The state of the nation

India’s political discourse has been sinking imaginably low over the last few years, moving away from the unifying narrative of the founding fathers of the country to abject levels of distrust, hatred and bigotry. Religious leaders have been fanning hatred by espousing separatist ideologies. The country has witnessed lynching of people by cow vigilantes, and innocent teachers, bankers or labourers have been killed by Islamist separatists in Kashmir. Suppressed classes have been victims of atrocities and violence. Political leaders, including ministers in the government, have made comments targeting individuals on the basis of their religion, caste or ethnicity. All this has caused friction and distrust among various social and religious groups. In this charged climate, it’s curious that the Supreme Court should pin the blame for ‘what is happening in the country’ on one individual, former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.

Hearing a petition filed by Nupur Sharma to club multiple FIRs registered against her across the country, a Supreme Court Bench observed: ‘The way she has ignited emotions across the country… This lady is singlehandedly responsible for what is happening in the country.’ Referring to the remarks she had made regarding Prophet Muhammad during a TV debate, the court noted: ‘What is her business to make these remarks?’ The court also observed that she should have apologised to the nation on TV, adding: ‘She was too late to withdraw.’ More relevantly, the court pulled up the TV channel for organising a debate on a contentious ‘sub judice topic’ for the possible motive of ‘fanning an agenda’.

Our religious and political leaders have sown the seeds of hatred, and the country is reaping the crop of enmity. Mixing religion and politics is dangerous but sadly, it’s politically useful as well. Though she has since apologised, Nupur Sharma cannot escape censure for speaking about a religious figure in a derogatory manner during a heated political debate. Blaming one individual for religious tensions across the country, however, is to ignore the role of politicians and religious leaders in adding fuel to separatist fires over the years. Finally, words cannot and must not be met with violence or threats — this is the first principle of harmonious coexistence.