Spillover of vote bank politics Communal brush
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: August 15, 2012 -

The geographical divide between Assam and Pune in Maharastra is great.

This is in line with the large size of the country and in a way fits into the understanding of the global village thus the Assam clash spilling over to Pune at western India should not leave us benumbed.

However what is a matter of concern is the radical shift from a clash between indigenous Bodos of Assam and migrants from Bangladesh to one that borders on the communal.

The metamorphosis from a clash between foreign elements and indigenous people to some sort of a communal backlash is what is alarming.

From the profiles of the victims as well as the profiles of the attackers, it is clear that what was a stand off between local people and foreign immigrants has been taken close to a communal clash.

This is what is intriguing and dangerous.

Vote bank politics can certainly take dangerous turns.

From a case of the indigenous population clashing with foreign elements, Bangladeshi migrants to be precise, to some sort of a communal confrontation in other parts of the country should underline this.

What happened at Assam came nowhere near the communal but the manner in which the issue has been turned on its head to give it a communal stand off is not only misleading but extremely dangerous.

Responsibilities and accountability should be fixed on those who patronised the foreign immigrants to build up a vote bank.

Stoking the fire of communal passion is easy.

There are masters who have more or less perfected this art and in all probability concern and empathy for the displaced persons who are languishing in the relief camps would be the last thing in their scheme.

It is this diabolical agenda that the people should be on guard.

How did a clash between an indigenous group of people and foreign migrants mutated into a communal stand off is the disturbing question.

The politics of whipping up communal frenzy has taken deep roots in India and the fact that victims are targeted on the basis of their physical appearance once again brings back the question of racism, which cannot be healthy to the process of Nation building.

Yes India is still caught in the process of Nation building.

Or does it mean that the Bangladeshi migrants have spread wings and are in a position to dictate terms in any city of the country, apart from the place where they have outnumbered the local population through a series of infiltration without so much of a check from the authority concerned.

The danger of vote bank politics is too real to be dismissed.

The danger of turning a clash between indigenous population and Bangladeshi migrants into a communal tone can only work to the advantage of some vested interest.

It is this which everyone should be aware.

Showing empathy to the victims of the assaults, lodging FIRs and arresting the suspects are all fine, but this is treating the symptoms rather than addressing the core issue.

The moot point is whether political parties are ready to rise to the challenge.