Oppn targets govt on communal violence

Thirteen chief ministers and opposition leaders on Saturday issued a joint appeal against the recent incidents of hate speech and communal violence in the country and expressed shock at the “silence” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The statement, signed by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin, Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi, the National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah and Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav, among others, also raised concern over “the manner in which issues relating to food, dress, faith, festivals and language are being deliberately used by the ruling establishment to polarise society”. “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,” it said, adding that “This silence is an eloquent testimony to the fact that such private armed mobs enjoy the luxury of official patronage.” The statement comes just days after several instances of violence were reported from at least five states, including Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka, during processions held on the occasion of the Hindu festival Ram Navmi. “We are 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 one-page letter signs off with the opposition leaders reiterating their commitment to “work together to strengthen the bonds of social harmony that have defined and enriched India for centuries”.