Violent acts like the savage beating of Hussain Ahmed in Swadir Khal reveal the real price people pay for the BJP’s divisive politics. Since Ahmed was wrongly identified as a Bangladeshi immigrant, he was severely injured to the point of unconsciousness by the mob, whose decision was based on prejudice that has been stirred by years of equating one’s identity with being disloyal. Whenever politicians at the top keep on associating certain communities as the source of problems, it is not only understandable that people will start suspecting but it will also lead to violence.
It’s not just about crime but the failure of the administration. Local police and other preventive measures have been largely neglected due to campaigns of identifying citizens, and the politics of divisiveness has left the poorest and the weak without protection. What happened – a young person in hospital and a border community fearful – is just the foreseeable outcome of a situation which regards the acts of vigilante justice as normal.
Accountability should be immediate and non-negotiable: trace the culprits and press charges, guarantee the security of the victims, and re-establish the community’s faith by conducting transparent investigations. At the same time, evolving the leadership tone is a significant matter. Political leaders need to refrain from exaggerating fear but, on the contrary, advocate for inclusiveness, allocate resources to community policing, and empower the institutions of the most impacted border districts.
People who vote should measure parties based on their ability to protect citizens, rather than by divisive slogans. Domestic politics will continue to be dominated by risky words until words are replaced by responsible actions. Only then will tragedies like Hussain’s stop and the border will no longer be a dangerous place for innocent people, if only the leaders change.
