(Review
of Analytical Bias, Hate & Selective Blindness of Indian media and intelligentsia
while dealing with incidences of Dalit Atrocities)
The objective of this article is not to justify
atrocities, discrimination and injustice meted out to Dalit society in India.
India is the country with huge range of castes and
creeds, some of which have traditionally enjoyed somewhat superior status over
others. Castes which are at traditionally on top spot in social hierarchy are
generally called Upper Castes and others on lowest spot are lower castes or
Dalits. The lower castes are living in pathetic condition mainly due to lack of
education, resources and social status.
Obviously, Dalits have sense of resentment and anger
for being denied fair share within social ecosystem. No one can deny the fact,
that Dalits have suffered and survived unbelievably high quantum of atrocities
and injustice from so called Upper Castes. Though scores of religious figures,
saints and social reformers have always condemned and deplored bias, atrocities
and caste based discriminations in harshest possible vocabulary available at
the time.
What is the real problem?
With spate of anti-Dalit violent incidences like Una
in Gujarat, Rohit Vemula suicide case in
Hyderabad and more such Dalit persecution news hitting headlines in Indian
media, it was need of the hour to analyze how such incidences are viewed,
analyzed and commented by Indian media and so-called intellectuals, according
to contemporary ruling political party in the state where such violence occurs.
It has been observed over last three decades, ever
since Hindutva ideology moved steadily towards political center stage in India especially
after Ayodhya movement, every Dalit related issue has been exploited by
opposition to corner RSS and BJP, whenever BJP was in formidable position or in
power at respective states.
Here, we will go through major anti Dalit atrocities since
1987 and biased interpretation of such incidences by Indian media with singular
objective of targeting Hindutva ideology.
Here are most prominent anti Dalit violent incidences
in India.
1) Neerukonda
massacre (1987- Andhra Pradesh)
Chief Minister- N. T. Rama Rao- Telugu Desam
Party
In July 1987 Neerukonda village of Guntur district experienced
large scale violence between upper caste and Dalits. Upper caste landlords from
Kamma caste attacked Dalit caste Mala, which were land labors in tobacco and
paddy farms of same village.
Neerukonda village was dominated by Kamma caste in
terms of population and land holdings. Kammas had about 200 families and the
Kammas had about 150 families. The trouble started with dispute over payment of
low daily wages to Dalit farm labors. Upper caste members had demographic edge
over Dalits. One elderly Dalit man killed but almost all houses belonging to
Dalit community torched leaving behind hundreds of people homeless.
Reactions: - No inquiry
demanded, no long march arranged, no one blamed for Neerukonda incidence.
No political party raised the issue, no legal
intervention made, no one demanded fair probe. Upper caste was traditional vote
bank of TDP hence no steps taken to convict the culprits.
Blame on Ruling Party:-
Even though ruling TDP had direct link with culprits, no one blamed it for Dalit
atrocities. No one was put on trial fearing political setback.
2) Tsundur
massacre (Chundur) (1991- Andhra Pradesh)
Chief Minister- N Janardhana Reddy- Congress
Tsundur massacre occurred in 1991 in village Chundur
in Guntur district. 13 Dalits were brutally killed by the upper-caste people in
a broad day light. A young Dalit graduate youth was earlier beaten up by upper
caste people when his feet touched an upper caste woman in the local cinema
hall. The Dalits stood by Dalit youth. It resulted into social boycott of
Dalits by upper caste landlords, causing loss of livelihood of Dalits. The
simmering tensions culminated into organized attack on Dalits killing 13
Dalits.
Reactions:- Dalits
collectively fought legal battle under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989.
Total 212 people were put on trial but all of them acquitted by Supreme Court
for the lack of substantial evidences.
No intellectual forum or movement came forward to
demand justice to Dalits. No legal interventions were filed for fair trial. No long
march arranged to demand justice to Dalits. Government took no initiative to
punish the guilty, as culprits were belonging to Reddy community, traditionally
associated with Congress.
