Bp Peter Parapullil, Jhansi, UP
How do you see the ordinance by the Central government against selling of animals for slaughter?
It is a religiously connected ordinance and so cannot be enforced on all the citizens of India. It caters to the sentiments of only a section of the people and so cannot be imposed on others. The Constitution guarantees each one the right to hold on to his or her own religious sentiments and therefore one group cannot enforce its sentiments on other groups.
Do you think that this is an imposition of the food preferences of the high caste on others?
We can see that it is a politically motivated ordinance, because no one bothers about the cows found loitering on the roads or lying dead there. If it was connected with genuine sentiments, they would have at once honoured the dead cow, but that is not seen in any part of India. Even if it lies rotten nobody bothers about it. In north India, most of the cows are simply driven to the roads to be hit by vehicles. This ordinance has nothing to do with religious sentiments and has everything to do with politics.
Two hundred and fifty lakhs of people are employed in the meat industry, which brings in an income of seven hundred and fifty crores of rupees for India. What about that?
These things have been discussed and reflected in the media.
Is the government aiming mainly at destroying the economic power of the Muslims and the marginalized low caste people?
Yes, surely. Everything is directed at that. The poor are made poorer and poorer. They are illiterate and have nothing. The rich and the corporates are growing richer and more powerful under the patronage of the RSS.
This ordinance is going to create division and animosity among communities. Do you think that the BJP is playing the politics of polarisation?
Because of this ordinance, dislike and division will take place among the different communities of India. They want that to happen especially in States like Kerala. Their aim is to arouse Hindu sentiments so that they can renovate temples and turn them into centres of RSS activities. That will in turn help them get more votes and decimate other political groups. Demonetization was one of the tools they used to win votes in UP, but nobody paid attention to it. They have even bought up the media. They have ceased to be an independent sector that helps the citizens to form honest opinions. The Media have become subservient to the ruling party, the majority and the Sangh Parivar.
Mohammed Ikhlaq was beaten up and killed in Dadri in 2015, alleging that he had kept some meat in his kitchen. The RSS and the BJP capitalised on that atrocity. So, creating violence of that sort always helps them, doesn’t it?
In north India, they have already stopped sale of beef in public using their might and power. In Kerala and in some other parts of India people are still eating beef, but they want to stop that too. They are specifically targeting Kerala, because meat is an important part of Keralites’ diet.
Do you fear that Indian democracy is in danger?
Yes, surely. It is evident from the fact that the media has become slaves of a particular party.
The Indian Constitution envisages a humanism that embraces everyone, the rich, the poor, and the marginalized. It considers everyone equal and upholds fraternity and freedom. Do you think that the sanctity of the Constitution and its ideology are getting destroyed day by day?
The role of the Constitution is minimized. It is not given its proper emphasis. We can even say it is being destroyed. Democracy is in danger. We all are saying that. But the media don’t highlight that. The media have a duty to create public opinion, which is not happening.
Don’t we still have some media that is free and independent?
We hardly have any. The media are run by capitalists who are beholden to the ruling party.
