Unacceptable behaviour
The outrageous act of violence by a citizen upon agriculture minister Sharad Pawar speaks of the culture of intolerance and cheap publicity prevailing today. The perpetrator had earlier hit convicted former minister Sukh Ram, but was let go without punishment. This apparently encouraged him to try the stunt a second time, thus guaranteeing him his few minutes in the spotlight. However much he may couch it in terms of the public’s righteous anger, it’s little more than a desperate attempt to get attention.
As shocking, if not more, was the reaction of some parties. While most politicians quite rightly condemned this incident, the BJP’s equivocation and warnings looked shameful. Its leaders showed that they can’t rise above political differences and never miss an opportunity to take a cheap shot. As for Anna Hazare’s reaction, the less said the better. Though he tried to cover it up, his initial remarks clearly show he is no mahatma but just another simple-minded individual who thinks such violence is the answer to social ills. His antics lately have caused irreparable harm to his self-proclaimed crusade and, increasingly, some civil society elements have shown themselves to be remarkably uncivil in their behaviour.
Violence has no place in a democracy, no matter what the provocation. Such actions are the thin end of the wedge; condoning or justifying them as symptomatic of the frustration felt by the people is plain wrong. Today it’s a politician, tomorrow it could be anybody else. This tendency must be stamped out now, else it could lead to a lynch mob mentality.
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