Lately it is becoming apparent that some Indian political parties do anything and everything other than pursuing politics in its real sense. How does it make sense opposing tennis ace star Sania Mirza’s betrothal to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik? Soon after facts regarding Sania’s engagement with Shoaib Malik surfaced in the media Bajrang dal hosted protests in Hyderabad and Chennai against her. Not only this, who is not aware of the furore raised by RSS over Shahrukh Khan’s statement of inviting Pakistani cricketers to IPL (Indian Premier League)?
In a country which guarantees the seven Fundamental rights to each and every citizen, isn’t there a way to check the unnecessary intrusion of political parties in personal lives (or business) of people. With due regard to the Indian constitution and its “Right to: (i) Freedom of speech and expression and (ii) freedom to assemble peacefully and without arms”, I would like to ask whether the above mentioned ‘Rights to freedom’ gives the political parties a warrant to pry into matters of absolute personal choice of any individual.
All these protests, be it against Sania Mirza or Shahrukh Khan, do however silently convey the impression that some Indian political parties (not all of course) have developed paranoia of the word “PAKISTAN”. In whatever form they hear it or see it, they will start coming out on streets shouting slogans against any individual who’s even remotely connected to the neighboring country.
Post 26/11 Indians have developed the same paranoia against Pakistan as have the Americans developed for Muslims post 9/11.Sigh!! I don’t have any special empathy towards Pakistan but wisdom and common sense gives us the power to judge between right and wrong. (But sadly common sense is not so common!!) Even a layman can see the difference between nationalism and jingoism (which parties like RSS and Bajrang Dal depict). It seems these parties are craving to be in the ‘glitz’ at par with film stars and sport stars. Under the façade of nationalism, they appear to be grabbing media attention. But ironically, they foolishly defame themselves by such senseless protests and just seem to be carving a way to being branded by people as “nationalist terrorists” (fighting for the cause of nationalism!). We are no longer in the days of yore and no one would accept hegemony enforced by such parties and thinking individuals would always stand against it.
Entering politics seems like just another hobby of an average Indian, probably because it’s the only body with no age, sex and education restrictions. Any Joe blog can enter politics, which in a way is good, but after seeing political parties behaving like hooligans and raising hue and cry over petty issues makes us rethink the same. Politics or cross border animosity should not be mixed with sports or some one’s personal life. Sports and inter-cultural ties promote fraternity and universal love, while meaningless demonstrations and protests taint the image of a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular and Democratic Republic, like ours!
p.s: there are only six fundamental rights now. The "right to property " has been removed
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