People's Democracy

BJP’s Ugly Face Bared Yet Again

Banning Fanaa Is A Fascist Action

V Srinivasarao

THE ugly face of BJP has come to the fore again in Gujarat. Modification is going on without any halts, non-stop. The current victim of their hatred campaign is the film Fanaa starring Aamir Khan. The ban on the film has got nothing to do with the film but with its hero Aamir Khan. Aamir has done no harm to the Sangh parivar but the BJP is trying to rouse communal and regional passions by describing the stand taken by Aamir Khan on the rehabilitation issue as being anti-Gujarat. They are trying to give the colour of public national sentiment to their communal agenda. This incident proves that these nasty communal elements will leave no stone unturned in scripting an issue to suit their narrow political ends. That is the reason why the film Fanaa has not been released in Gujarat so far. It is virtually banned, though there is no official announcement. BJP is practising in Gujarat what Hitler did in Germany during the Nazi rule. Instead of imposing official ban on the film they have used their youth wing Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) for carrying out the ban orders. The BJYM arrogated authority to itself and acted as an extra constitutional force by enacting virtual ban on Fanaa in Gujarat. This is not possible without government’s blessings and approval. When the BJYM announced its call for boycott of the film, nobody dared to screen it anywhere in the state. The fear of facing consequences for defying the ban looms large. Theatre owners in Gujarat openly said that they will incur losses if the ban on the film continues, but were unwilling to defy the ban fearing more losses as a consequence and therefore were prepared to bear losses. They know well it is unfair on their part not to screen the film. By this action the fundamentalists have robbed the right of people of Gujarat to watch the film, which the rest of the people in the country are enjoying. By ensuring highest collections in the first week of its release, the cine-goers of the country have rebuffed the BJP-led campaign against Aamir Khan and the film.

ISSUES INVOLVED

This illegal ban on Fanaa has thrown open many questions. There are instances in history where people boycott things in protest against government policies. But the phenomenon of government protesting against individuals is a contribution of BJP alone. It is nothing but State revenge against citizens who are having a constitutional right to exercise their protest against government. But government has no right to victimise and trample the democratic rights of an individual. People boycotting a film voluntarily is understandable but in this case they are being forced not to see the film by unconstitutional means. The future of democracy, secularism and the very humanity is under threat. This exposes the real face of BJP and sangh parivar.

Why is Modi and his ilk so angry against Aamir Khan. Because he supported Narmada Bachao Andolan,  and the  just cause of tribals who were forced to evacuate their land under Sardar Sarovar Dam. Their justified demands for compensation and immediate rehabilitation were unmet so far. Even the Supreme Court has in its remarks upheld the justified demands of tribals. The project construction may benefit lakhs of Gujaratis, but at the same time lakhs of ignorant tribals will also  loose their livelihood. Is it a sin to struggle for their sustenance? In midst of the NBA agitation, Aamir visited the dharna camp and expressed his solidarity with the tribals. This resulted in BJP launching an attack on Aamir Khan. When BJP openly demanded an apology from Aamir, he rebuffed it without mincing words saying, ‘I am happy and proud of what I have done’.

Intolerance is the one of the chief characteristics of fascism. Aamir’s stand on the issue of rehabilitation should not be seen in isolation. He lent his voice to one important section of the society in its struggle for existence. The BJP is trying to suppress the voice of the people questioning the failure in rehabilitating the displaced tribals by  branding them as being anti-Gujarat and hurting Gujarat’s pride. Talking to media, Aamir questioned “what is wrong with voicing this concern? Is the BJP trying to say it is not for rehabilitation, that no compensation should be given to a farmer who stands to lose his land?”

The issue is not between Gujarat and others. The issue is between democracy and neo-fascism. What is happening in Gujarat today is nothing but cultural policing. Famous dancer Mallika Sarabhai who has often faced saffron brigade’s wrath termed this ban as a sad day for democracy. She said "It is not just about Fanaa – the tendency is growing all over the country". The CPI(M), the only party which  came out first against the ban said in its statement “the state government is behaving as if it is above the Constitution of India  which grants the freedom of expression to every individual.”

