Debate on Dissent: Are the Champions of FoE hypocrite ?

Freedom of expression is a new topic of debate across the world and being sold like a hot cake on different media platforms mainly instigated by so called liberal social justice warriors (LSJW). However, if one observers carefully, many hidden faces of those so called liberals are bound to emerge.

On this very note, I would like to publish this blog relating FoE debate to social media commotion ascribed to a specific recent controversy and its subsidiaries.

A few days back, social media was on a rampage following the incident of DU where some ABVP members allegedly bashed up students from communist inclined AISA who allegedly repeated the separatist chants of “Kashmir Mange Azadi”. The chants, may however be of utmost irk for the mass of apolitical people genuinely believing in the sovereignty of the nation and bereaving families of the martyred soldiers , is a perfect spice for sparking the “Nationalism” debate and as a counter-action it is instrumental in stirring up the obtuse debate surrounding dissent. Such debates, no matter how they end up adding value to our day to day life, surely work as a tantalising nutrient to both main stream and social media.

However, like all similar controversies this too left a trail of protrusion, in form of a vehement, belligerent display in Social Media when Gurmeher Kaur episode popped up. The liberal gang saw a “messiah” in her to pursue their agenda, and all hell broke loose for the Right wingers who either harshly criticised her , mocked and abused her. Allegedly, she even received rape threats, following which abuse and counter-abuses clogged SM space, turning this entire matter into an impudent display of sombre mood of the country.

The ugliness intensified when Virender Sehwag ,in his own words tried to be facetious by tweeting his own picture holding a banner which literally translates into a harsh criticism of Gurmeher’s slide “Pakistan Didn’t kill my father War did” , the matter didn’t remain waggish anymore. The revulsion from the liberal gang amplified when actor Randeep Hooda re-tweeted the same and openly justified Sehwag’s  tweet and also went on to criticise the controversial slide of Gurmehar.

My observation on hypocrisy of the so called liberals started right there. Although administration shouldn’t show impunity to any threat-mongering elements and abusers should equivocally be condemned, a question lingers that why all the dissenters to the agenda of these “Liberals” are called names? Surprisingly in such matters,these “Left-Liberals”, are self-contradictory and perilous to the entire debate because this attitude. Uncountable number of times I have heard of “Mockery” and “Sarcasm” being useful tools for these “Left-Liberals” turned comedians on TV debates, who justify the art of tweaking the word in use of their social justice war (read attention seeking) . It’s also emphasised that sarcasm is often the biggest form of FoE , and anybody getting offended or raged by their act is intolerant. Well, this narrative gives rise to the fundamental question. What sort of FoE do they believe in? As far as the common sense goes, FoE should be a both way transmission. If someone has a right to offend, the other party has the right to be offended and place a rebuttal. This argument and counter-argument could go on for eternity within the frame on peaceful FoE isn’ it? Then why the “Left-Liberals” turn their back to this simple rationale.

Moreover, coming back to the context, an act of mockery and criticism to one of Gurmeher’s slide created huge ruckus among this “Left-Liberal” gang. Even self-proclaimed eminent journalists started calling them misogynist , even though there was no mention in anybody’s statement about any gender. This horrible trend went on as one self-styled investigative journalist, a known terrorist apologetic,started stereotyping and defiling their state Haryana and their community .Internationally acclaimed athletes including the famous "Phogat Sisters" who jumped into the defence of their state,were ridiculed and harassed by an elite “Shayar” as “Illiterate”. 

Dear readers, isn’t this attitude preposterous? I often find it so. Question however remains valid, why the champions of FoE , advocating criticism and sarcasm every now and then suddenly become so “intolerant” when the wind starts blowing from the other direction . Another follow-up question rises, why suddenly they start playing “victim card” citing the age of the girl in the epitome of the debate on an open SM platform. Keenly if you observe, the other side, may be highly impulsive but hardly cries victim on realising that masses are not on their side.

Well, thinking from all sides, the reason I find is that the cry of “Left-Liberals” on the issue of FoE ,is an excuse to represent a one way FoE, the one suits their agenda , which in turn is nothing more than pettifogging for the ego of the champagne sipping elites’ establishment of New Delhi, who thought to have monopoly over truth for decades and are duly rattled by the rise of “stupid common man” on SM platform.

So, let the dissents and the debate on dissent both go on but the fact of the matter is, as long as the narrative of the “Left-Liberals” remains like their dissent is good dissent but others’ dissent is “intolerance” ,  the volition of the true dissenters will triumph.The self-righteousness of the armchair critics may rest in peace for a longer period of time.

2 issues where Narendra Modi might be securing his Govt.'s demise in 2019

Dear readers,as you all know,the country has recently been rattled by two incidents. The first one is , elimination of a prime terrorist Burhan wani , who has been the poster boy of Hizbul Mujahideen in Kashmir, ennobling this Pakistan funded war, using social media.The second one is bashing and derogating of dalits in different parts of India by self-proclaimed of Cow Vigilante.

