Truth prevails, sometimes

Politics is full of doublespeak. That is something we are all well aware of by now. Doublespeak is how a government as totalitarian as that of say North Korea can convince itself that the country it is in charge of is a ‘democratic people’s republic’. We can rail against the hypocrisies of those in power all we want. Many a time it is all we can do. But to expect governments, leaders, politicians and anyone else with power to mean what we say is tragically wishful and naïve. Still, for all their craftiness, even those in power slip up every once in a while. Now and then, governments and leaders will do something that betrays their own narrative for the truth.

Earlier this week, Amnesty International announced that it would be halting its operations in India. The move came after the government of Narendra Modi froze all assets that the highly respected human rights non-profit organisation had in the country. Amnesty International has long been vocal in highlighting human rights violations in a country that on the international stage prides itself for its pluralism and commitment to democracy. That image — which India cultivated for decades while masking its true human rights record — has been all but shattered over the past year and a half.

In many ways, Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party have revealed the true nature of India. Majoritarian movements led by firebrands do not sprout out of thin air. For all the condescension that India’s intellectual elite has viewed Pakistan with, they have conveniently ignored the extremism that flourished outside their own bubble in India.

Coming back to the matter at hand, the Indian government — by targeting and harassing Amnesty International — is unwillingly admitting the truth. The wonderful thing about liberal democracy is that they are only strengthened by criticism, even dissent. From the moment a government decides it can no longer tolerate its critics, no amount of ‘democratic’ slogans will save it from sliding towards fascism.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2020.

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