Selma said that Nehru would be first to jump into the fray. May I ask our dear
Miss Impulsive how she came to this conclusion. May I also question how much
she has read on Nehru and the Nehru-Gandhi family.
On another note, the Orissa problem has been very problematic. I have met
Gladys Steines, the widow of the slain Graham Staines, a couple of times in
Toronto. During these talks she, who also lost two minor sons, explained to me
in great details the problems facing Christians in Orissa.
For the one Dara Singh that killed Graham, there are hundreds more waiting to
do the same. It is such poorly-managed states that the Bajrang Dal and the VHP
flourish.
It is also to the credit of Christians missionaries that they have been able to
withstand the fires of hatred by the Hindu zealots who belong to these radical
outits such as BD and VHP.
Manmohan Singh cannot jump into the fray and gets himself burnt. The government
is on a weak wicket and just managed to survive the thrust vote in the
parliament over the nuclear deal with USA.
Commnentators have said that the backdoor dealings that resulted in saving the
government has made Manmohan Singh turn into a "politician" from a
"technocrat." Political wisdom dictates that the ruling government take
calculated steps in such delicate matters as communal firestorms. Manmohan's
strenght lies in having taken India to economic heights.
I agree that as a leader of the nation, Indians may look at him to be the
saviour of those at the receiving end of the communal forces. He cannot be
expect to jump into the fray at the slightest incident of communal violence.
The state machinery must first do all it can to put out the fires before the
centre can take the matter in their hands.
In a country like India, these sort of incidents will continue when we have
fundamentalist outfits. Banning such outfits would be a wise thing, but it
carries heavy political weight. The Congress could end up losing many Hindu
voters who may not like such groups but would still have some religious
affinity to the Hindu ideology.
Just a few quick thoughts. Pray that Orissa will see the end of religions.
fanaticism. When I say pray, I have not include Selma ;-)
eugene
