Don’t tell me you didn’t see it coming. Baba’s bulldozer may have been politically programmed to raze Muslim homes and shops, but it was only a matter of time before it went rogue.
The death of a mother and daughter during a demolition campaign in Kanpur is a manifestation of a disease that society has nurtured and nurtured, thinking the bulldozer will only go after ‘them, not ours”.
Pramila Dikshit, 54, and her daughter Shiva, 22, died in a fire that broke out during a demolition campaign when a bulldozer razed their house in Kanpur Dehat. The house was reportedly built on land owned by the government. The family said they were never notified.
In the bulldozer cheerleaders’ imaginations, the machine was only meant to satisfy a collective bloodlust and deep-rooted hatred of Muslims. This symbolized the resolve of their “tough” leader (Yogi Adityanath) to put the Muslims in their place. You protest, we shave. You demand rights, we shave. You ask questions, we let the bulldozer do the talking. Many “Me Too Tough” leaders in other parts of the country have taken inspiration from Bulldozer Baba and shown they can do it too.
The bulldozer has, without fail, found Muslim addresses on the slightest pretext. Baba’s fans cheered and some TV presenters, in the name of ground reporting, jumped on the bulldozers destroying homes, livelihoods and lives.
The bulldozers were unleashed on anyone the state considered a defendant, gangster, mafia, etc. From UP rallies to American parades, bulldozers have been displayed as a symbol of triumph and pride. The very bulldozer of justice has been sold as “justice” and decisive action. A chief minister and his henchmen in the administration have played judge, jury and executioner with impunity. Bulldozers have become “benefactors”.
Those who asked questions were laughed at. Saharanpur, Allahabad, Jahangirpuri and Khargone became examples and symbols of “justice” in Amrit Kaal. The sovereign destroyed the rule of law.
Then the bulldozer came out of the script. Kanpur Dehat has arrived.
Yogi Adityanath knows that this time his bulldozer has taken a wrong turn. A Rajput chief minister’s bulldozer on a poor Brahmin family is bad optics. He sprang into action, formed a special investigation team and ordered a masterful investigation. Arrests were made and heads were rolled.
The magistrate of Kanpur Dehat sub-division has been transferred. When was the last time we saw such swift action against life-destroying bulldozers?
The Kanpur Dehat incident has baffled Yogi bulldozer fans. They shed tears for the Dikshits and blamed the “insensitive” babus and demanded action. The narrative quickly shifted from praising “Baba Bulldozer” to dissenting “Bad Babus”. Double standards are monumental.
How did we get here ? What gave these “Bad Babus” impunity to set up their bulldozers on the poor Dikshits of Kanpur?
The obvious answer is that these officials were convinced that they had political blessings; their actions over the past few years have earned them nothing but awards, accolades and a sideline career in politics.
Will the Kanpur Dehat incident trigger an overhaul of bulldozer policy? Will this give bulldozer worshipers pause? Will this cause Adityanath and others like him to revert to the boring old ways of due process?
Unlikely.
Let that be said. The bulldozer will remain a powerful symbol of “lessons taught” to Muslims. An incident or two will be mourned at best as collateral damage.
Believing in the rule of law and due process is the only way to stop this obscenity. Belief that governance is best done by the book, not the bulldozer.
(Mohd Asim is an editor at NDTV 24X7)
Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author.
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