Blame on Ruling Party:-
Though Congress was ruling the state at the time of massacre and prosecution
kept deliberate loopholes in the investigations leading to acquittal of all
accused, no one blamed Congress for this gruesome massacre.
3) Bathani
Tola massacre (1996- Bihar)
Chief Minister:- Laloo Yadav- RJD
On July 11, 1996 Ranvir Sena,
an upper caste militia belonging to Bhumihar community attacked village Bathani
Tola inhabited by Dalit community, traditionally linked to CPI (M-L). Total 21
Dalits were ruthlessly massacred including 11 women, six children and 3 infants.
FIR filed against 33 persons next day. After four long years, charges were framed
against 64 accused. Three are awarded death sentence and 20 others with life
imprisonment.
Apathy to
prosecute Ranvir Sena leadership was evedent with just one
example. Ranvir Sena founder Brahmeshwar Singh was in jail for 9 long years waiting
trial, but he released on bail and then acquitted of all charges for lack of
evidence. The man behind carnage of so many Dalits cannot be prosecuted.
Blame on
Ruling Party:- Even though ruling Laloo Yadav was conniving
with Ranvir Sena in its brutal massacres, he drew no criticism from media and
so called intellectuals for harboring terrorism. Why? Just for the reason that
he was official flag bearer of social justice? He was busy blowing own trumpet of
being social justice messiah when Ranvir Sena and Communists goons were busy in
bloodbath all over Bihar.
4) Laxmanpur
Bathe (1997- Bihar),
Chief Minister:- Rabri Devi- RJD
December 1997 58 Dalits were mercilessly killed in
Bihar’s Laxmanpur Bathe village of Arwal district. It shook the whole nation as
it was biggest mass killing in independent India. After long wait of 13 years
court awarded death sentence to 16 and life imprisonment to 10 people, but in
October 2013 all 26 convicts were acquitted by Patna High Court for lack of
evidence.
Acquittal of all accused drew sharp and violent
reactions from Bihar. State government of Nitish Kumar vowed to challenge the
verdict, but it was too late to reopen the cases.
Blame on Ruling Party:- Again no
one blamed ruling party RJD and Rabri- Laloo duo for massacre, as he was proclaimed
harbinger of social justice! Though Laloo was fetching lucrative political dividends
due to caste divide in Bihar, media and intellectuals grossly ignored his
alliance with anti-Dalit elements.
There were more such anti-Dalit massacres in Bihar
like Haibaspur(Patna): 10 Dalits killed, Ekwari(Bhojpur): 10 SCs killed,
Khadasin(Jehanabad): 8 SCs killed, Nagri(Bhojpur): 10 SCs killed,
Shankarbigha(Jehanabad): 23 SCs killed, Narayanpur(Jehanabad): 11 SCs killed,
Sendani(Gaya): 12 SCs killed, Mianpur(Aurangabad): 35 OBCs-STS killed and in
retaliation to that same number of incidences of massacres of upper caste
people executed by CPI-ML reported in Bihar.
Still no one blamed Lalu Yadav or then ruling Congress
party. Because intellectuals with disease of selective blindness and biased analysis,
always jump to inferences and conclusions as soon as incidence occurs. They
decide first whom to blame for it and then create fabricated theory to support
their notion!
5) Khairlanji
massacre (2006- Maharashtra)
Chief Minister:- Vilasrao Deshmukh- Congress
On September 29, 2006 four members of Dalit family
from Khairlanji village of Bhandara district of Maharashtra were brutally
murdered after parading naked. The land dispute triggered this gruesome
incidence. Media assumed pin drop silence. Caretakers of social justice in
Maharashtra didn’t raise the issue. The culprits had strong linkage with ruling
political dispensation, so no action was taken by Police and state government.
The whole state machinery swung into action only after Dalits took to the
streets to demand stern action against culprits.
In September 2008, the court awarded death sentence to
six people and others with life imprisonment. Later High Court commuted death
penalty to life imprisonment. It has created sense of betrayal among Dalits,
which has triggered outrage and state witnessed large scale protests demanding
severe punishment to culprits.
