It is well intentioned to say that left and right should sit together to understand each other in democratic spirit. However, the situation in India has gone beyond that. We have a situation where anti-democrats reign with the terror of storm troopers and vigilantes.
The philosopher of science Sir Karl Popper remarked that there comes a time when the tolerance of the tolerant liberal for the intolerant cannot go further as the intolerant will kill them. We cannot go on appeasing the intolerant vigilante and fascist in the hope that he will become tolerant. It is an asymmetric situation. At that stage, the tolerant will have to link arms to oppose the intolerant and violent. India has reached that stage.
The world reached that stage with Hitler and Nazi Germany in 1938-1939. At first, he invaded several countries in Europe, and the other powers, France, Britain and the Soviet Union kept quiet, and hoped Hitler would be appeased and he would become reasonable. But his appetite grew bigger and the German people also backed him fanatically. After the invasion of Poland, Britain and France had to declare war. When Hitler invaded the Soviet Union, the latter could not seek dialogue, they had to fight. Later Britain, US and the Soviet Union had to ally to defeat Hitler and bring regime change.
We have gone past dialogue, and Indians have to link arms to check the Hindutva Nazism. Eventually, the neighbouring countries will also be forced to ally to fight the fascist menace; that is happening. The US and the west will realise at some stage backing Hindutva fascism to check China will not work, and there will be a bad cost for that.
It is well intentioned to say that left and right should sit together to understand each other in democratic spirit. However, the situation in India has gone beyond that. We have a situation where anti-democrats reign with the terror of storm troopers and vigilantes.
The philosopher of science Sir Karl Popper remarked that there comes a time when the tolerance of the tolerant liberal for the intolerant cannot go further as the intolerant will kill them. We cannot go on appeasing the intolerant vigilante and fascist in the hope that he will become tolerant. It is an asymmetric situation. At that stage, the tolerant will have to link arms to oppose the intolerant and violent. India has reached that stage.
The world reached that stage with Hitler and Nazi Germany in 1938-1939. At first, he invaded several countries in Europe, and the other powers, France, Britain and the Soviet Union kept quiet, and hoped Hitler would be appeased and he would become reasonable. But his appetite grew bigger and the German people also backed him fanatically. After the invasion of Poland, Britain and France had to declare war. When Hitler invaded the Soviet Union, the latter could not seek dialogue, they had to fight. Later Britain, US and the Soviet Union had to ally to defeat Hitler and bring regime change.
We have gone past dialogue, and Indians have to link arms to check the Hindutva Nazism. Eventually, the neighbouring countries will also be forced to ally to fight the fascist menace; that is happening. The US and the west will realise at some stage backing Hindutva fascism to check China will not work, and there will be a bad cost for that.