No country for celebration

Arson, gun firings, and bomb blasts are scenes that get coupled normally in gang wars or movies. India today is slowly turning to give fright about how worrisome it is for the people to celebrate religious festivals. The gun firings, arson, and all happened during the Ram Navami festivals held across various states in India, not in films. Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Gujarat saw many fights, and even one was killed in the melee in Bihar. Chief minister Nitish Kumar has called for an emergency meeting and has allotted Rs 5 lakh to the family of the killed one.

In Bengal, it was Howrah that turned the epicenter of troubles and riots. The Hindus-led Ram Navami yatra was attacked first. Later., the BJP-led procession was attacked in a similar manner in Bengal which ended up attacking MLA Biman Ghosh. The case is no different in BJP rules states as protests and attacks turned common against any such procession done in the name of lord Ram.

India is currently vulnerable when it comes to religious sentiments. The anti-nationals and such devious minds are at play to make most of such processions to tamper the long-enjoyed unity admired by the people of the country. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee stooped to such low which made her comment that it was the mistake of the Ram Navami procession to pass through a Muslim-dominated area which resulted in the riots. It is such a fall seeing a leader make shoddy comments just to cluster the minority votes for the impending elections. Is the Muslim-dominated area a no-go zone for other religious people? where is Bengal heading?

These processions have been practiced across the country for centuries. During current times, every religious festival is given political colors. People are also judging Hindu festivals as one favoring BJP and the vice versa. Home minister Amit Shah castigated the chief minister of Bihar and Bengal for giving a free pass for rioters to make a monster out of a peaceful procession. Shah then slowly turned into a demagogue saying if BJP returns to power in such states, the rioters would be hung upside down. There was a big clamor of applause for the BJP leader's speech. Alas, the leaders are seldom seen when riots hit the streets. The vulnerable many who fight for religion die unknown in the same alleys. It is for the state government to make legwork for proper conduction of the procession rather than involving in petty mudslinging for political brownies.