VETERAN JURNO SHEKHAR GUPTA SAYS EXCEPT JAYANT NOT A SINGLE BJP LEADER HAS CONDEMNED ATTACK ON SWAMY AGNIVESH

The senior journalist and chief editor of The Print, formerly the editor of Indian express Shekher Gupta has released a video of his own speech expressing his immense disenchantment over the complacent attitude of the BJP leaders not issuing a single statement condemning the severe physical attack on the great Arya Samaj leader, social activist and a reformer Swamy Agnivesh after the latter was attacked brutally in Pakud, Jharkhand over his remarks challenging the existence of Hindu Gods.

Expressing his serious concern Shekhar Gupta said the he too have differences with the saffron clad Arya Samajist leader Agnivesh and had even pronounced him as a publicity hunter but never stooped to the low level as was done in Pakud Jharkhand to him. He said having difference of opinion in a democracy does not give any body a license to physically thrash or assault one’s opponent as shamefully done to Swamy Agnivesh by the Hindu bigots and what is more shocking is the fact that not a single BJP or RSS leader has come out in condemning this most obnoxious incident of an open physical attack on an innocent octogenerian saffron clad Arya Samajist as well as a social activist.

However he had all the praise for Jayant Sinha the union civil aviation minister and son of prime minister Narendra Modi’s betenoire Yashwant Sinha who has in unequivocal terms condemned the incident and demanded the arrests of the culprits. He said : he is appreciating and lauding Jayant Sinha because he is the only leader in the entire BJP who’d outrightly condemned this incident that happened in his home constituency despite the fact that a few days ago he has been outrightly reprimanded by the country’s media for lionising and garlending the accused of lynching in Jharkhand after they were set free by the courts on bail.

He questioned does this not amount to patronising such attacking mobs of Hindu bigots who take law into their hands and go on rampage and hurting an 80 year old Arya samajist just because his ideology dose’nt suit their style of thinking.

Veteran journalist Shekhar Gupta was even more amused and anguished over the neutral attitude of the external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, whom he said he respected the most as he brought the issue into her notice as well expecting that there will be a word of condemnation from her side as Swamy Agnivesh according to her was a deputy minister in Haryana several years ago when she was one of the cabinet ministers.

Expressing his deep concern, shock and anguish over the increasing incidents of mob attacks and lynchings in the country in the name or under the guise of polarisation Shekhar Gupta said: this trend needs to be curbed at all costs as democracy and our constitution does not give anyone right or license to physically assault or  lynch anyone in the name of religion, or food habits and further said that the present laws are fair  enough to stringently counter this dreaded menace and punish the guilty stringently, provided they are implemented vigorously and with a heavy hand.

He gave an instance of his recent visit to a function of Malyalam Manorama in Kerala where during the dinner buffet party various non vegetarian items were served including the big meat but not a single person or leader even of the BJP and RSS  who were present there, raise any voice of dissent.

He asked how can we object to the eating habits of the people and create chaos in the name of Hinduism and eating habits.

He added: India is a nation of diverse culture, caste and creed which believes in the principle of unity in diversity.

By not condemning the shameful attack on the octagenerian Arya Samaj leader in Jharkhand, Pakud by a single leader of BJP, except the union minister of civil aviation it seems as if these religious bigots are being indirectly sheltered or shielded.

How can a voice of dissent and difference of opinion be curbed or stifled by mob attacks and lynchings questioned Gupta.