–Sami Ahmad
PATNA | Imagine how would the so-called national media react to someone stating, “I announce a bounty of Rs. 10 crores for whoever cut the tongue of XYZ”.
This is exactly what the so-called Jagadguru Sant Paramhans of Ayodhya has announced for Bihar’s education minister Chandra Shekhar who recently stated in a convocation that ‘Manusmriti’, ‘Ramcharit Manas’ and ‘Bunch of Thoughts’ as the three books which spread hatred towards 85% of the population.
Yet there is no condemnation of the violent statement of the so-called Sant. Instead, the Godi media is fueling to the demand that the said minister be sacked.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has not taken these demands very seriously telling that he had no
information about the minister’s statement and that he would ask him what he had said.
In a viral video statement of Sant Paramhans he can be heard saying, “The way Bihar’s education minister has described Ramcharit Manas as a book spreading hatred, the entire country is hurt by that.
It is a disrespect of all the Sanatanis, all Hindus. And for this statement, I ask for legal action.
Within a week he should be sacked from the ministerial post, and he should tender an apology. If this does not happen, I announce a bounty of Rs. 10 crores for whoever cut the tongue of Bihar’s education minister Chandra Shekhar.”
The statement of Delhi University-educated Professor Chandra Shekhar who is a three-times MLA from Madhepura is being misused to declare his party Rashtriya Janata Dal as anti-Hindu. He has beaten stalwarts like Pappu Yadav, president of the Jan Adhikar Party and Nikhil Mandal the grandson of Mandal Commission chairman BP Mandal.
Leading the mischievous and vitriolic attack, Bhartiya Janata Party’s Rajya Sabha member Sushil Kumar Modi said that Lalu Prasad-led RJD is an ‘anti-Hindu organisation.’ He even demanded that a case of treason should be initiated against the minister. He recalled that RJD’s state chief Jagadanand Singh had some days back issued a statement against Ram Mandir. It may be stated that he had said the Ram Mandir was made on hatred.
Leader of opposition in Bihar Assembly and BJP senior leader Vijay Kumar Sinha alleged that the statement of the state education minister was a conspiracy to engulf Bihar in the fire of hatred asking chief minister Nitish Kumar to sack him.
Leader of opposition in Bihar Legislative Council Samrat Chaudhary that the RJD leader has hurt the sentiment of Hindus and he should be sent to the Koilwar’s mental hospital, stating that if need be he would foot the bill.
Far away in Delhi, one advocate Vineet Jindal has sent a complaint to the Cyber Crime Unit of Delhi against the minister stating that his statement was ‘provocative, inflammatory, derogatory, and inciting with regard to the holy book of Ramcharit Manas with the sole motive to hurt Hindu sentiments. It was not only the BLP leaders but its allies like Chiragh Paswan, son of late Ram Vilas Paswan, too trained his gun on Professor Chandra Shekhar claiming that this statement would cost the chief minister dearly in the elections.
Trustee of Patna’s famous Mahavir Mandir, however, was not so attacking in reaction to the minister’s statement stating that it was true that today’s intelligentsia has some objection to some lines of the Ramcharit Manas but he declared the epic as a top poetry of love and harmony’. He said that the line to which objection is raised is put out of context and in a distorted way.
Professor Chandra Shekhar got some support from his party RJD. RJD’s spokesperson Ritu Jaiswal put the party’s stand and said that the minister made his observation for an equitable society. She said that the minister has raised his opposition to the teachings of inequality.
Chennai’s educationist Doctor Alpna Singh too expressed her solidarity with Chandra Shekhar stating that she was proud of him. She penned a poem in his favor in which she says, “our leader will reveal all the secrets enlightening us. “
Despite all the brouhaha and criticism Professor Chandra Shekhar is standing by his statement. He clarified in a tweet stating, “I oppose that Ramcharit Manas that tells us that barring a particular caste all are mean! Which teaches that we should beat the Shudras and women like a drum! Which educates us to worship a worthless Vipra (Brahmin) and to humiliate the worthy Dalits considering them Dalits.”
He said that there is a sea of a difference between Ram and Ramcharit Manas.
It may be mentioned here that two ministers belonging to RJD had to quit their posts during this term of chief minister Nitish Kumar. If this pressure to sack this minister is not thwarted this would be the third such case which would embolden the BJP and the Godi media. For now, minister Chandra Shekhar seems to be firm. He said, “My statement is in favour of the Bahujans and I will stand by that. I give a damn to the reactions of Bapu’s killers and who bow seeds of hatred and casteism in the country.”
Some political observers say that such statements are better avoided for political gain as ‘he may befactually correct, but he is politically incorrect.’ But there are others who say that it is not a good sign to shy away from stating the reasons for the miserable status of non-upper caste people. There is yet another set of people who think it would be more useful if such statements are issued by Dalit leaders like Jitan Ram Manjhi. Mr. Manjhi has issued earlier statements condemning the role of Pujaris.
It would be interesting to note what turn this episode takes and to what extent the BJP plus Godi media use this to put pressure on Nitish Kumar and finally, make it a political tool to garner votes.
