Some fashionably lefty pseudo-intellectuals have decided to call for mobile silence on Jan 30th, to protest against some industrialists praising Narendra Modi's pro-industry policies. Apparently, stating that India needed someone like Modi as PM for industrial growth was beyond what the said worthies could stomach.
The Hatter is mad at this. First and foremost, it's his birthday that day, and he would appreciate more calls not less.
Second, and less importantly, there's the minor issue of freedom of speech. Freedom is a two-way street. If you want to say what you want to, you must give others the opportunity to say what they want, which may not be something you like.
So, while the lefties have their right to call for mobile silence, more reasonable citizens have a right to oppose it too. So pass the word around, use your mobile twice as much as you normally would on Jan 30th. Don't forget to call the Hatter and wish him a Happy Birthday! It's not often you get to stand up for freedom of speech with that phrase.
PS: For the record, the Hatter strongly dislikes Modi's polarization policies. His industrial policies are another matter, and he runs arguably the most transparent and clean administration in the country. 2002 was a crying shame, but so was 1984, and so were all the commie atrocities in Bengal and Kerala over the years. Blatant Muslim-vote chasing is as communal as what the Hindu fundies do. Noone has a clean record there. Apparently, if you want to vote for a genuinely secular liberal economically progressive party, you don't have anyone to vote for. We must, therefore, choose on other parameters.
4 comments:
Dear Hatter, Let me begin by wishing you an advanced happy b'day:)
And this post is one that finally makes sense out of Modi in particular, and the politics of hate in general.. Everyone is equally tainted, as you said be it with 1984 or with Nandigram. So, if we must chose on other parameters, I would pick a clean and transparent administration anyday over an opaque and corrupt one.
Also, cant really find fault with the industrialists, they only said what they deem best for themselves, and the long term business potential of the country..
Thank you Piyush.
Clean, efficient and transparent - these are adjectives we can only dream about in most administrations. Democracy needs to somehow deal with the power leading to corruption issue if it is to truly be the liberating force that it claims to be.
Don't forget to have long conversations on your mobile on Jan 30th :)
Hi Dont Know who you are but just stumbled across your blog. Enjoyed reading it.
Modi may well be the undoing of India. Hitler started of as a hate mongerer who industrialised Germany. I know 1984 happened but those wounds are now healed. Also the systematic slaughter of Muslims with in your face support from the Government of this man was a first in our history. That was "persecution", never before happened in India, modern or ancient.
Don't be fooled by his mask, he is a man filled with hate and venom. And such a man is now staking a claim to the highest office in the land. Are you comfortable with that? I am not.
And the lefties are excercising their freedom of speech when they are calling for mobile silence (what does that mean anyway/. Do we all turn our ring tones off? Buildings will shake when all the Vibrators go off together. I hope AKG Bhavan falls as a result!!) As long as they dont force you to turn "mobile silent", they can do what they want.
It'll be good to hear more from you.
Cheers,
R
ranjit.nambiar@gmail.com
Thanks for commenting Ranjit.
I look at 1984 and 2002 as the same. A minority was targeted violently, and the state machinery looked the other way while the ruling party's machinery was part of the violence. Therefore, as I said in my post, I choose on other parameters.
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