Just Say No

I didnt read this
AP
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cites Naxalite violence as the biggest threat to internal security. Statistics back his claim. However, there is another potent threat to the foundations of our republic that calls for urgent action. The secular and liberal character of the nation is under threat from illiberal forces. Fundamentalisms of all hues - religious, caste, ideological - are on the rise and agencies that ought to check these seem to be failing.

Violence against Christians, first in Orissa and now in Chhattisgarh, by Hindu extremist groups and the boycott threat issued against the Godrej family by some Muslim organisations for hosting Salman Rushdie in Mumbai are recent examples of rising intolerance. Tennis star Sania Mirza confessed that she had contemplated retirement thanks to pressure from extremist groups. Now, a so-called patriot has dragged her to court for disrespecting the national flag. M F Husain and Taslima Nasreen are under attack for being outspoken in their creative works.

These seemingly unconnected events challenge two defining features of the Indian nation: freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Ironically, the latter is used to justify assaults on the former. State agencies and political parties that should defend the secular character of the nation often become accomplices in such attacks. What should we make of a senior minister who wants Taslima to beg pardon from religious extremists who have threatened to take the law into their hands? Does he really believe in the sanctity of law and the right to free speech? Similarly, judges should ask themselves if they ought to admit motivated pleas that are meant to harass celebrities. If at all they need to act, it should be to haul up overly litigious persons for clogging the judicial system.

Political parties have to share a large part of the blame for allowing extremists a free run. Each of these is bound by the Constitution to uphold secularism and free speech. But rarely have politicians shown the spunk to confront fundamentalists, who are in a minority. Instead, politicians seem to travel with the tide for temporary gains and not resist the attacks on the secular edifice of the republic. The rise of identity politics is symptomatic of the failure of mainstream political parties to defend the inclusive provisions of the Constitution. The time has come for democratic forces to close ranks and guard the republic.