Another self-styled godman has been found guilty of raping a teenager. Fortunately, this time the disciples of the godman could not take the country hostage by indulging in violence. Unlike six months ago, when another godman was punished and his supporters got involved in large scale violence killing 21 people and damaging property worth crores, this time the law enforcing agencies were prepared and its timely actions foiled any attempt to create disturbances. It proves that if the government is determined to contain the hooligans, it can do it easily. But unfortunately in today’s India it has become a trend to see everything through a political prism. This is why Panchkula town was turned into a battlefield when Baba Ram Rahim was awarded life imprisonment and Jodhpur and other Rajasthan cities were peaceful during the sentencing of Asaram Bapu. In the first case, the ruling party in Haryana was scared to take action against the trouble mongers fearing a dent in the vote bank. Quite ironically, the same party, which is ruling Rajasthan, gave maintenance of law and order top priority and prevented any damage to life and property.
Why did the government in two states acted differently despite the fact that both the states are governed by the same party? The answer is simple. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Haryana earned a bad name for succumbing before a controversial religious head. It damaged its reputation badly. So the party was not in a mood to suffer the second setback within a span of six months, especially when Assembly elections are knocking at the door. This is probably the reason why the Rajasthan Government was pro active and took all possible measures to maintain peace in the state. It clearly proves that if the administration is non-biased, controlling law and order is no big deal. Miscreants are not so brave to take on an alert administration. But sadly it seems that the word non-partisan has been erased from the dictionary which our rulers are using. The trouble India is witnessing today is a result of unfair games played by the administration. This is why atrocities against the Dalits and minorities are on the rise. The perpetrators of such crimes are emboldened because they are certain that the administration will not take action. So they go on committing one crime after another. In other words, the criminals do not fear the law. As a result, India today is turning into a lawless state. Incidents of Unnao and Kathua stand as a testimony to this fact. The criminals were sure that law will not be able to catch them. So they went on with their sinister designs. If today the perpetrators of those crimes are behind bars, it is because of the popular protests launched all over India by the right thinking people, not because of our rulers. The government was forced to take action against the criminals. In the case of Asaram Bapu, the same thing happened. People’s ire against violence and disturbances has forced the state and administration to act.
This is why vigilant citizens are pillars of democracy. Democracy can’t be strengthened by merely changing the government after every five years. Democracy is more than winning or losing elections. Democracy is unique because it provides equal justice to everyone. If those in power fail to provide equal justice to all, people will have to come forward to ensure that everyone remains equal in the eyes of the law.
