Political parties and their mentors have a history of evading responsibility and successfully shifting blame onto others. This pattern can be traced back to the pre and post-independence era, and it continues to be evident in recent events, as well.
For instance, during the time when BJP was in power at the centre and had appointed its own selected Governor in Kashmir, the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from their homes took place due to threats and violence. Instead of taking accountability for their role, BJP conveniently passed the buck and distanced themselves from the situation.
Similarly, in the case of Manipur, BJP once again is resorting to blaming the opposition, Chinese, and immigrants from Myanmar for the violence that erupted.
However, the real cause of the conflict was a High Court judgment directing the State to consider including the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list. This decision triggered an ethnic conflict between the dominant Meitei community and the tribal Kuki-Zomi community. It is evident that this judgment might have been influenced by the vote bank politics prevalent in Manipur, where the Meiti Hindus hold significant sway.
One would be naive to believe that the HC judgement had nothing to do with the Local Politics. The issue of vote bank politics has plagued India, and political parties, including the BJP, and they seem unwilling to learn from its damaging consequences.
As a result, it is the ordinary citizens who bear the brunt of such divisive politics. This pattern of passing the blame and avoiding accountability has led to dire consequences in regions like Kashmir, Punjab, and Manipur, where innocent civilians suffer the consequences of political manoeuvring.
It is therefore, crucial for political leaders, including those from BJP, to take responsibility for their actions and decisions rather than resorting to blame games. A sincere commitment to address the root causes of conflicts and a focus on the well-being of all citizens, irrespective of their religious or cultural backgrounds, is necessary to build a united and harmonious nation.
It is essential to remain mindful of the fact that our nation is geographically surrounded by potentially hostile powers, and they will always seek opportunities to exploit any vulnerabilities we may have. Therefore, it becomes imperative for us to introspect and question why we should willingly provide them with such openings.
As responsible citizens, we must recognize the significance of safeguarding our country's interests and national security. By avoiding internal strife and divisions, we can strengthen our unity and resilience, making it difficult for external forces to capitalize on our weaknesses. It is crucial to prioritize our collective well-being over vested political interests.