The results of Bihar elections have gone against the ruling party at the centre but it seems unlikely that the central government and its ministers or the BJP will take any lessons from its drubbing, said Prof. Dubey in his opening remarks. He further said that further attacks will happens, therefore, people should not sit idle. Expressing deep concern at the current situation, Prof Dubey said the plight of the common man is worsening. There is a need to strengthen documentation on incidences of communal violence.
Participating in the debate, Justice Rajindar Sachar, former chief justice of Delhi High Court, said the government is raising such issues which are dividing the society but people should not fall prey to their tactic. In Bihar while those stoked communalism were defeated, the elections were won by others on caste-based propaganda. He warned that such divisive propaganda is diverting the people away from real issues such as FDI.
Raghavan Srinivasan, President of Lok Raj Sangathan, emphasised that the justification of supporting the “lesser evil” in order to defeat the “greater evil” will only harm the people’s movement. People have to be made aware that communal violence is a preferred method of the Indian State and its institutions to keep the people divided. In the name of opposing BJP one should not drive the people to the other camp who are as much or even more discredited. Organisations like ours who are working among the people should take the initiative and build an alternative to the status quo.
Taking the discussion ahead, Nusrat Ali, Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind said unity in diversity is the real beauty of our country and this is what makes it distinct in the world. Those who are harming this nature of the country are actually dividing and weakening the country, he said.
Mohammad Salim Engineer, Secretary General of Jamaat, said the communal forces get success only when they are able to divide people. These forces cannot survive without spreading hatred.
Other eminent persons who participated in the debate included Prof. Apoorvanand of Delhi University, Dr. ND Pancholi, Prof. KB Saksena and Laeeq Ahmed of SIO.
