Thirteen opposition parties including the Congress and NCP said that they were extremely anguished at the manner in which issues related to food, dress, faith, festivals and language “are being deliberately used by sections of the ruling establishment to polarize our society”.
Among the key signatories of the statement are Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee, MK Stalin, Sitaram Yechury, Hemant Soren, Farooq Abdullah, and D. Raja.The leaders said that they have come together to issue an to all sections of the people to maintain peace “and foil the sinister objective of those who wish to sharpen communal polarisation”. “We call upon all our party units across the country to independently and jointly work for maintaining peace and harmony,” the statement said.
This comes in the backdrop of communal clashes reported in some states during Ram Navami after stones were pelted on Hindu processions. Incidents of stone pelting on communal clashes were reported in Bengal, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. In Rajasthan, the BJP has blamed the Congress government for not acting in time despite a threat letter from controversial Islamic organisation, PFI.
Apart from this, controversy has erupted over azaan on loudspeakers. MNS chief Raj Thackeray has warned the Maharashtra government to remove loudspeakers from mosques by May 3.
The opposition leaders said that they were extremely concerned with the growing incidents of hate speech in the country by people, who appear to have official patronage and against whom no meaningful and strong action is being taken.
The leaders did not name the people or party suggested in the statement. They said they strongly condemned the recent outburst of communal violence witnessed across several states in the country. “We are deeply concerned, as reports indicate that there is a sinister pattern in the areas where these incidents have occurred. Incendiary hate speeches preceded the aggressive armed religious processions unleashing communal violence,” they added.
The opposition leaders also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not speaking up against those propagating bigotry. “We are shocked at the silence of the Prime Minister, who has failed to speak against the words and actions of those who propagate bigotry and those who, by their words and actions, incite and provoke our society. This silence is an eloquent testimony to the fact that such private armed mobs enjoy the luxury of official patronage,” the statement said.
They said they would work together to strengthen the bonds of social harmony that have defined and enriched India for centuries. We reiterate our commitment to combat and confront the poisonous ideologies which are attempting to entrench divisiveness in our society. We reiterate our firm conviction that our country will prosper only if it respects, accommodates and celebrates its many diversities in full measure,” the statement added.
