Is India Slowly Transforming Into A Fascist State?
India has lately been
alleged to have become an intolerant state which has started to function on the
beliefs of a particular religious philosophy. Internationally, India is being
defamed as a nation that does injustice to the minorities. India, which has
forever bragged off its principles of ‘unity in diversity’ is being accused of being
the proponents of hatred and discrimination towards religious minorities. Minorities
have claimed that the unwillingness shown
by the majority to accept beliefs that contrast their own has instigated upheaval
in the social circles. The commotion in the society is seen in the forms of mob
lynching, communal insurgencies, forced conversions, religious vehemence, hate
crimes, etc. Executions
on the pretext of “cow protection” have become commonplace. Often, the
followers of a specific faith are found victimized by the self-proclaimed
vigilantes.
It is not surprising to note that the
rise of right-wing ideologies in the Indian political scene has made the matter
even acuter. With the far-right setting up a stronghold in the Indian
legislature, it has become a fear of many that India is slowly moving towards
fascism.
But, what exactly is fascism?
Fascism is a right-wing political philosophy that promotes ultranationalism, and
interests of a specific race or religion. It stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader with severe economic and social regimentation,
and forcible suppression of opposition. It might be disguised in the form of an
imposing democratic regime.
It emerged in the 1910s in Italy and was
endorsed by Benito Mussolini. From Italy, it spread to other parts of Europe. Adolf
Hitler was one of the leading fascists.
Let us briefly discuss the current
scenario that our nation finds itself in and see if it really is moving towards
fascism.
Authoritarianism
and Fraudulent Elections
Lately, election outcomes have also shown
that India is slowly and steadily becoming a one-party democracy (should it
even be called a democracy if it is a one-party system?). Elections have been
suspected to be rigged in favor of a particular party which further raises
doubts of a silent and gradual transformation towards an authoritarian state. Discrepancies
and deceit in the electoral system has also been asserted many a time but
with no independent body to conduct a fair investigation every single
contention dies out after creating some hysteria.
The government’s proposals of one-nation
one-election has also been seen as a tool to gain more control in the
government as it will be detrimental for the smaller regional parties and will
give the ultimate edge to the bigger national powerful parties. Though, it has
other benefits as well which cannot be denied, such as lesser expenditure.
Controlled
Press and Media
The last couple of years have also proven to
be a period of decline in journalism in India. Media has been severely
criticized for being partial and loyal towards the ruling party. Many crucial
issues such as corruption, educated unemployment, crime, communalism, inflation
have often been ignored by the media in favor of singing praises for the ruling
party. The lack of intent shown by the media in questioning the government for
its failed policies, lack of implementation of numerous schemes, false data,
and claimed the success that lies only on paper has raised serious doubts over
freedom of press and media in India. The debate between President Donald Trump
and a CNN correspondent at a press conference in the White House is a sight
that could never even be imagined in India as no mode of a full-duplex
communication was ever promoted by the ruling elite. Even the few interviews that
were given to select media houses were proved to be preset with questions that could
be termed as “lollipops”. The media was seen to be more interested in identifying
the variety of fruit that a leader eats instead of discerning the veracity in
the claims that he makes. Many honest journalists were seen to be victimized
for being too critical of the government.
The government is seen to be gaining more
and direct control over the media. This has become easier as well considering
the fact that most of the private news channels and presses are run by the
capitalist industrialists who have direct dealings with the government. Also,
there are some channels that are run by the politicians themselves or have a direct financial stake.
Religion
and Government Intertwined: Creating Communal Divide by Affiliating with a
Particular Religion
The rise of communalism is another concern
that has remained prevalent in recent times. The Hindu-Muslim divide seems
to be on an all-time high in the last 25 years. Minorities have blamed the
government for being biased towards them in favor of the majority Hindu
community. The government has been observed to distract the attention of the
masses from important national issues by diverting limelight towards petty issues
such as beef, azaan, interfaith marriage, etc. Such issues have led to a high crime
rate. The government has been hypocritical. It has applied its policies
selectively. Where eating beef in the North-Eastern states and Goa is a
non-issue, it takes a relevant position in states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh
and, Hyderabad. It is quite evident that the decisions and steps taken by the
government are politically motivated with vested interests.
The government has also misused the
constitution to create an air of fear among certain sections of society. For
instance, the prohibition of cow slaughter is a part of the constitution under Article
48: “Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry”. It states that:
The State shall endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle.
