Why is a rivalry between individuals being defined communally, as is the case in the alleged murder of 25-year-old Rinku Sharma? Rather than bringing the perpetrators to justice, a concerted campaign to play victimhood by the selected groups, individuals and organisations has unnecessarily begun to politicise and polarise the issue.
Camping for organising strength by mobilising its audiences has become the preferred priority of the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) in and areas adjacent to Mangolpuri in West Delhi. Recently, Delhi BJP chief Aadesh Gupta after paying a visit to the deceased’s place urged the Delhi Police to swiftly act against the culprits daring to silence one of its foot soldiers raising funds for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Delhi Police has denied any such angle by not playing party to the plot floated by the BJP and its ideological guardians. It looks like a case of personal enmity as Rinku Sharma allegedly faced losses in his business, unable to stomach his competitor’s ascendancy, and this sense of inferiority led to his death. There can be no justification for it, but singularly targeting a community in the name of carrying petty politics of propaganda and purpose by dividing a particular community is worrisome.
We know how over the last 6 years Muslims have been tarnished and maligned for their views and beliefs through the medium of popular legislations — CAA, Article 370, Ram Mandir, Triple Talaq — as some of our leaders and politicians have taken up reasoned responsibility to mentor them socially, politically and economically for consolidating them as probable vote banks. This trickery has completely isolated and alienated Muslims from their own selves as they refuse and refute modernity in their very capacity, thus, lacking the authority to change and challenge.
I believe Owaisi, Azam Khan, Arvind Kejriwal, etc. won’t do much for an effective Muslim middle class contesting the dominance and hegemony of social conservatism and graded hierarchy in their society. In the new India, the state has stepped aside from preserving and protecting their rights and duties. It is under no obligation and compulsion to do so given its penchant for the possession of political authority, rank and order. Relegating the minorities to the margins has become their political staple ensuring the nationalistic narration of the morality of ethics and outcome.
The BJP, beginning from the 1980s, has found itself passionately involved and engaged with it. There is no denying the fact as everything till now has been a sheer campaign of their hits and misses, be it at any front. Reviving the homogeneous order of caste and class is integral to the practice and propagation of Hindutva.