tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32214346.post8551903381248115245..comments2023-09-04T04:48:43.806-07:00Comments on Right Angle: Time for a reality checkSwapan Dasguptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01862272792815377402noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32214346.post-64159115537302868422011-04-15T07:28:29.149-07:002011-04-15T07:28:29.149-07:00Dear Swapan,
"Finally, the 'secular'...Dear Swapan,<br /><br />"Finally, the 'secular' bush telegraph has been used to spread the theory that the Jantar Mantar show was masterminded by shadowy figures in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh."<br /><br />If you were not to use that metaphor of Australian origin, I wouldn't have bothered writing in. And I trust you know why I now would want to make an exception.<br /><br />"It is being whispered that Hazare is actually a convenient front and that the real muscle for the anti-corruption stir comes from the poster boys of evangelical Hindutva, notably Baba Ramdev and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar."<br /><br />IMO, the first part is true---whethered it is better characterized as whispers or as open and direct statements made even before Hazare broke his fast. <br /><br />However, the second part seems to be only partly true. The mobilization for this particular Hazare-episode obviously benefitted a great deal from the traction imparted it by Ramdev Baba's organization (their gathering some time ago). Indeed, some grudging has already begun coming forth from the Hindutva circles.<br /><br />Any candid person from Maharashtra knowledgeable of the local happenings could easily tell that Hazare has always been primarily supported by the Hindutva organizations---even though secretaries and politicians in the Congress+ governments themselves might have also unwittingly heaped praises on him and recommended his Padmas. Indeed, while on this point, I now recall his being glorified by the Pune-based Hindutva-oriented people right in the year 1984. The argument that Hazare has agitated against the BJP, too, does not hold water. Certain Hinduta people were vocally and strongly critical of Vajpayee during his stint as the PM. Are the bases of those criticisms enough for us to consider him as falling outside of the broad Hindutva fold? There is no point evading facts on this count. I am sure you can make reference to easily available and fairly perceptive material on the 'net and convince yourself of this fact.<br /><br />So, yes, there are certain clearly visible gaps and weaknesses in your arguments and position here. But, yes, I did very much like the writeup, nevertheless. Especially, the opening line. Except for the doubt that I cannot be sure if the idea of freely gifting away the domain of morality to their religious opposition is a trait they developed in recent times, specifically during the Singh government, or whether the weakness has been there for a long time. I am inclined to believe that it has been there right since Indira Gandhi's socialistic times.<br /><br />One final point: When, if at all, are you going to begin mentioning concepts like Individual Rights, Objective Law, Limited Government, in contexts such as the present one? And if you would, in near future, then a next question: For how long do men like me have to wait before you begin measuring also the political right (i.e. the BJP) on the same standards?<br /><br />Best,<br /><br />--Ajit<br />[E&OE]Dr. Ajit R. Jadhavhttp://AjitJadhav.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32214346.post-25725699612395182152011-04-14T22:53:12.408-07:002011-04-14T22:53:12.408-07:00I agree with everything that Swapan has said in th...I agree with everything that Swapan has said in the article. The Congress party is rattled and they are using their age-old ploy of pseudo-secularism to discredit Shri Anna Hazare. Whether the Lok Pal bill is good or bad for the nation’s democracy is a completely different issue (Swapan has not expressed his support for the Lok Pal Bill anywhere in the article.). <br /><br />However, the way certain UPA leaders are using the bogey of secularism to discredit the movement is something that is on completely expected lines. <br /><br />What is the harm if Shri Anna Hazare praises Shri Narendra Modi or the Bihar chief minister! They are elected representatives of the people. The thing is that corruption is not the only issue that is causing so many problems for the country. We are also plagued by the issue of pseudo-secularism, which has since independence been a tool for deluding the minority sections of the population. <br /><br />Corrupt leaders are often able to survive in the government, because they have somehow acquired the halo of secularism. How does one acquire secular credentials in this country? Since independence, for more than 60 years, our leaders have been proclaiming secular slogans from rooftops, and yet the country remains deeply divided on lines of caste, religion, etc. <br /><br />We need a new political dictionary, where we have modern definitions of secularism, corruption-ism, and every other ism in the country. The old dictionary of “isms” has failed miserably.Objectivist Mantrahttp://www.vermapost.com/noreply@blogger.com