“I will cry if you hit me. If I hit you, then also I will cry.”

A letter issued by the Indian arm of Amnesty International quoting its chair Aakar Patel on Thursday over the clash on Ram Navami in Khargone is a perfect example of how a one-sided narrative is pushed. 

Also read: Rise in communal tension: Is it due to politics or attempts to thwart Modi?

No wonder, Indian governments since the Manmohan Singh era have been wary of NGOs that get funds from abroad. 

Citing the violence unleashed on a Ram Navami procession by another community in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone, Patel cleverly changed the narrative in his first sentence. He started, “Over the last few days, the country has witnessed some deeply disturbing events related to anti-Muslim attacks and hate speech.”

Also read: NewsDrum Exclusive: Former CVC Sharad Kumar comes to rescue of CBI in its case against former Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini

Very fairly Patel demanded a fair trial before any action by authorities, but he did not adhere to the same rule and seemed to be passing judgment relying upon one-sided social media videos and reports. 

Detailing the incident, Patel wrote, “On April 11, a curfew was enforced in Khargone City in Madhya Pradesh after provocative slogans were allegedly raised near a mosque during Ram Navami celebrations, which led to a riot, stone-pelting and violence.”

In this statement, Patel can be seen ignoring the due process of law and supposedly pronouncing judgement that only one community is to be blamed for the violence. Patel clearly relied upon unverified stories and propaganda going around for siding with one community over the other. 

Not only this, the Amnesty India chair clearly implied that raising slogans gives a right to unleash violence on any group or community.

Patel is a part of an ecosystem in the country which follows a thumb rule - I will cry if you hit me. If I hit you, then also I will cry. And this was applied to all the violence allegedly unleashed on Ram Navami celebrations across the country including in Jawaharlal Nehru University in the national capital.

While the festivals across the religions should be left sacred, a large section of our countrymen is justifying the condemnable act of violence and provoking one community against the other by lending their support and voice. And it is no longer restricted between two communities. It has expanded to two ideologies – right and left.

It was evident from the reports that JNU violence unleashed on students involved in Ram Navami pooja had little to do with communities or religions. It was left vs right. Rather, it was believer vs non-believer.

Now, look at Rahul Gandhi, the main opposition leader of the country. It was evident from his recent speech at a book launch event where he disclosed a conversation with a fellow BJP MP during the recently concluded parliament session. “How can you believe in Ram when you do not believe in reincarnation,” Gandhi said to the MP. What was he trying to say? That he didn't believe in the existence of Ram!

I have seen many processions in my childhood where people performed stunts with swords and sticks as a part of the celebrations. 

Everyone including those pushing certain narratives knows well that such traditions exist across all the religions. And they also know well how all the traditions are free to be observed and displayed in India.

Still, the centuries-old traditions are now ‘selectively’ being targeted as a result of the rise of the right-wing. 

It is important to note that such clashes and tensions have been happening for ages. The intensity may increase or decrease by a few notches. Till the time we address the larger issue of law and order, it will be difficult to stop the clashes but what to do with people out there who cry louder these days spreading more toxicity in the society.