Posted by Dr. Gopal Unnikrishna Kurup
After 10 years in office , the swan-song sung by former Vice President Hamid Ansari on the last day of his office, wittingly it seems, has caused him to face a barrage of brickbats. The swan, suddenly, appeared to many as particolored and some what mosaic. It shows that politicians only just cover up their spots temporarily with a veneer of white correctness till the load of propriety and rectitude demanded by their office is going to be no more a burden on them. The very fact that he chose to make that contentious statement about Muslims in India being afraid and insecure, on the last day of his office indicates that he has been dying to blurt out that view for quite some time . He could be feeling relieved now after finally letting his steam out. But that also made him depart from the lofty position he had been in for so long by a fall and thud to the ground although he may not mind it believing that the fall has also shortened his distance to his community and crassness of politics.
Hamid Ansari's Swan Song.
After 10 years in office , the swan-song sung by former Vice President Hamid Ansari on the last day of his office, wittingly it seems, has caused him to face a barrage of brickbats. The swan, suddenly, appeared to many as particolored and some what mosaic. It shows that politicians only just cover up their spots temporarily with a veneer of white correctness till the load of propriety and rectitude demanded by their office is going to be no more a burden on them. The very fact that he chose to make that contentious statement about Muslims in India being afraid and insecure, on the last day of his office indicates that he has been dying to blurt out that view for quite some time . He could be feeling relieved now after finally letting his steam out. But that also made him depart from the lofty position he had been in for so long by a fall and thud to the ground although he may not mind it believing that the fall has also shortened his distance to his community and crassness of politics.
Ansari might be
resting with peace surrounded by his folks, having delivered his
simmering resentment in the form of a parting kick and thus having not
failed in thanks giving to the party which had hoisted him to the lofty
position ten long years before. In that case, he must be reminded of a
few facts.
That statement of his is similar to what Pakistan former President General Pervez Musharraf had stated as part of his attack on India and his anti India agenda internationally. Pakistan to date has been repeating that line.That India',s Vice President in his constitutional position is bearing out Musharraf and Pakistan could be to the great diplomatic discomfiture of India. Or, was that the intention of the statement?
Does he not know that this Hindu majority nation on its own has adopted the principle of secularism in its constitution? There have been three Muslim Presidents, five Supreme Court Chief Justices besides the creditable fact that the first female judge in the Supreme court was a Muslim,- Justice Fathima Beebi. Three front ranking super stars in Bollywood are Muslims besides a host of Muslim stars and super stars of the past. No cinema goer bothers about their religion. So open and welcoming are other fields and realms of political, cultural and social life in India. A political leader might ascribe his lofty position in office to people, his supporters, but surely for a man like Ansari who has seen only Rajya Sabha to become two-time Vice President can only be through the secular sentiments in the country.
It was a disappointing anticlimax acted by Ansari who among all his contemporary Muslim dramatis personae is the top beneficiary of the secular munificence in this country.
That statement of his is similar to what Pakistan former President General Pervez Musharraf had stated as part of his attack on India and his anti India agenda internationally. Pakistan to date has been repeating that line.That India',s Vice President in his constitutional position is bearing out Musharraf and Pakistan could be to the great diplomatic discomfiture of India. Or, was that the intention of the statement?
Does he not know that this Hindu majority nation on its own has adopted the principle of secularism in its constitution? There have been three Muslim Presidents, five Supreme Court Chief Justices besides the creditable fact that the first female judge in the Supreme court was a Muslim,- Justice Fathima Beebi. Three front ranking super stars in Bollywood are Muslims besides a host of Muslim stars and super stars of the past. No cinema goer bothers about their religion. So open and welcoming are other fields and realms of political, cultural and social life in India. A political leader might ascribe his lofty position in office to people, his supporters, but surely for a man like Ansari who has seen only Rajya Sabha to become two-time Vice President can only be through the secular sentiments in the country.
It was a disappointing anticlimax acted by Ansari who among all his contemporary Muslim dramatis personae is the top beneficiary of the secular munificence in this country.
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