What is it that makes Babul Supriyo so immune from the ‘Anti-national’ rhetoric which Rahul Gandhi would have been subjected to?
“I have eaten beef. I have gone to a mosque. I have Pakistani friends.” No. these are not the statements by the so-called ‘Anti-nationals’ nor is it made by any ‘Pak-sympathiser’. These are the statements made by Babul Supriyo. Yes, A BJP MP from West Bengal’s Asansol.
Recently, during a conclave organized by a mainstream news channel Babul Supriyo openly admitted that he has eaten beef, he has been to a mosque and has Pakistani friends! When I heard his statement, the first thing that hit my conscience was what would have happened if the same statements were made by some other political leader, say for example Rahul Gandhi?
Now, imagine the kind of reactions Rahul Gandhi would have garnered if he, with the same openness and ease as Babul Supriyo, had said, “I eat Beef”. This one statement would have been enough to brand him Anti-Hindu in no time and for the eager news channels to come up with creative hashtags. Wouldn’t he be blamed for his Italian ancestry? Not to mention the scores of ruling party leaders that would have asked Rahul Gandhi to come out “clean” on this issue. In the name of beef, Akhlaq was killed in Dadri and Alimuddin Ansari in Jharkhand. Honestly, Rahul Gandhi would not have met the same fate as them but wouldn’t he be hounded by the trolls? It has become so common to thrash people verbally or physically that even actress Kajol wasn’t spared when a video made by her friend in which she was having beef had gone viral. The scores of abuses and the amount of hatred Rahul Gandhi would have received is unimaginable. To give a context to this BJP’s CM pick in Karnataka- BS Yeddyurappa had recently claimed that Rahul Gandhi had chicken before visiting a temple.
Consider the next statement, “I go to a mosque”. Any Indian be it of any religion is free to go to any place of worship and worship anyone they want to. But if Rahul Gandhi had gone to a mosque, he would have been called Italian and he ‘Anti-Hindu’ rhetoric would still play out, with more vigour. He would have been accused of ‘Muslim-appeasement’ too.
Now, imagine if Rahul Gandhi had said that he has Pakistani friends? All hell would have broken loose. Union Ministers would have come out condemning him. He would have been branded an ‘Anti-national’ and would have been asked to go to Pakistan. He would have been called someone who is not grateful towards Indian Army’s sacrifice and might well be called a ‘Pakistani agent’.
But, as far as Babul Supriyo is concerned, he will still not be among the so-called ‘Anti-nationals’ and he will still not be asked to go to Pakistan or prove his nationalism.What is it that makes Babul Supriyo so immune from the ‘Anti-national’ rhetoric which anyone else would have been subjected to? It is the Hypocrisy running deep under the cover of nationalism. It is time for the people to open their eyes to this reality.
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