Inferences drawn from 'Har-Har Modi' issue

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As the election campaign for Narendra Modi moved forward with cries of 'Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi', a controversy too followed. Many devout Hindus and 'Secular' Congress leaders took objection on the use of this slogan, but i</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">t was Shankaracharya Shri Swaroopanand Saraswati of Jyotirpeeth who strongly condemned the use of 'Har Har Modi' slogan. Modi promptly requested his supporters to do the same. While the slogan has been MODIfied as 'Har dil Modi, Ghar ghar Modi', there are few interesting things to note about this whole incidence.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidRifn7pEa_YYYQ3NpR6O3TkcIxqZyjD9SQDndbgt_pj__sgCoYJ0eL0fTTGF0AosIY8mbOD_GfZ3Te5PmqoHYWUvfQNFnuM-gySVZTHTvNGIpPVEcTqCsVWf-RPakbRABKSaUN8RbYs/s1600/Soniya+Gandhi+Goddess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidRifn7pEa_YYYQ3NpR6O3TkcIxqZyjD9SQDndbgt_pj__sgCoYJ0eL0fTTGF0AosIY8mbOD_GfZ3Te5PmqoHYWUvfQNFnuM-gySVZTHTvNGIpPVEcTqCsVWf-RPakbRABKSaUN8RbYs/s1600/Soniya+Gandhi+Goddess.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was a pleasant surprise to see Congress for once talking about Hindu sentiments. Yes, we are talking about the same Congress that in its arrogance had even put a </span><a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/oh-god-upa-red-faced-says-lord-ram-existed/48589-3.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">question mark on existence of Raam</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">! Recently a Congress Leader, P. Shankar Rao, was in news for constructing a temple dedicated to Sonia Gandhi. Even in past, Sonia <a href="http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/sonia-as-durga-bihar-court-summons-cong-president-3894.html" target="_blank">Gandhi has been portrayed as Goddess Durga</a> in posters. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlp7csUbZ64Tgt2ZycqXlPEwj18kIIuHIyq7-XL2tflk2bqH4hI324VNF_WO48E8MIaG3Tfa9q5f27pSJpakrZv6WlVHKpcjvBTPPSpS3R-I3Wfmqm-Lo-qlqT-ygObUB7T0j_tEjAJLo/s1600/Vasundhra+Raje.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlp7csUbZ64Tgt2ZycqXlPEwj18kIIuHIyq7-XL2tflk2bqH4hI324VNF_WO48E8MIaG3Tfa9q5f27pSJpakrZv6WlVHKpcjvBTPPSpS3R-I3Wfmqm-Lo-qlqT-ygObUB7T0j_tEjAJLo/s1600/Vasundhra+Raje.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The sycophants do not only exist in Congress, but in every party. A good example is the case of BJP's Hemant Bohra from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, who printed a poster depicting Vasundhra Raje as Goddess Annapoorna. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Why limit ourselves to Politics?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sport Personalities like </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni too were found in similar controversy. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEqHwa9nIfPuEsHbZhMCjtmARMf68NYV2PGEydeagWnD8O5N2x0XqjJTRPwvGn8Bsaa2Ax8sYxXugr0eRM5Nl-nsfh8ZV6vTPMTUOnneVYjGs2zLWVSILsuIPqpKOgClD7LLx_h1-bY0/s1600/Dhoni+Sachin+Gods.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEqHwa9nIfPuEsHbZhMCjtmARMf68NYV2PGEydeagWnD8O5N2x0XqjJTRPwvGn8Bsaa2Ax8sYxXugr0eRM5Nl-nsfh8ZV6vTPMTUOnneVYjGs2zLWVSILsuIPqpKOgClD7LLx_h1-bY0/s1600/Dhoni+Sachin+Gods.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While Hindu Saints have been demanding a ban on Cow slaughter, India becomes leader in Beef exports. No heed was payed to their cries when they marched to Delhi to save river Yamuna. </span><a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sadhu-dies-after-a-73day-fast-to-save-ganga/159098-3.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Swami Nigamanand died after fasting for 73 days to save holy river Ganga, but no one seemed to care.</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I have immense respect for Shankaracharya Shri Swaroopanand Saraswati as religious scholar, and eagerly want to know his views on all the above mentioned incidences. I would love to know why he only chose to speak on 'Har Har Modi', and not on any other issue? But I doubt, these questions will ever be answered. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In any case, whats interesting is that Modi supporters stopped using the slogan after Modi's request, and not because of Shankaracharya's criticism. Usually labelled 'Communal', Hindu masses rejected a Religious Head's views for a leader who talks about development. I try to compare this with <a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sonia-gandhi-meets-shahi-imam-bukhari-says-secular-votes-should-not-split/1/352562.html" target="_blank">Shahi Imam's recent visit to Sonia Gandhi</a> and his <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Now-Bukhari-endorses-secular-Mamata-as-PM/articleshow/30964336.cms" target="_blank">endorsement of Mamata Banerjee</a>. <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Azam-Khan-asks-Muslims-to-unite-to-prevent-Modi-from-becoming-PM/articleshow/29508494.cms" target="_blank">Azam Khan addresses a conference of Madrassa managers and Principals</a> to secure his party's Muslim vote bank. This only hints that these religious heads hold a good influence over a huge Muslim population. what inference do I draw from this?  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm sure any sane mind will agree with me when I say<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Religion should not be allowed to control politics of a Nation.</span></b> While the Majority seems to have learnt this lesson, the Minority yet seems to be in need of time to accept this fact. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In light of these facts, let us now argue the definition of 'Communalism'. </span></div>

