Fight against intolerance set to intensify post-Bihar results

The tug-of-war between the Congress and the BJP over “growing intolerance” is set to intensify irrespective of the outcome of the Bihar Assembly elections with former prime minister Manmohan Singh calling for unity of secular forces to protect the integrity of the country.

Singh’s call for the coming together of supporters of the Nehruvian idea of India found resonance with the participants of the conference to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of the first prime minister of the country.

“Efforts are being made to divide the society and we must fight this,” historian Irfan Habib said at the conference to celebrate Jawaharlal Nehru’s birth anniversary, hosted by Congress think tank Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies.

Singh said the assault or murder of thinkers for no more than disagreement with their views, or because of the food they eat, or their caste, cannot be justified on any grounds.

“It is necessary for all people who support the Nehruvian idea of India as a liberal, secular, social democracy to now come together and join together to preserve and protect the integrity of our Republic,” Singh said.

In an apparent reference to the RSS, Habib said people whose ideological ancestors had no role in the national movement were trying to negate the role and contribution of Nehru. Habib also made a strong plea to build up platforms to protect the legacy of Nehru, “even if there cannot be electoral alliances.”

Senior journalist Kumar Ketkar cautioned the Congress against being complacent while protecting Nehru’s legacy. Interestingly, both Ketkar and Habib disapproved of the “collective complacence” of liberal forces in protecting Nehru’s legacy.