Anna Hazare is no Gandhi. Yet his contribution in advancing the war on corruption in India is indisputable. He had galvanised thousands into the epic battle of ethics against the omnipresent corruption that ails the Indian society. While corruption remains rampant Anna has lost his sheen and the battle has fizzled out.
More recently most of the opposition political parties and many activists- Anna being perhaps the most prominent - have been agitating against the Land Acquisition Ordinance of the government of India. Allegedly the ordinance makes it easier to expropriate the agricultural and other land for industrial and infrastructural purposes. The opponents argue the ordinance is overreaching, unfair and even unnecessary. The government argues it is needed and is prepared to amend it to make it more palatable.
It is not my intention to argue the merits or demerits of the ordinance. I simply write these prefatory comments to tell you that a Gaggan Vidhu claiming to be living in Edmonton, Canada has threatened via Facebook to kill Anna Hazare. Mr. Vidhu, or whoever he is, claims to want to mimic Mahatma Gandhi's killer Nathu Ram Godse in killing the "Gandhian" Anna Hazare.
The intended violence of Vidhu is absolutely abhorrent and condemnable. It is shameful that in 21st century we are forced to relive the horrific violence that ought to be a thing of the distant past. Whether it was the attack on Charlie Hebdo any others including the attack on the Parliament in Ottawa, or what brutality is being perpetrated by the likes of ISIS, we must realise that violence does not solve any issues. Quite to the contrary it leaves lasting scars. Just ask the victims of the 1984 massacre of the Sikhs, Godhra riots of 2002 or the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack.
The policing and security agencies in Canada already have their hands full. But the likes of Mr. Vidhu-if there is any substance to their claims-must be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. Enough blood is being shed all over the world without us from Canada shedding more.
