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Op-ED NOVEMBER 26, 2021 | The Indian Eye 14

on serVIce and harmony,

the sIkhs show the way

Views and opinions from the top commentators in Indian media

n virtually every recent crisis —
migrant workers trudging home
Iin 2020, during the farmers’ agi-
tation, as people suffered during the
Second Wave — the Sikh community
has been at the forefront of provid-
ing relief, assistance and sustenance.
Langar is served to all comers, with
no questions asked about religion,
caste or creed. It is this openness and
generosity — both spiritual and ma-
terial — that is on display in Gurgaon.
As Sherdil Singh Sidhu, president of
the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha,
Sabzi Mandi, Gurgaon, put it: “A
gurdwara is the house of the Guru…
If the Muslim community is facing
problems in praying at designated
sites, they can offer prayers in the
gurdwaras. The doors of gurdwaras
are open to all.”
“Religious polarization”, a
phrase used often by political pun-
dits, doesn’t quite capture the fraying Sadar Bazaar Gurudwara Committee offers to the Muslim community to conduct their Friday Namaz inside Gurudwara premises amid Namaz
social fabric, the sense of loss that ac-
companies the cynical politicization controversy in Gurugram on Thursday (ANI)
of religion. This is made worse when
administrations carry out seeming- tion fail to recognize that burning to the holders of the posts of defense posts on social media. Every indi-
ly partisan policies. The decency of coal, biomass and farm residue along- secretary, home secretary, secretary vidual has the right to freedom of
Gurgaon’s gurdwara committee, and side land desertification contribute of the Research and Analysis Wing expression in a democracy. But that
of people like Akshay Yadav — who to 85% of air pollution. With their and the director of the Intelligence doesn’t mean that the individual has
offered his shop for namaz — make proximate link to poverty, energy Bureau. the right to share fake information
it clear that the “community” is not needs, waste management and land That the motive here is not in- that may incite violence.
exclusivist. On Guru Nanak’s birth degradation, these demands con- nocuous is discernible when this In the case of Tripura, many fake
anniversary, this may just be the certed inter-governmental actions. measure is seen in the light of the posts, including pictures of political
greatest testament to his legacy. Air quality will improve to tolerable ordinance that was passed by Mr clashes, were shared on social me-
-- Editorial, The Indian Express levels soon and SC/governments will Modi’s regime to offer one-year ex- dia as pictures of communal clashes.
turn to more pressing matters. The tensions for five years to the heads of Even after the restoration of nor-
air quality aNd cycle will invariably repeat next year. the Central Bureau of Investigation malcy, the fake campaign on social

lockdowNs Tackling the 85% causative factor and the Enforcement Directorate. A media aimed at igniting communal
needs political will and policy ideas. two-year tenure is usually the norm. tensions in the state continues.
he enormous damage to public -- Editorial, The Times of India Interestingly, extension was granted Recently, even the Union Min-
health from severe air quality to the incumbent ED chief in viola- istry of Home Affairs had to issue a
thas sadly produced few ideas, Public iNterest tion of a directive of the Supreme clarification stating that no mosque
only to be marred by poor implemen- iN New iNdia Court. was damaged in the Kakraban area
tation. Despite heavy subsidies on The intent, as the Congress has of Gomati district, as was being
straw management equipment, farm- ew India is being taught to alleged, does not seem to adhere to claimed on social media. The author-
ers keep protesting that these remain comprehend things anew. public interest. A guaranteed ten- ities must take swift action to stop
economically unviable. Yet GoI, Pun- nConsider the idea of ‘pub- ure for the heads of crucial agencies the rumor-mongering on social me-
jab and Haryana governments have lic interest’: it generally invokes the would have served as a register of in- dia. Otherwise, there could be a re-
fumbled for an alternative policy re- sense of greater, collective good. Yet, stitutional autonomy. peat of what happened in Amravati.
sponse. the principle is routinely invoked by -- Editorial, The Telegraph India -- Sagarneel Sinha, The Quint
Various judicial crackdowns on the Narendra Modi government to
the automobile sector to up their do the opposite: impair public wel- fake News aNd VioleNce Every week, we look at what the top
green standards, Delhi government’s fare. In a brazen move, the Centre is- commentators in the Indian media are
war on vehicles through an odd-even sued a gazette notification that cited ncidents in the two states raise talking about and bring to you a slice
experiment, and GoI’s belief that ‘public interest’ to justify its decision important questions about the of their opinions and comments
electric vehicles will solve air pollu- to offer extensions of up to two years Iconsequences of sharing fake

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