Inferences drawn from 'Har-Har Modi' issue

As the election campaign for Narendra Modi moved forward with cries of 'Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi', a controversy too followed. M...

Rioting over Riots

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66tUTdnaDbIztlpevIAAERWwe0jT0EIAuDFZIsL-eQSMn5D7J32AnRRJPPFpsqoAb-NjG3yhaVS4ZR6kjap4uXGy7vdKectaPs_IBvJYmNzj2_qd-hvUBqOR_etYw4ybjHf6iuoJzgec/s1600/Riot+Politics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66tUTdnaDbIztlpevIAAERWwe0jT0EIAuDFZIsL-eQSMn5D7J32AnRRJPPFpsqoAb-NjG3yhaVS4ZR6kjap4uXGy7vdKectaPs_IBvJYmNzj2_qd-hvUBqOR_etYw4ybjHf6iuoJzgec/s1600/Riot+Politics.jpg" width="164" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rahulgandhitakingthelead/i-think-we-will-beat-bjp-but-will-take-responsibility-if-we-lose-rahul-gandhi/article1-1177316.aspx" target="_blank">Modi responsible for 2002 Gujrat riots.</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Rahul Gandhi, Congress.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.abplive.in/incoming/2014/01/29/article255418.ece/Kejriwal-demands-SIT-for-%E2%80%9984-riots#.Uut02ZM7OHM">I urge SIT probe for 1984 riots. </a><br />- Arvind Kejriwal, AAP.<br />(And <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/arvind-kejriwal-retweets-controversial-comment-on-narendra-modi-rahul-gandhi-476191?curl=1391191985">retweets a tweet labeling Narendra Modi a 'Murderer'</a>, even after <a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/ahmedabad/report-narendra-modis-clean-chit-upheld-1941348">clean chit from SIT</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ummid.com/news/2014/January/31.01.2014/cong-mla-asif-agnst-aap.html">Kejriwal betrayed Muslims, backtracked on his promise of SIT on Batla House encounter.</a><br />- Asif Muhammad, MLA, Congress.<br /><br /><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Muzaffarnagar-riots-were-political-Ajit-Singh/articleshow/29621055.cms">Muzaffarnagar riots were political.</a><br />- Ajit Singh, Chief, Rashtriya Lok Dal.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">It all started with Rahul Gandhi's interview, where he blamed Modi for Gujrat riots of 2002; and one after the other they started to riot over past riots in the country and pointing fingers at each other.  The above mentioned personalities weren't the only ones to participate in the chicanery, spewing venom against the other parties and trying to establish themselves as the protector of the minorities. Those who understand politics, would know that more of such drama can be expected in coming days, as we move closer to the Loksabha Elections 2014. </span></span><br /><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Meanwhile, srrounded with all the cacophony of the Crows (politicians) and Vultures (Media), it was interesting to note that no one bothered to make even a small mention of the Ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pundits from their homeland, Kashmir, in 1990, nor the recent Assam (Kokrajhar) riots. It was like they never happened; and I so wish that they never had! But since they did, why the silence? Is it because, these were the incidences that affected the people belonging to the Majority of the Nation? Do lives of Hindus don't matter or is it that since they exist in majority, a loss of few lives can be considered negligible? These are uncomfortable questions, but someone has to ask them. They must be answered.</span></span><br /><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Its sad and unfortunate to even compare human suffering, and that is exactly my point. If the sufferings of the minorities find cries for justice, why are the majority's tears ignored? That is when </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mancur Olson</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">'s </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Logic_of_Collective_Action" target="_blank">The logic of Collective action</a></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> answers the question - </span><br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"In Democracy, a well organised minority is Majority."</span></blockquote><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">While setting aside the differences between the different sects and casts and subcasts, the Minorities fight together for their issues, the majority continues to be divided not only into different casts and subcasts but also through language and region. The people comprising the majority in India have clearly not learnt the most obvious lesson from their History; and unless they do, they are doomed to go through it all again. </span></span><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>

Rioting over Riots

Modi responsible for 2002 Gujrat riots. - Rahul Gandhi, Congress. I urge SIT probe for 1984 riots. - Arvind Kejriwal, AAP. (And retweets a t...