More than 70 years since Independence, we as a nation haven't grown up enough to grow together

Where are we going? What have we become? Is this what we’ve learnt from Hinduism; a religion that teaches tolerance and harmony towards all? What has happened in Gurugram recently yet again proves that we, as a nation, have missed the whole humane point. Certain right-wing Hindu groups on Friday interrupted Muslims while the latter were offering namaz (prayers) at a designated open site in Gurugram's Sector 37, leading to tensions yet again. This is not the first time that communal hatred has erupted in Gurugram; several sectors of the region have been witnessing disruptions for the last few months and barely any measures were taken. The Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Gurugram, however, had opened its doors for the Muslims to offer their Friday prayers but namaz could not be offered in any of the gurdwaras. The right-wing groups creating a hostile environment for the people of a particular community or religion will only drag the country back to square one, from where it all began. Chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ at those offering namaz only shows vulnerability, and continuing the namaz despite the chants shows sanctity.

Just a couple of days back, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath – while making a veiled attack on the Samajwadi Party – had said that the nation has to decide “if the sweetness of sugarcane will grow or the followers of Pakistan’s founder MA Jinnah will cause mischief” in the State. Training his guns at the Opposition, he made a passionate case to prove that UP was moving ahead on the path of development. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had earlier in the month equated Jinnah with Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru, saying that all of them had helped India achieve Independence. The incumbent Chief Minister was apparently peeved over the recent developments involving Akhilesh that involved his meetings with Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh and Apna Dal’s Krishna Patel as part of his apparent attempts to cobble up alliances with relatively smaller parties to challenge the BJP in the upcoming Assembly elections which are due in the first quarter of 2022. Besides, there are indications that the Samajwadi Party would like to reach out for further alliances. That’s all fair game in electoral politics but the moot point here is that votes or the voters should not be mobilised by stirring the communal pot.