankruptcy where aggressive elements openly target, vilify and perpetuate sexual violence against women and minorities with alarming impunity.
Educated youth pursuing degrees use tech and Internet to wage online ideological wars against communities. Targeted violent contents are openly shared across X, Facebook, Telegram, Instagram, WhatsApp. Remember a Muslim man killed in Palwal video was shared on Facebook along-with a 14-year-old Muslim boy beaten for venturing inside Dasna Devi temple to drink water video was uploaded on social media.
Questionably, where is society heading? It is not a question of Siddique but a much wider and larger problem — violence and anger leading to total breakdown of institutions, society and ethical values. Replacing moral rules with naked force, hypocrisy and fraud.
Killing yet another signpost of an increasingly enfeebled system. Symptomatic of complete lawlessness that has gripped the country. A new cult establishing an order of hatred and rage. An eerie stillness filling the senses with smell of death, mayhem and brutal carnage held hostage by rampant goondagardi.
Who is responsible? The onus lies on all: politicians, bureaucracy, police, ‘protected’ criminals. Politicians and police are two sides of the same coin. Both viewed nowadays as venal and incompetent. Fake encounters. Torture deaths. Want to get rid of somebody? Call up the “Police-wala Goonda”.
Criminals in khadi hustling and muscling to fulfil people’s aspirations. And hot young blood? Who rape for kicks and kill for a drink. In this milieu can criminalized mafia dons be far behind? Who now have taken recourse to “out of court settlements” and extortions. And what about the new intolerant rage sweeping across the country? Turning religion into burning embers of hatred.
Forebodings are in the air: rising prices, over-population, urban decay and proliferating of slums. The administrative system has practically collapsed. A life-style of Nano Yuppiesim has brought forth macro consequences of socio-political environment neglect. Where another crisis threatens.
The truth? Even as we have achieved political and economic freedom we still remain hostage to errant elements of society. “Lopsided economic growth has created a dispossessed population which cannot relate to Western cultural values and norms,” asserted a social scientist.
Unfortunately, most Indians do not care. Absence of national character and indiscipline has led to a creeping paralysis of ‘sab chalta hai’. Think. Is violence really worth the price the country will pay? Who will bear the cross? How does one salvage India’s soul? Nothing justifies bloodshed or call to commit violence in direct contravention of law.
Where does India go from here? In an environment wherein adoption of strong-arm tactics to extract one’s pound of flesh has become second nature, it is time to cry a halt. Time to realise that democracy is not a harlot to be picked up in the street by a man with a gun. Remember, coercion has a thousand fathers but liberty is an orphan. We are a civilized democracy and cannot destroy it as we shape New India. Violence is unacceptable. What says you? — INFA