Blame on Ruling Party:- There was
Congress rule in Delhi and Congress- NCP rule in Maharashtra, so it was not
politically beneficial to raise the issue and build the movement against
Khairlanji massacre. Hence intellectuals and trustees of social justice turned
blind eye on Khairlanji. No one blamed Congress ideology for Khairlanji massacre,
no one linked it to Congress leadership. In Maharashtra’s notorious caste based
politics Congress- NCP has always exploited Phule- Shahu- Ambedkar’s name simultaneously
doing Maratha politics. The rhetoric of social justice is unique effective tool
to target non-existent communal politics (Read Pro-Hindutva Politics).
6) Nadia
Dalit Muslim riots (2015- West Bengal)
Chief Minister:- Mamta Banerjee TMC
On May 04, 2015 Muslims attacked Dharmaraj Mela
procession mainly participated by Dalit Hindus of village Naoda and Juranpur in
West Bengal’s Nadia district. The organized attack was carried out by Muslims
when procession approached local mosque in Juranpur. Later Muslims attacked and
torched both villages. Total 5 Dalits died and 8 more injured. The rioting
Muslims had strong political patronage of ruling TMC.
Blame on Ruling Party:- Nadia riot
is exemplary case of biased media and selective blindness of Indian
Intellectuals. Though Dalits were attacked, killed and looted, there was total
media blackout of the news, no intellectual or group of intellectual raised
voice against attack on Dalits. No established saviour of Dalit cause took
follow of for justice to victims.
No one blamed Mamta Banerjee led ruling TMC for
atrocity on Dalit as Dhimmitude (sense of being ruled by Islamic ruler) is
fundamental characteristic of Indian intellectuals.
On the contrary, many seculars blamed Dalit Hindus for
attacking Muslims.
Let’s Look at This:-
All the 6 Dalit massacres mentioned aforesaid occurred before Modi led BJP- NDA
government assumed power in Delhi in May, 2014. Since May 2014, no large scale
anti-Dalit massacre reported in India so far. But, Dhimmitude (sense of being
ruled by Islamic ruler) selective blindness and ideological bias are peculiar
characteristic of Indian media and intellectuals. While analyzing social
conflicts, they have their own definitions, notions, theories and methodologies.
For the Indian media and intellectuals, if Muslims commit violence against
Dalits, it is communal violence. If ruling party in the state, where anti-
Dalit violent incidence reported is non- BJP, non- NDA, then the incidence is
“minor social conflict”. When anti- Dalit or Dalit related anything happens within
BJP ruled state, it is atrocity on Dalit; it is Hindutva design to exterminate
entire Dalit population.
The Twisting
Technology
Rohit Vemula Case:
- The master manipulators deeply entrenched in Indian
media and intelligentsia, periodically changes the narrative of every
incidence, based on the goal to be achieved, the party and ideology to be
targeted and social divide to be created. We can go through chronology of Rohit
Vemula suicide incidence, to find out methodology of master manipulators.
Rohit Vemula’s suicide was most unfortunate incidence.
He left behind suicide note; there was no mention of elements, factors or
persons responsible for his suicide. On the contrary he particularly mentioned,
no one was responsible for his suicide. Ignoring the facts, within few hours of
his suicide, the whole media and opposition painted his death as incidence of
Dalit persecution by BJP led NDA. The irony was that ruling TRS was not NDA
alliance. The whole hell broke loose on Modi government. Entire opposition
ranging from Rahul, Karat, Yechury, Kejriwal, Mulayam, Nitish and Laloo packed
their baggage for sadistic tourism to Hyderabad to protest against Dalit
Persecution. They demanded Bandaru Dattatreya and Smriti Irani’s head for Rohit
Vemula.
They arranged protest marches all over India to demand
justice to persecuted Dalits from Hindutva ideology. Delegations stormed
Hyderabad to expose RSS -BJP’s so called anti-Dalit behavior.