Mind you that this Article features in
the Directive Principles of State Policy. Rather than a right, these are
considered as high ideals or broad guidelines that governments should bear in
mind while framing policy. But the governments, via their spokespersons in news
channel debates, deliberately disinform the unaware public to instill fear in
their minds. It should also be noted that lynching over the issues of beef is
habitually supported by right-wing leaders. Every so often, informal
inquiries are conducted and innocent people from alien faiths are mercilessly
executed by the self-proclaimed Gau-Rakshaks,
who are unofficially supported by the leadership. Such cases have also come
into account where the murdered people who were carrying live cattle (many times were not cows!) were on a government grant for breeding purposes, etc.
Uneducated illiterate goons are being given free hand and, law and order are
greatly deteriorating. It must be noted that India happens to be one of the
largest exporters of Carabeef (buffalo meat) in the world.
The government spokespersons and
ministers at the highest of levels are very frequently observed to be
disparaging people of a certain religion, even those who lived 500 years ago. How
does it make sense now? If you have such strong emotion for the invaders, why
do you still trade with the British? Why use their language and dressing? Use
of Urdu has raised controversies but English resonates with one’s status symbol
and approves of their standing in the society. People need to understand that
all this is done to create a divide among the public so that they can be ruled
easily. It is done to avoid notice from other vital issues.
Disdain
for Human Rights
The Hindu-Muslim divide is also been used to
gain electoral benefit by impressing upon the people of extremist ideologies by
discouraging inter-faith marriages. Where he right to marry a person of one's choice is integral to Article 21 of the constitution, couples
of mixed marriages, especially from the economically weaker section, are often mentally
and physically tortured by miscreants in the society under the nose of the
police. Couples who happen to belong to affluent backgrounds are termed
as a case of Love Jihad.
State-sponsored Anti-Romeo squads (also called as Nari Suraksha Bal) openly spread nuisance by harassing men and women who are sitting or moving together,
without even knowing the relationship between them. The right-wing political
parties which happen to be in power deem it necessary and correct in the name
of the Hindu philosophy, which they might not have ever read.
Where the Freedom of religion happens to
be a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 25-28 of
the Constitution, state-sponsored programs such as Ghar Vaapsi legitimize conversions enticed by offering monetary
advantages.
All of this weakens the very fabric of
the Indian culture under which we have lived harmoniously for centuries.
Protecting
Corporate Power and Imposing Fiscal Sanctions over Common Man
The government, which on one hand, happens
to form tight grip over monetary transactions done by the common man is, on the
other hand, absolutely silent on the money that the parties receive and spend
in political rallies. Where the common man is bound by restrictions of cash
withdrawal from their bank accounts (white money!), political leaders and their
allies are seen enjoying a lavish lifestyle with no confines whatsoever.
Capitalism is being heavily promoted as a
few business families are getting richer day by day and the educated youth is
being exploited by availing their services for a meager income. It is a public
knowledge that where the state-run telecom company BSNL is facing heavy losses,
another private telecom company is making huge profits even by providing free
calls and data. There are only a handful of private companies whose presence can
be observed in every industrial sector. The markets are not as open as they are
theoretically propounded to be. Strict unfair economic policies are being
imposed upon people who are working their socks off to earn an honest living.
But, in the eyes of the ruling elite everybody happens to be a thief.
Ultranationalism
The ruling elite has effectively used xenophobia as a way to implement its policy of nationalism. Issues of the most significant character have been sidetracked by the government by evoking the nationalistic sentiments of the people. People are always found to fall for this trick because it is always Bharat Mata ki Jai. Talking of patriotism, even this sweet patriotic phrase has been employed as a tool to gain political mileage in the elections. Nationalism has not stayed confined to patriotism, it has transformed into chauvinism.
Suppressed
Freedom of Expression
The current era in India is a very
dangerous one. Though Article 19 of the Indian Constitution provides for
freedom of expression with certain (reasonable) restrictions but questioning
the government, standing for the right, supporting a certain section of the
society might land in one in deep trouble. One might be labeled an
anti-national, a pro-Pakistani, an urban-Naxal, etc. The government is creating an
air of fear where people are frightened to stand for their rights. The debates
have lost their essence; most of the debates on news channels today are filled
with calling names and, giving labels and tags. Today, answers to questions are
diverted by assigning labels to the askers. Asking a question has become the
sure shot way to obtain an anti-national tag. People who chose to speak truthfully
are quietly brutally silenced. The days when the pen was mightier than the
sword are long gone!
So, the question remains, is India slowly
transforming into a fascist state?
I leave the answer to your wise sense of judgment.
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