Mehbooba’s day of reckoning

Ever since she formed government in coalition with the BJP, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has hardly seen any moment of peace from her allied partners. Embarrassment and humiliation has become core of BJP’s agenda of governance with PDP. Nothing can be more humiliating for the PDP (say chief minister) than the public support BJP ministers have declared for the rape-accused policeman of Kathua. The reports say that two BJP ministers Chowdhary Lal Singh, and Chandra Prakash on Thursday attended a rally of Hindu Ekta Manch—a Hindu extremist platform—held in support of the accused in the Kathua rape and murder case. Lal Singh is reported to have called it a ‘war’ and assured the protestors “we are with you in this cause. We have to win this war”. It is the worst kind of bestiality to describe a serious human issue as “war”. “War” between whom? A hapless 7-year old Muslim girl has been put to the worst kind of brutality—raped and murdered later. A policeman alleged to be found involved in the gruesome case has been arrested by the police, who, incidentally, is a Hindu. That is all what makes the case for BJP minister and Hindu Ekta Munch. They want to shield the accused only for his religious leanings. Demanding handing over the probe to CBI is only to put pressure on police to go soft on the accused. It is also perhaps for this fact that CBI is alleged to have bungled earlier the Shopian rape and murder case of two women. A sort of thinking must also be ticking the minds of the protestors that BJP, for being a ruling party at the centre, could prevail on the CBI to hush up the case. Whatever the reason, it is beyond doubt that the protestors see nothing criminal in raping and murdering a girl child more especially if the perpetrator is their co-religionist and the victim outside their religion. What is more shocking is the supporters of the alleged rapist were carrying Indian national flag while demanding his release. It is a moment of reckoning for the chief minister to take note of the activities of her allied partner. She is ignoring the anti-Muslim activities of the BJPO at a huge price. It is widely believed that the nomad girl was kidnapped and murdered with the intention to spread fear among the nomads and force them to flee from the area. Police has also corroborated this notion saying Asifa was raped and murdered under a well-designed plan. By siding with the accused the BJP has only but showed its criminal and communal state of mind. For them rape and murder of a Muslim woman is not a crime. By carrying the national flag during the march they demonstrated as if it was national duty of a Hindu to commit crimes against Muslim women. This national brigade of Hindu extremists demonstrated their anti-Muslim mindset earlier also when they hit streets in hordes in Rajasthan in support of a Hindu murderer who had murdered a hapless Bengali Muslim labourer. That is the extreme degree of mental perverseness one could expect from such retarded people. Even more provocative was a BJP leader briefing media persons regarding the protest and demanding the SPO’s release. It is time for the PDP to revisit its alliance with the BJP. By aligning with communal and fascist elements, PDP is axing on its own legs. It is a grim reality that ever since BJP rose to power at the centre and in the state, serious societal crisis has erupted in the entire country. The minorities, more particularly Muslims have been pushed to a corner. Their space in public life is not only squeezing but their lives and properties have been put to public threats. That in no way augers well for the country. Saner minds in the country should feel concerned for the ideological and cultural decline that is sponsored and promoted by some insane sections in the name of religion.