Rohit Vemula’s suicide was absolutely personal act
without any Dalit- non Dalit angle, but entire opposition discovered golden opportunity
in it to push RSS-BJP to the walls on Dalit issue. The strategy paid off rich
benefits throwing BJP-RSS on back foot. The ruling coalition became apologetic
without any direct or indirect involvement in Rohit Vemule suicide.
Una Dalit Attack- Gujrat:-
In July 2016 Dalit youth were taking dead cow for skinning. Traditionally
Dalits do it. Some people affiliated to less known group dedicated to cow
protection attacked Dalit youth for so called cow slaughter, which they didn’t
commit and mercilessly flogged them. The video went viral, triggering huge Dalit
protest all over Gujrat.
About 20 people arrested so far, out of which 2 are
Muslims. Some sections in media reported that influential Congress leader was architect
of attack on Dalits in Una, to create anti-BJP sentiment in Gujrat prior to
next year state assembly elections.
The mammoth rally was arranged from Una to Ahmedabad
by AAP leader Jignesh Mevani. As it was well known fact that AAP is trying its
best to establish its foothold in Gujarat, it reaped rich harvest of unrest
from Una incidence. There is ample room to believe that AAP deliberately fueled
Dalit unrest with political goals in mind.
Affiliation of Una Culprits
with RSS or BJP is not on record. The group behind Dalit flogging is independent
one. Still RSS and BJP are at receiving end. None from main stream media or
Dalit cause advocacy groups are talking about involvement of Muslims youths in
Dalit flogging.
State Government Action
against Una flogging culprits was sharp, fast and stringent. State Police CID
arrested all accused within short period and investigation is on to nab more
culprits. But, UP and Gujarat elections are round the corner, all political stake
holders are leaving no stone unturned to corner BJP and RSS for so called increasing
anti-Dalit violence across the country.
The Congress-
Leftist Ecosystem Under Threat
Since independence, Indian political and social
ecosystem was largely occupied by Congress rulers and leftist intellectuals. It
was symbiotic relationship. While Congress held power in center as well as in
majority of the states barring few exceptions, leftist intellectuals, research
scholars, academicians, historians, writers and media men held sway over India’s
intellectual field.
This ecosystem bit disturbed during BJP led NDA under
Vajpeyee ji’s rule from 1996 to 2004. But being minority government, the
leftist influence over intellectual field largely remained unharmed. It received decisive blow in May 2014 when
Modi stormed Delhi with huge majority, making him strongest ruler after Indira
Gandhi. He has no compulsions, which Vajpeyee had. With brute majority in hand PM
Modi launched blitzkrieg to uproot leftist influence over India. His
actions witnessed mass exodus of leftists intellectuals holding positions on powerful
institutions for decades.
As a result, consistent efforts and conspiracies are
being hatched against RSS- BJP to malign their ideology and to tarnish their
image as flag bearer of Indian society and culture.
The compulsions of regaining lost left legacy are
forcing them to create hype on Dalit and minority related issues.
Conclusion
1) Indian
media and intelligentsia are highly biased and it has nurtured deep hate for indigenous
Hindutva ideology.
2) When
Dalits suffers atrocities from Muslims, Indian media turns blind eye assuming
shameless silence, fearing Muslim backlash.
3) When
Dalits came under attack during any non- BJP or Congress rule, Indian media
ignores it to safeguard interests of ruling party.
4) Under
BJP rule, every negative thing whether it is Dalit atrocity, minority rights
issue or women rights issue, it is attributed to BJP and Hindutva ideology.
5) There
is undeclared, informal code of conduct in Indian media which compels intellectuals
and media personalities to ignore and cover-up every sin committed by Muslims
and Christians while blowing everything out of proportion having connection
with Hindutva ideology.
6) Henceforth,
even minor incidence related to Dalit and minority will be portrayed on
national level to target Hindutva ideology.
The analytical bias and selective blindness will continue in India, as war has been declared by vested interest groups against BJP led central government, for driving them out from their ancestral positions. So, wait for next incidence...
