Source : India Media
Wait. Let's think. We're blaming Kalvi and Karni Sena. We've raised them to the same pedestal as Khilji. We're calling them names, asking for their heads. In the process, we are protecting someone.
In the media and social media, in the theatres, on the streets, nobody, no one, is blaming either Modi or the Union govt or the BJP central leadership for the Padmavat crisis.
Where some of us showed spine, we perfunctorily blamed the CMs of BJP-ruled states, but cringed from going up the ladder.
Like the Hindi saying: Saamp bhi mare, lathi bhi na toote.
The ideology that the Prime Minister espoused as he made his way to power in 2014 is responsible for the current row. People were hoodwinked by raking up 5000 year old "facts" and blaming Congress and Nehru and RaGa for "distorting" history.
The formula was used for everything -- beef, love-jihad, ghar wapsi, hatred of Muslims, hatred of secularism, hatred or genuine nationalism, encouraging the Fatherland spirit, replacing financial corruption with cultural corruption, even toilets.
In Padmavat, yet another issue was found. The formula was applied. The Karni Sena was summoned. The Sena consists of people like Kalvi -- you throw a coin at them, they will pick it up with their teeth from a pile of shit and do your bidding or anybody's bidding.
The formula had an additional rider. It was an issue of not just honour or anybody's honour. It was about Rajput honour. That fact alone brought about a silent support from fellow castemen of various parties. Like Digvijay of Congress. The criticism was already dented.
The Sena was told to go on a rampage. The police, ever more loyal than the King, committed themselves to silence. Such is the brazenness of this formula, that even young children were used as cannon fodder. Things will only get worse in the future if this formula is allowed to be used to further a dangerous ideological cause.
The Supreme Court stood tall. It did all the right things by democracy. But even the SC -- the highest judicial altar in the country -- was sidelined. Brushed aside, literally. By Sena criminals. The judiciary was being obliquely given a message about its parameters of freedom.
When the charade worked, the drama ceased. The film got released. Maybe not in four states, but UP allowed its release. Isn't it? Chattisgarh released it. Isn't it? So how can you blame the BJP or Amit Shah or Modi? Go and blame Khattar or Raje or Chauhan who are anyway easy fodder in the current party heirarchy. Also, you can't blame BJP without blaming Congress (remember that stooge, Digvijay?).
You won't hear about this any more. The President will read out a message to the nation this evening. Tiomorrow is R-day -- the national fervour will be in full color. The media will be chanting nationalist mantras throughout the day. The glorious military pageant will be shown in loop. The might of India on display in front of 10 heads of state. Trump will congratulate India. So will Abe, Xi, Merkel. There will be more news about more cuts in US aid to Pakistan.
The only reminder of the atrocious perfidy over Padmavati will be the scars in the minds of the school children of Gurgaon.