Combat hatred, ‘godi media’ and ‘WhatsApp university’ with love and truth, speakers urge public in Vijayawada

Supreme Court Advocate Prasanth Bhushan, Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi, former MP V. Sobhanadeeswara Rao and CPI(M) State secretary V. Srinivasa Rao hold each other’s hands in a show of unity at a meeting held on communal harmony at P.B. Siddhartha College in Vijayawada on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: G.N. Rao

“The BJP government’s army of ‘godi media’ and ‘WhatsApp university’ that aims at driving a wedge between two communities in the country can only be combated with love,” said Congress Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi.

Addressing the people at a meeting organised by the Society for Communal Harmony, in a jam-packed Siddhartha Auditorium on Sunday, the MP and other speakers expressed concern over the rising hatred among people against one another, the role of misinformation in widening the wedge and the importance of communal harmony.

“The BJP government has hundreds of tools whose only work is to divide the society. But, even if there is one person in the society who is ready to take on the government, hatred will be defeated,” the MP, also the chief guest, said.

“Not all fights are political. Some should be fought at an individual level. We should do whatever we can to bring peace,” the MP said, weaving in couplets here and there during his speech that received thunderous applause and hoots from the crowd. The auditorium was packed to its capacity.

He said that while 288 MPs voted for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, almost an equal number of 232 MPs opposed it.

“If only the MPs from TDP and JDU voted against the Bill, it would not have been cleared today. While Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu promises all support for Muslims, why did his MPs vote in support of the Bill?”Imran PratapgarhiRajya Sabha MP, Congress

“If only the MPs from TDP and JDU voted against the Bill, it would not have been cleared today. While Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu promises all support for Muslims, why did his MPs vote in support of the Bill?” the MP questions.

Later, Supreme Court Advocate Prashant Bhushan, the special guest in the programme, said that the chief concern of the BJP government is about staying in power and that it lacks the foresight to recognise the impact its divisive policies will have on society in the long run.

“If the government incites communal hatred, we, as citizens, can combat it by forming the ‘Truth Army’, whose responsibility will be to spread love and truth, inform the public about facts, history and contributions of the Muslim and Christain communities to the Independence movement and to nation’s growth”Prashant Bhushan Supreme Court Advocate

“If the government incites communal hatred, we, as citizens, can combat it by forming the ‘Truth Army’, whose responsibility will be to spread love and truth, inform the public about facts, history and contributions of the Muslim and Christain communities to the Independence movement and to nation’s growth,” he said.

Both Mr. Bhushan and Mr. Pratapgarhi underlined the contribution of the alternative media in bringing facts to the fore.

“Most people in the country want to live together with other religious communities in peace, but there is no unity among them, whereas the divisive forces, though few and far between, are organised and united,” Mr. Bhushan said.

He emphasised the need for a committee in every district to ensure communal harmony, see that those spreading hatred are brought to book and promote camaraderie among people of different religions by celebrating all festivals.

Former Union Minister and renowned civil engineer Kanuri Lakshmana Rao’s son K. Vijay Rao, the Society for Communal Harmony vice-president, stressed that the endless loop of revenge and hatred should end.

“When there is no communal harmony, there will not be any jobs, investments or industries. No one will be willing to come to our country for work. The small differences between different communities will be ironed out only when we mingle,” he said.

Former Agricultural Minister Vadde Sobhanadeeswara Rao, CPI (M) State general secretary V. Srinivasa Rao, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee leader N. Tulasi Reddy, former Minister from Uttar Pradesh Moid Ahmed were present in the programme.