Readers, It might surprise you a bit.Seeing the start of the writing this way , you might find it a little difficult to relate these topics with the title.Hence let me just start with the second point first , since it's emanating more latest reactions across the country and then it will definitively be more fathomable to relate it to the topic of the blog.

On one hand we proudly blabber about rising GDP,skyscrapers and digital India , whereas on the other hand, the rotten continuation of racist acts towards so called lower castes a.k.a dalits , is too a fact.Such malpractices have divided the society, especially the Hindu society so far apart that a Hindu society in many places of the country inherently draws "Jaativaad" i.e caste-ism to its core and this has been happening for no less than a thousand years. A latest addition to this is resurgence of so called "Gau-Rakshaks" i.e Cow Vigilante group who have taken up the sole responsibility of rescuing "Gau-Mata" from the alleged perpetrators. As a result, dalit people are getting beaten up, humiliated by such gangs.Now this has created a huge media highlight and left a broad political playground for political opportunists  to cajole their tricks, since they find it easy to formulate a new "intolerance" saga and impose it on Modi Govt. However , I believe, no rational being gets be-fooled by Huge MSM outcry of portraying their common and soft target RSS-BJP and Modi as sole responsible for such hooliganism,since its on record, on many occasions earlier,during rules of other parties such atrocities have happened . Wherever these self proclaimed radicals gain some manpower , they conduct such nonsense. Time and time again govt. or local authorities have failed to eliminate them, and yes some part of responsibility goes to current govt. as well.

Well, till this point the problem was one sided, Modi Govt. was getting bashed by so called liberals and MSM. Problem gained it's other side when Honourable Prime Minister condemned,mocked and vilified the vigilante group and called them anti socials in a stern manner.Right after the statements, a backlash has created a both way shocker for him . His "Be-Moderate" ideas, however may be seen a pre election attempt to mollify dalits, have not earned him any comfort in the MSM lobby .Rather the Left liberals (again so-called and pseudo often) are still not convinced about his intentions whereas , on the other side , he has started loosing ground to staunch right wing Hindutva voters group. Trust me, it is pathetic to stereotype all of them as RSS ,VHP all Bajrang Dal or even BJP activists. Many (and this number is quite high,in crores) are normal working people, students who simply believe in such Far right Hindutva ideology. I have been engaging with such people in social media for past few days to get into the point of view , and what I discerned is may be a point of concern for Mr. Modi in near future. This far-right group mocks the agenda of "Vikas" i.e development, prefers building Ram Mandir over a Bullet train , holds high regards for "Gau-Sevaks"  and literally hates PM's apparent moderate approach.Such people who had automatically voted for Modi in the past election imaging BJP as the keeper of their far-right agenda, are outright raged by his statements and encouraging people to either vote against him or to Vote NOTA via social media handles . This trend, if perpetuates and not attempted to minimize, will surely create political ground erosion for BJP on their very stronghold, the result of which may well be a deciding factor in the upcoming UP assembly election.

Readers, now coming to the second issue and trying to depict how is it intertwined with hindrance of BJP's electoral aspiration . Burhan Wani's killing by our security forces has divided MSM into two equilateral pieces more than anybody else. One part (for me blatantly) has been more supportive to the "azadi" cause of kashmiri separatists, sympathetic to the deceased terrorist and some of them have vocally stood by the terrorist gangs and their sympathizers, even have gone to extent of not willing to call Burhan a terrorist or  have termed his killing an extra-judicial one. The other part of media has maintained so called "Nationalist" approach and insisted on tackling such issues with harsh measures , as it has been the case.The issue even got critical in the reactive incidents by stone pelting crowds, where 53 civilians died, many injured , blinded from the use of pellet guns and handful of security personnel also suffered unfortunate consequences. Well considering , Kashmir issue a very complicated one, I am not emphasizing on judging right or wrong or being an analyst on post Burhan Kashmir situation, since the intricacies of the matter can never be ignored. The point I am trying to make is , after weeks of Media Cat-fight it seems to me that the Pro Nationalist media view has got upper-hand and gained stronghold over Pro Burhan-apologist view, which has been radically rejected , dismissed, dispraised and denounced by the Pro Nationalist Public view. Not to forget, just like the Far-right Ram-Mandir supporters (who happen to be a subset of this group), a high percentage of this pro nationalist community have kept faith in Modi , trusted him to be an uncompromising character till now.

Yes Readers, up until now, till an all party meeting is being worked upon to invite Hurriyat to "peace-talks" to the other side of the table. This very move can easily upset the pro nationalist community , who voted for Modi, and make them take stand against him during elections citing a soft, compromising character of the Prime Minister.It's highly probable that the opposition wants it because they have sensed people's line of affiliation towards an image of Iron-Fist Modi ,which definitely will suffer a setback if any sign of bending towards the separatists is mused upon. If so happens , it will sound evident that PM Modi will play to the hands of a provoking opposition thus depriving a prudent chunk of his supporters.

In both cases, as I explained above if an alternate line of approach is not thought about, especially on the Kashmir issue,the agenda of "Vikaas" solely might not be able to save his reign  in upcoming elections. Well, only time will tell , if Modi will be able to hold all ropes tight or not.