Kathua

Unnao

Indian flag

BJP

Amit Shah

Narendra Modi

Never before have Indian flags been waved around in support of alleged rapists. India has changed.Gohug your parents, your nephews and nieces, your siblings and your friends. Hug your children, especially your daughters.You know, it isn’t safe anymore. The gang-rape and murder of an eight-yearold child in, the rape of a woman in, and the custodial death of her father — these are not the first incidents of their kind in India by Indians. Yet, it’s not the same anymore.Never before have you been this powerless and alone. Never before have Indian flags been taken out and waved around in support of alleged rapists. Now, if your child gets raped, it is likely that it will be you against a mob waving the, chanting, “Bharat Mata ki jai”, and “Jai Shri Ram”. That isn’t a battle you are going to win. India has changed. The odds are against you. They’re against you and your child.Never before has it happened that despite tremendous media coverage, a chief minister has not felt the need to even be seen to be doing something. Especially a chief minister who until a few days back was defending the spate of ‘encounters’ under him. He said: “It is unfortunate that some people are showing sympathy toward criminals. This is dangerous for democracy.” In Unnao, it took days to even get an FIR registered against aMLA accused of rape. He has not been arrested even now, and has been photographed grinning and visiting the office of the UP chief minister. He even told the media that accusations had been made against Shri Ram too. That’s twice in a month that Lord Ram has been invoked to defend alleged criminals.Until a few years ago, if your child had been raped, you would have to fight a dysfunctional and indifferent system. Sometimes ordinary citizens prevailed. No chance of that happening against Shri Ram and his modern army/mob.The prime minister of the country, the person who coined slogans like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao and sought your vote because enough attacks had happened against women (“Bohot hua naari pe vaar, abki baar Modi sarkar”) has not said a word on the matter., the BJP chief, when asked a question on Thursday, said he would not answer on the street.Understand the significance of this. Politicians are extremely intelligent creatures. They do whatever is required to ensure their survival. Bothand Amit Shah understand that they don’t even need to sayanything against these incidents to stay in power. They understand better than anyone that India has changed. Where is the need to speak for the pain of children who have been raped when you are the self-proclaimed proprietor of Bharat Mata and Sri Ram? They know that they no longer seek votes from citizens; they seek votes from mobs. Mobs won’t be happy if they speak out against rape.In Jammu, the State Bar Association (of lawyers) took out a march in favour of those accused of rape, and did not allow the chargesheet to be filed. Lawyers’ associations are a powerful, influential pressure group, even in small cities. What can the loved ones of a raped and murdered child possibly do to fight large groups of patriotic and religious lawyers?There is no outrage on the streets, and no candlelight marches. One would expect that after such gruesome incidents and brazen and shameless displays of power, public opinion will turn one way — against the powerful. But, India has changed.We are asked: “What is Modi ji and Yogi ji’s fault? Have they committed the rape?” These questions were not out in favour of Manmohan Singh or Sheila Dikshit. Citizenry has now irreversibly transformed into a mob. The mob worships its leader. Everything else is secondary. Even the rape and death of a child. Even when the rape accused is a BJP MLA (in Unnao), and BJP ministers are coming out and speaking in favour of the accused (in Kathua).In the past, you could rage and rant against Manmohan and Dikshit, and your fellow citizen would most likely express sympathy and support. Not anymore. You are allowed to grieve the rape and murder of your child, but you are not allowed to point fingers and demand accountability. You must pretend that no one was responsible for law and order. Modi ji’s reputation is more sacred than your child. Fingers must not be pointed at him. Grieve, pretend no one did it and move on if you want the support of your fellow citizens.You are alone now. Whatever identity group you draw a sense of belonging from — religion, nationality, profession —no one will come out to support you. Your odds are terrible and your days are numbered. Go hug your child. If and when the terrible news comes, at least you won’t have to regret not having done that.