Should Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti be sacked for her hate speech?

Should Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti be sacked for her hate speech?

Introduction:

It is definitely not the first time when a politician delivered derogatory statements using offensive remarks against a community. But the question here is that should this be allowed to continue in a country that talks of democracy and secularity? Usage of offensive remarks to incur hatred using religion as the weapon has been strictly prohibited under the Indian Constitution but it seems that our politicians gives a deaf ear to the terms laid down in the constitution. This has to stop whether it comes from Sadhvi or Congress, or AIMIM leaders; it is high time that the nasty old trick of divide and rule be sacked down to lead by example for the others to come.

Yes, Sadhvi should be sacked:

1. A minister in the ruling government that talks of secularism and intolerance towards hate speeches is not expected to use such abusive language anywhere in public or in person. It is clear that Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti propagates the idea of dividing people over religion, instilling the feeling of hatred towards other religion. Such ministers are dangerous for a secular state to function properly.

2. We have heard our Prime Minister speaking at various occasions that he would not tolerate hate speeches against any religion and this is the time when he must prove to the nation that he means what he promises to the people of our country. Expressing unhappiness over the derogatory speech is not enough to lead by example. This has to stop and sacking Sadhvi has to be the initiation.

3. Previously Giriraj Singh and Praveen Togadia of BJP used hate speeches to incur religious intolerance and Sadhvi just followed the senior leaders. Stab and apologize cannot be allowed to continue unrestricted. Her apology is nothing but regret of using wrong words at wrong time and clearly means nothing as she is not a common woman but a minister of the ruling party of the nation. PM must ask her to resign from her post instead of asking people to be forgiving lest he wants the hate mongers to continue their business. And this applies to not just BJP but other politicians as well.

4. A firebrand speaker, a vote catcher – that defines Sadleaders. But when it comes to addressing the council, the real standard comes out. Wearing saffron and putting on saintly appearances doesn’t make one a decent person, words and actions does. She has not only ashamed the union of ministers but also the saintly outlook that people trusted while voting for her.

5. Social harmony is in stake when ministers like Sadhvi are given the power to influence people. It cannot be denied that people following these politicians sometimes blindly follow their footsteps and that’s when the meaning of secularism is lost. This is how outbursts happen. An incident followed by a hate speech by communal politician is all it takes for an irrelevant incident to take the shape of an outburst.

6. We heard BJP leaders, opposing the call for Sadhvi’s resignation, saying that she is a first time minister and hails from a village-background and hence does not know how to present herself on such occasions. Should such illiterate people who have no sound knowledge of addressing the nation be given a place amongst the ministry?

No, Sadhvi need not be sacked:

1. Demands for sacking Sadhvi raise the confusion that it would be unjust on her as it is not the first time when such an incident occurred. There are similar instances or hate remarks by Congress minister and other party ministers. When they did not resign from their posts, it would be unjust to sack Sadhvi.

2. She apologized for her remarks and that could be accepted for a first timer. With a strict note that such instances should not be repeated, her apology should be accepted and the working of the House should not be clogged any further for this case.

3. The opposition hardly cares for the sentiments of the people to whomsoever it may concern. It is just using the offensive statement as an opportunity to target BJP.

4. Asking Sadhvi to resign is not a solution to put an end to offensive comments by politicians. Taking into account this incident, a last warning should be met out along with constructing strict rules of punishments for such incidents in days to come.

Conclusion:

Whether or not the ministers care, these hate speeches lay the seeds of hatred deep into the minds of people and our beloved politicians are so used to using these kind of speeches to earn votes of a particular section of people belonging to a particular community that such “slip-of-tongue” is bound to happen when they address the nation. After so many years of independence, the policy of divide and rule continues to play its part. We are free from foreign rules but are made slaves of the politicians whom we elect to power. Sacking Sadhvi or accepting her apology will determine how much the promise that BJP sold out to the people really mean to them.