HAVE YOUR SAY: Why blame only Biharis

New Delhi, November 7: So Biharis are again in the news. And why would they won’t be. After all, they are a handy tool in the hands of politicians when it comes to politics of hate.

There is a new dimension to the great Indian political drama. Move over politics of caste and religion, here comes the politics of region. The ‘hate Bihari campaign’ is out in the open again. But there is much more to it than meets the eye.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, New Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit and Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh have all shown their narrow and divisive politics to gain political dividend.

Democracy no doubt has been the best thing to happen to India. But there is a flip side to it too. And that is vote bank politics. ‘Hate Bihari campaign’ is nothing but a by-product of such politics.

We Indians miss no opportunity in crying racism and the hate attacks against Indians is a huge turn-on to the otherwise indifferent Indians. Just a casual look around would be enough to discourage us from pointing fingers to others.

Indians in general lack civic sense and this is like stating the obvious. But still New Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit singled out Biharis for mucking up the national capital. Well, Sheilaji it’s no just about Biharis. Every other Indian is lax about public cleanliness. Being the Chief Minister of the national capital, at least mind your words. This is the least that one can expect.

Raj Thackeray, the self-proclaimed champion of Marathi rights, spewed venom against North Indians and reaped a rich political dividend out of it. The decent performance of the MNS in the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly elections could bring out more Chauhans.

The response of political establishment, civil society groups and law and order machinery to such divisive agendas has been pathetic to say the least. We as individuals have failed in standing up to such leaders who are still pursuing the British policy of divide and rule.

The hate campaign is a mix of several factors which includes urban immigration, poverty, and lack of governance, the law, citizenship and parochialism.

How is it that political thugs just stand up and make a mockery of the constitution and the federal structure of India? Why can’t they be nipped in the bud so that they don’t set an example for other leaders to indulge in such gimmicks?

First, let’s be very clear about one thing. Here we are not talking about just Biharis. They are not only Biharis rather they are poor. The taxiwallahs, small time shop owners become the soft targets since they don’t have money. They are just a tool in the hands of politicians sitting on both sides of the spectrum.

Big cities attract crowds no matter what you do. Whether it be Indians moving in India or going abroad. The lure of a better life is too tempting for people to move out of their native place. Nobody does it by choice. Big cities provide better opportunities and are getting thousands everyday. The lack of urban planning is indeed a genuine problem which deserves special attention. There is a shortage in water and electricity, over crowding of streets and garbage piling up. But alas, our leaders are too busy with their hate campaigns.

It’s painful moving out of your native place, away from your loved ones. A Bihari leaves Bihar with the only intention of seeking a decent life for themselves and their family. And that is the only reason for migration whether it is to Delhi, Mumbai, Bhopal or America, Australia and Britain.

The real problem is of uneven development. A strong political will is the need of the hour to take the states which are lagging behind along with the rest of India.

Bihar’s contribution in the Indian freedom struggle has been immense with outstanding leaders like Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, Sri Krishna Sinha, Dr.Anugrah Narayan Sinha, Brajkishore Prasad, Mulana Mazharul Haque, Jayaprakash Narayan, Satyendra Narayan Sinha and many others.

Bihar is one of the most sacred place for various religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Islam.

Biharis have excelled in al walks of life and made India proud. There are innumerable Biharis who helped India register their presence globally. With a $104 million pay packet in 2008, mobile phone maker Motorola's Bihar-born chief Sanjay Jha has emerged America's top paid CEO.

And last but not the least, before abusing a Bihari, just spare a thought for Dr Rajendra Prasad.

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