One of the fundamental truths about religious fundamentalists is that they are always inimical to the Left cause.
This is true whether we are talking about Hindu fundamentalists or Evangelical Christians or Islamic fundamentalists. They all hate the Left.
Yet, at present, many leftist student organizations are reported to be chanting slogans in campuses across the country that, at least on the surface, seem supportive of Kashmiri separatists. Posters supporting ‘Azadi’ for Kashmir have apparently been put up in Jadhavpur University in Kolkata.
What is going on? Why are leftists apparently supporting those who want the country’s borders redrawn on religious lines?
How have a handful of people — who shouted separatist slogans in JNU on Feb 9 — created divisions across India in campuses, and even outside it? How did they get Indian Leftists and ‘Nationalists’ fighting each other?
Was this what they meant when they said “Bharat Tere Tukde Hazar” — India, you will be splintered into a thousand pieces — in the video?
WAS THIS A TRAP?
According to the latest information, the government has been unable to arrest, or even trace, the people who actually raised these anti-India slogans.
These so-called students are reported to have escaped to various campuses across the country, presumably trying to replicate what they did in JNU and create a civil war between the left and the right.
And by the looks of it, they seem to having a fair bit of success too. Right-wing students’ organizations like ABVP are taking out processions calling Leftists traitors, while Leftists and liberals are getting alarmed at they feel is the beginning of fascist oppression.
Though some of this apparent success in dividing India is due to luck and timing, a big contributor has been the impulsive act of the government in arresting Kumar.
Even after it has largely become clear that he did not raise anti-India slogans, the government continues to hold him captive. This in turn keeps the situation volatile.
Processions and protests — both in favor and supportive of Kumar — are being conducted across the country.
Many people are feeling uneasy about the “highhanded” nature of the way the government handled the matter.
Is this what the handful of masked sloganeers of JNU actually wanted? Has the government walked into a trap that they set? Was this a plan to get one arm of India to fight the other?
Perhaps we, as Indians, need to pause for a minute to ponder these questions before we rush to fear and protest against one another.