Errant and problematic statements by leaders of political parties are often subsequently clarified by the official spokespersons of their parties. These were their personal views, and have nothing to do with the official position of the party, such clarifications usually read. It was interesting to see next door in India, where the ruling BJP had to issue clarifications on what one of its principal national spokespersons said on live television. The spokesperson’s views aren’t our party’s views. Reads like a non-sequitur.
At the centre of the current controversy is, yet again, another mosque-built-over-a-temple claim. Tensions are running high, and that’s how they played out on live television when Ms Nupur Sharma, a national spokesperson for the ruling party spewed out some venom against our beloved Prophet (SAWS.) There was immediate backlash and Ms Sharma, as well as another party spindoctor, were suspended from their positions. Muslim – and secular Hindu – backlash has lesser and lesser returns in today’s India but what turned the tide in this incident was the sheer severity of what the mainstream leader had said, and more importantly, the fact that several Gulf countries, host to many India workers, registered protest.
What is more telling is that this wasn’t some rustic fringe leader from the cow belt but a national spokesperson coming from a westernised background, with a degree from the London School of Economics. This, truly, is the India of today, where world-class software engineers might write sparkling code for Silicon Valley, but at the same time nurse murderous ambitions in their hearts. And not be shy about expressing them either.
The BJP’s apology is half-hearted because its second-tier leadership is still shuffling its feet in fully owning the condemnation. Ms Sharma herself, though apologising for the statement, said she was paying back in the same coin, which is intellectual dishonesty; Lord Ram or the Goddess Sita weren’t being blasphemed against by the other side, only the veracity of a fountain being the site of an ancient Shiv Lingam was being contested. The bar for offense keeps falling lower and lower when it comes to the Muslims of India. Soon even calls to prayer will be considered sabre rattling.
The Idea of India faces an existential crisis.
