I do not know who should I address this to, because I believe We, The People of India do not seem to be the ‘we’ anymore.
Over a period of constant violence, bandhs (strike), protests and gruesome scenarios of life and death, I no longer know who I turn to because every time you do turn for an answer, they just say the same thing – “It’s not my fault, it’s them.”
The death toll in the National Capital Territory of Delhi has increased to 18, which also includes Head Constable Lt. Ratan Lal. I do not know who might be right or wrong, I do not hold an opinion on whether the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) or the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is the right move from the government, or not. All I know is that the history of riots have just followed through, and the country is burning. But, what I don’t know or what I don’t want to know is what do I even say about it?
With the growing age of violence, what has also grown deep inside, I think, is the fear to hold an opinion in the first place, because the moment you hold an opinion, there comes along a series of tags.
- If you happen to favour the government then you’re Pro-Modi and Hindutva.
- If you happen to be anti-the doings of the government and pin-point a flaw, then you can be many things, for starters let’s say – anti-national, traitor or pro-Pakistani.
Every opinion you hold can be used against you because that’s the thing, you just aren’t allowed to hold an opinion altogether; unless you are a pro-goon party member and can write down an undeniably long letter of praise and the idea of ‘Akhand Bharat‘ (Undivided India) and that’s the point.
One can afford to be neutral only when the government is just. When the government picks a side, neutrality becomes nothing but a tool to validate oppression.
A Concerned Citizen,
or let’s just say,
Maybe, An Oppressed Citizen