If you follow the ideological war that is raging in this country, Kavitha Krishnan would be a known name. True to her reputation, credentials and ideology, this is the tweet she sent out on January 19: “Please use the hashtag #ManuSmritiIrani for all posts on #Rohith Vermula. It is most appropriate”. In case you did not know, a Ph.D scholar of the Hyderabad University hanged himself to death. His suicide note doesn't directly blame anyone. But it is a known fact that he had issues with the university authorities who had “expelled” him from his hostel. Rohith was a Dalit and a left wing activist who was a member of the Ambedkar Students Association. A BJP leader from the state and union minister Bandaru Dattatreya had written a letter to HRD minister Smriti Irani in 2015 demanding action against “anti-national” activities of students like Rohit. If you believe the likes of Kavitha Krishnan, it is the anti Dalit attitude of a “fascist” party like the BJP and its leaders like Smriti Irani that hounded Rohit to commit suicide. That explains a clarion call to comrades to use the hashtag #ManuSmritiIrani.
From the moment news spread about the suicide of Rohit, it has been clear that politics, politicians and members of the “Award Wapsi” brigade will take over the narrative. Heir “apparent” and Vice President of Congress Rahul Gandhi flew down to Hyderabad to commiserate with family members of the dead student and lost no opportunity to flay the Narendra Modi regime and demand resignations and sackings. Predictably, the Aam Aadmi Party jumped in the bandwagon and made suitably aggressive anti Modi statements. The most laughable was the Trinamool Congress Party led by the mercurial Mamata Bannerjee sending some leaders to Hyderabad to join the add their muscle to the cause. “Noted” litterateur Ashok Vajpayi of Award Wapsi brigade was prompt enough to announce that he is returning his D. Litt degree awarded to him by Hyderabad University. Soon after Vajpayi made his intentions clear, TV Today journalist Gaurav Sawant interviewed him. And this is what Sawant tweeted after the interview: “Ashok Vajpayi returns his DLit to Hyd Univ after ‘Dalit’ student suicide. When I asked him if he knew the reason for suicide: I have no idea”. Yet, the suicide of Rohit and its immediate aftermath didn't expose the moral hollowness of the Left alone in this ongoing ideological war. It also revealed the sick extent to which many right wing followers of Modi and his regime would go to join the feast of vultures. Many such fans of Modi were busy saying that Rohit was actually not a Dalit and committed suicide because he was about to be exposed.
One can only mourn and wonder at the perverse levels of depravity both the Left and Eight can sink to while playing their ideological wars. But another message that was coming out from this tragedy was that it could become another “Dadri” moment for the Modi regime. The fact is that ever since Modi became the Prime Minister, a humiliated and defeated Congress along with other opposition parties has latched on to any reason (excuse) to derail the functioning of the Parliament. In a bizarre series of moves, BJP and other Sangh Parivar leaders have reveled in issuing provocative statements that would give more ammunition to opposition parties. This competitive madness has effectively paralyzed the Parliament since the end of 2014. The manner in which opposition parties ha e started insisting that Modi must sack ministers Irani and Dattatreya, it is clear that the spirit of Rohit will haunt the coming Budget session of the Parliament. Analysts and well wishers of India have been pleading with political,parties of India to at least allow the Parliament to pass many crucial bills related to the economy that remain stalled. The Indian economy desperately needs a strong message that policy making to revive investor and consumer sentiments is top priority. Unfortunately, no such message has been forthcoming.
Ideologues will keep sparring on social media platforms, streets and even inside Parliament. For people who believe that common sense more than ideology should guide politics and policy making, it is a time to wonder what the heck is happening.
