Concocting enemies

Concocting enemies

The list of ‘‘anti-national activities’’ in this country gets longer. A new addition has come to light in the rubble of Kutch thanks to Nalin Bhat. He is a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and it is a wonder how even in the midst of death and catastrophe, and with his heavy responsibilities as chairman of the state electricity board, he manages to keep a sharp eye open for ‘‘anti-national’’ mischief. But he does and the method he uses is, unfortunately, quite common. The easy way to spot trouble is to start with the preconceived notion that anything the minorities do is suspicious. So Bhat decides it is ‘‘anti-national’’ for a journalist to report and, by implication, for a minority group to protest about unfair treatment in relief operations. It does not matter that the report is accurate and can help remedy possible shortcomings in relief operations by bringing them to wider notice. The mere writing of such a report offends Bhat and he takes action. He prevents the journalist, an Indian Expresscorrespondent, from filing any copy from the Bhuj media centre and he tries to justify this egregious act of censorship later on by saying Kutch is a sensitive border district.

If only Gujarat’s political leaders were more sensitive to real social problems instead of concocting enemies. Someone should ask Nalin Bhat what he thinks of caste segregation and prejudice in the Kutch town of Adhoi also reported in this paper. For all the heightened concern that he and others express for the nation, they have not been heard to condemn caste practices such as those observed among the quake affected in Adhoi. Those who perpetuate caste differences and discriminate between people on grounds of caste or religion do terrible harm to the social fabric of this country. It is deplorable that separate kitchens have to be set up for Dalits, Patels and Brahmins and that Dalits have to sleep in the cold in the open because the upper castes object to sharing tented space with them and, being powerful, get the first choice of tents.

Social prejudices are not going to disappear even in the midst of common suffering. Therefore, the Gujarat government should take special steps to ensure that there is no discrimination, no double standards, no false priorities in the relief operations. Money and material have been pouring into the state from official and private sources, corporates, individuals and charities. Many donors will monitor the use of their funds directly. Many others are not in a position to do so. Taxpayers must be assured that funds will be efficiently and fairly spent. It is essential for the government to prepare a rehabilitation policy and to make it public as soon as possible. This has been found a necessary and useful practice in other areas of major disasters such as Latur in Maharashtra. A declared policy will help in the coordination of relief work and of the rehabilitation plans of the public and private sector. The people of Gujarat ought to know exactly what the government is doing today and planning to do tomorrow.