The colonial British Indian government did not demolish the houses of Gandhi (charged with sedition) or Bose (who literally and figuratively shook hands with Hitler).
The democratic free Indian government did not demolish the family home of Nathuram Godse, who killed Gandhi in broad daylight with thousands of eyewitnesses. In fact, it is not only untouched, but his family is free to preach and propagate his philosophy, publish and sell his speech as books and plays, and celebrate his ‘martyrdom’.
Are we saying that a riot-accused (not convicted, mind you, nor punished by the honourable courts of law) in 2022 India is not entitled even to the rights extended by an imperialist power to its worst critics and sworn enemies? Are we saying his family does not have even as much protection under the law as that of the self-confessed, convicted, and hanged assassin of the Mahatma in free India? Because he (and his family) are Muslim?
Is that what we’re saying? Is that what we’ve become?
