When Concern Becomes Selective: The Politics Behind Presidential Grief
While atrocities across the country go unnoticed, the President’s focus on Bengal sparks fears of political maneuvering and the erosion of democratic values.
The selective nature of outrage raises questions about political motives, as Bengal becomes the latest battleground.
The President of India recently expressed deep grief over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident, which occurred inside the seminar hall of the facility in the early hours of August 9, has triggered massive protests across the country. The President’s statement, “Enough is enough,” was intended to resonate with the nation’s frustrations over gender-based violence. However, for many, this realization has come too late.
In Manipur, for instance, hundreds of women were paraded naked, their breasts mutilated, and their dignity stripped away. Where was the presidential outrage then? In Uttar Pradesh’s Farrukhabad, two women and a young girl were murdered and hung from a tree, but there was no national-level grief expressed. The gruesome rape of two fourth-grade girls in Maharashtra’s Badlapur also failed to move the highest office in the country. What makes the tragedy in Kolkata different?
One can’t help but wonder whether the President’s grief over the Kolkata incident is a precursor to a larger political agenda. Is this a veiled attempt to lay the groundwork for the imposition of President’s rule in Bengal, potentially destabilizing Mamata Banerjee’s government? The BJP has often been accused of exploiting tragedies for political gain, and this situation appears no different. When political leaders like Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar stand as opposition to the central government’s agenda, the President’s intervention in Bengal raises suspicions of a broader scheme.
It is commendable that the President acknowledged the gravity of the crime in Bengal, but selective empathy weakens the credibility of such concerns. Across the country, in Uttar Pradesh, where BJP MLA Kuldeep Senger was convicted of rape and murder, or during the release of Bilkis Bano’s rapists in Gujarat, there was silence. Yet, Bengal receives the spotlight. Could this be because Bengal, under Mamata Banerjee, represents a political stronghold that the BJP is desperate to break?
The selective nature of this outrage becomes even more evident when contrasted with other pressing issues. During the inauguration of the new Parliament building, a prominent female athlete accused BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh of sexual harassment, yet the focus remained elsewhere. In Manipur, the mass violence against women seemed to fall on deaf ears. The release of Bilkis Bano’s rapists, who were responsible for unspeakable crimes during the Gujarat riots, did not stir the President. Yet a singular incident in Kolkata has triggered concern. Why is that?
Many are questioning whether the President is being used as a political pawn in a larger game. The possibility of imposing President’s rule in Bengal, a move that could destabilize Mamata Banerjee’s government, raises alarms about the future of Indian democracy. The strategy could involve breaking Mamata Banerjee’s MPs to shift the power balance, potentially signaling the beginning of a broader effort to weaken the opposition.
If the BJP attempts to impose President’s rule in Bengal, it could be one of the most damaging decisions in the party’s history. The political fallout could be severe, with the BJP risking long-term damage to its reputation and electoral prospects. The party could face widespread backlash, not just in Bengal but across the country, particularly in the South and Northeast, where regional sentiments run deep.
The BJP’s approach of polarizing politics has already alienated large sections of the population. Assam’s Chief Minister’s recent venomous comments against Muslims shocked the nation, but this rhetoric is part of a larger pattern. Narendra Modi’s divisive campaign strategies, which often target minority communities, further exacerbate communal tensions. The BJP’s failure to address pressing economic issues, such as inflation and unemployment, only adds to the growing discontent.
The real crisis facing the BJP is its inability to tackle the economy. Inflation has been soaring, yet the government continues to sidestep this issue, focusing instead on distributing free rations as a band-aid solution. The upcoming elections may force the BJP to confront these issues, but for now, the party remains mired in a cycle of political manipulation and communal polarization.
As the nation watches the developments in Bengal, one thing is clear: the selective nature of political grief is eroding trust in the highest offices of the country. When tragedy becomes a tool for political gain, it is the very fabric of democracy that suffers. The President’s role is to remain above partisan politics, yet the recent events suggest otherwise. The danger of political maneuvering at the cost of genuine empathy could have long-lasting consequences, not just for Bengal but for the entire nation.
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