The earlier actions of the sangh parivar also prove this. Its attack against artists like M F Hussain continue even today. Some of the Hindu terrorist groups in London recently attacked Hussain’s art exhibition. In past also, in Mumbai they attacked art exhibitions belonging to Hussain and destroyed many valuable art pieces. Similarly in Rajasthan, Bajrang Dal, the BJP's militant wing, destroyed the paintings of Lok Kala Mandal in 2004. Much earlier, they attacked Deepa Mehta's Water film shooting, forcing her to shoot the film abroad. After Gujarat massacre in 2002, the famous theatre personality Hiren Gandhi’s play “Suno Nadiya Kya Kehti Hai” was virtually banned. The BJP used force against Christian bishops under the pretext of religious conversions. This is the  type of policing they are practicing in the present civilised society. That is why Jyoti Basu rightly called them as barbarous. They act according to their own laws. Their contempt for democracy is so pervasive that in the midst of popular upsurge in Nepal for restoration of democracy, they openly sided with King Gyanendra. They wished to keep Nepal intact as a Hindu monarchy state.

The BJP’s spokespersons publicly asked Aamir why is he dabbling in politics. Does that mean the artists do not have a right to participate in public activity? “It is not his business, let him limit himself to being an artist”- this is an open warning given to Aamir by BJP. When this is the approach of the BJP, why have they enrolled so many cine artists in their own party? Did they forget this holy truth then?  Every citizen in this country including artists have a right to expression as per the Constitution. The Indian traditional philosophy of tolerance practiced and preached by Gandhi and other national leaders is shunned away by BJP.

Another most disturbing development in Gujarat is the deliberate exclusion of Muslims from the National Rural Employment Guaratee Scheme by the state government. For them Muslims or any other minorities have no fundamental rights. The underlying reason for BJP's current campaign against Aamir Khan is the fact that he is a Muslim who has spoken in defence of secularism. He is also clear about his views on Naramada issue saying that he is not against any state or the building of the dam itself. He is only concerned about rehabilitating the people who are displaced. Even though he clarified this clearly, the BJP doesn’t want to listen. They want to punish people who oppose them. Aamir Khan openly opposed BJP’s attitude on Vadodara violence. In fact he openly condemned the Gujarat 2002 pogrom. The BJP is today taking revenge on him for his commitment to secularism. It is using rehabilitation issue to rouse regional sentiments and weaken secular feelings. They have mixed communal feelings and regional chauvanism. That is why BJP units are making an issue of this all over the country. If it is really an issue of Gujarat, why Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra, UP, Chattisgharh BJP units are protesting against Aamir Khan. Most of the displaced people belong to Madhya Pradesh, but BJP doesn’t care about these people, instead they come onto streets against Aamir Khan in support of Gujarat BJP. What does it mean? Is there any logic behind the protest actions? If they had any love for the people they must support Aamir Khan in Madhya Pradesh, but the BJP has a  hidden agenda beyond people’s interest.

EYEING THE NEXT ELECTIONS

Why has BJP taken this issue at this juncture? Because there are state assembly elections in Gujarat and other BJP-ruled states in the near future. By politicising this issue they want to make electoral gains. In the last parliament elections, BJP lost much of its base in Gujarat. Half of their strength went down. It was reflected in local body elections also. Modi faced dissent voice from within the BJP in recent times. There is a strong faction working against Modi which is picking up slowly. Therefore to divert this discontent against Modi, Fanaa came in handy.

But unfortunately Gujarat Congress also joined chorus with BJP bandwagon. Gujarat Congress acted there as BJP's B Team. When Aamir Khan expressed his solidarity with Narmada displaced people's agitation, Congress in Gujarat also gave a call for boycotting his famous film Rang De Basanti. The Congress workers burned effigies of the actor. Though Manmohan Singh and central Congress leaders supported Aamir Khan, Gujarat Congress action is strengthening communal politics. Their stand is in continuation of Congress party's opportunistic policies pursued since Indira Gandhi days. As a secular party, its response to BJP's illegal ban on Fanaa should have been to openly coming to the rescue of Aamir Khan. But they acted quite opposite. This is the kind of secular politics of Congress. Will the people believe that Congress is capable of  protecting  the secular fabric of this country? It must realise that opportunistic politics not only undermines the democratic polity of the country but also puts in question the very existence of the party. But experience shows that Congress has not learnt the lessons from the past.

This is the right time to raise voice against the Modi’s brand of neo-fascism. It is the duty of not only the Left and secular parties but of all  like minded forces to support Aamir  Khan and the larger issues involved. It is very glad that almost entire Bollywood industry stood with him. Many individuals issued statements in support of Aamir. In this context Aamir is not an individual, he represents a justified cause. To support him means in a broader sense to support people, support democracy, support secularism, support patriotism.