Bull's Eye

Mera desh mahaan! Garv se kaho hum Hindu hain! Jai Shri Ram!" These battle cries warm the cockles of every Hindu heart! Has the Hindu renaissance begun? Will L.K. Advani and Praveen Togadia lead us back to our golden age?

Err...no, not quite. True, Advani thunders against Pakistan and the ISI. True, he threatens proactive destruction of terrorist camps in Pakistan. True, Togadia thunders even more loudly for putting those nasty Muslims in their place. True, he threatens to right the wrongs that every Muslim ruler perpetrated against our noble people down the centuries.

Alas! Hindu dharma teaches us that above everything else we must first perform our own duty. Advani is the home minister of India. Law and order in Delhi comes directly under him. The Lt-Governor of Delhi works under him. So while Advani travels up and down the country ranting against Pakistan, what's happening on his own turf?

Frequently, Delhi policemen themselves commit crimes. They are underpaid, badly housed. Forget rape, Delhi has the highest crime rate in the country. It's over double the national average! Instead of being a role model, the nation's capital is a disgrace.

Last week, a foreign diplomat was raped in the parking lot where the international film festival was being held. Within an hour another woman fought off an attempted rape in the same area. The L-G and top policemen rushed to the spot because the crime had international ramifications. Such crimes will have to stop, the L-G told newsmen grimly. But, Lt-Governor, such crimes escalated during your tenure to make Delhi the most dangerous city for women! Before the diplomat was raped, were you and the honourable HM sleeping? Advani has demanded the death penalty for rapists. What should be the penalty for the HM and L-G for not doing their jobs? Our leaders have no answer. They are too busy preserving Hindu honour in Ayodhya!

Last month, the effigy of Ravana was burnt in all cities. Ravana is a symbol of evil. But compared to the neo-Hindus of today, Ravana was a paragon of virtue. He held Sita captive. He wooed her. He offered her every blandishment. She remained steadfast. Ravana never forced himself on her. He didn't touch a hair on her head. Sita returned to Ayodhya. But Ram listened to dhobi-ghat gossip and abandoned her. Society's descent had begun.

Today we have sunk so low that we must seriously ask ourselves: do we retain the moral right to burn the effigy of Ravana?