By the Editor: Siddharth Sehgal

The recent incident in Lakhimpur where associates of a sitting central minister and his son, if allegations are to be believed, mowed down protesting farmers from behind raises serious questions not only on the law and order and abuse of power in our country but also on the different standards that are applied to different people. These are the instances where we realize that if you are high and mighty in the country you can do as you please without much fear of consequences, the principles of ethics and moral high ground are only applied selectively.

How come the government is entertaining Minster Ajay Mishra and allowing him to remain in power when his car driven by his supporters ruthlessly ran over the protesting farmers unprovoked is simply incomprehensible? Am I the only one who thinks that letting the minister’s accused son roam free while the opposition leaders are detained for trying to meet the victim’s family is not only wrong but also unacceptable in democracy? What kind of message are we sending out here? Varun Gandhi and his mother were seemingly dropped from the BJP executive body for calling a spade a spade in this incident, does that mean that there is no room for discussion and debate in the nation’s largest party? These are the moments where leaders step up to the occasion and set an example for the future generations but then again, who cares? Ajay Mishra, the minister in question, himself threatened the farmers in a rally in September. Didn’t he have any accountability towards this incident in the eyes of the government?

BJP workers also died at the hands of enraged farmers after the cars ran over the protesting farmers, their deaths also raise a question of law and order and Police capabilities. Where were the cops? What they were doing? If Police knew that there is going to be a massive protest at the site and the situation could become volatile, what measures did they take?

Media it seems have sold its responsibility of being a neutral observer to the highest advertiser. Rather than reporting on the incidents impartially, they shifted the responsibility to the farmers and started narrating a one-sided narrative. This attitude of our media of being a biased judge, jury, and sometimes executioner is dangerous for our democracy. Why would the accused even need a lawyer if he has primetime anchors batting for him? The pen used to be mightier than the sword in this country, now it is no different than a mere object for sale.

It should not take a reprimand from the topmost court for the authorities to wake up. The rules should apply equally to everyone. Politicians should also strive to become the role models they boast of being.