O J’s Corner

Tolerance please!

Let us praise ourselves for India, that is Bharat, which is a functional democracy. Let us not lose this glorious position by acts of sheer intolerance. Many of our neighbours cannot boast of a political system that allows free expression of views. We have been endowed with showers of blessings for full-throated praisings or denouncements of particular views.

Let there be no choking of political expressions by muscle power. Kannur district in Kerala has been the brewing ground of political violence for a long time now. For some time, things were seemingly calm. But of late, the situation has gone haywire. Political murders and attacks have overtaken exhibition of commonsense. Seven murders within a span of a week speak ill of a healthy society.

Whatever it be, there is no justification for attacking A K G Bhavan, the CPM headquarters in New Delhi. Mind you, a large number of national CPM leaders were present at AKG Bhavan when the attack took place. A few central committee members were injured.The window-panes of the office were broken and a few cars parked outside were damaged.

Whatever the provocation, no one should attack the office of a rival party. For, attacks and counter-attacks will not solve any problem. These will only aggravate volatile situation. The attack on a political party office is akin to challenging the democratic values of a country. In fact, political leaders are responsible for nurturing tranquillity and democratic values among the people.

In a democracy, there would be divergence of views among various polities. There can be no opposition to free ride of political expressions. Policies and programmes differ. But divergent views should only add to the welfare of the people at large. People should not be treated as enemies. No political party should treat opponents as enemies. Ideologies should find expression in only propagation. These should not be imposed on anyone by force. Blood-bath will not bring in peace. Politics of elimination will ruin democracy. Political leaders are functioning freely only because democracy prevails in the country.

Ill-will, hatred and contempt will vitiate the atmosphere. Life lost cannot be retrieved. Families whose members have been murdered cannot be consoled by any means. These murders cannot be treated as political sacrifice. Who will gain, if a few people are done to death? Ordinary people get felled in political elimination.

Also, the fear-psychosis should be removed. A situation should come about where people can freely mix and mingle together. The air of suspicion should go. Let peace prevail everywhere.