Fake nationalists are a threat to unity of Indians: Volga

Dharwad, May 26: The rise of fascist forces, who identify themselves as “nationalists” to fool people, are indeed a threat to  the unity of pluralistic India, said noted Telugu writer and thinker Volga.

Inaugurating the two-day May Sahitya Sammelana organised by Ladai Prakashana in association with various like-minded organisations such as Chittar Kala Balaga and Kavi Prakashana on Saturday, she said Indian society is in danger as it has been “caught in the clutches of fascists”.

“These fascist forces are trying to impose monoculture and their right-wing ideology on others, thus propagating a pseudo culture and fake nationalism,” she said.

She said that India, being the land of Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, Jains and various other communities, was home to different communities living together with peace and harmony.

“However, Hindu fundamentalists are weakening this strong social fabric of harmony to meet their vested interests, thus creating unrest in the country,” she said.

She accused pseudo nationalists of sowing the seed of hatred and spreading intolerance in the name of nationalism. However, despite such attempts going on openly, the government has failed to take any step to check them, Ms. Volga said.

“The need of the hour is to eradicate pseudo nationalism and age-old inhuman practices. If left unchecked, they will sound the death knell to the aspirations of the Constitution,” Ms. Volga said.

Expressing regret and concern over the 13 deaths in the Thoothukudi firing, she said all governments were working in favour of corporates. However writers should speak up against such injustice towards the common man, she said.

Justice Nagmohan Das, who presided over the inaugural session, said the Constitution of India safeguarded the interests of the people living in the multi-lingual and pluralistic society of the country. He said members of 200 sub-sects of Islam and 400 sub-sects of Christianity chose to settle down in India because they were overwhelmed by the brotherhood and harmonious policy of the country.

Quoting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, he said although the Constitution is very strong, the governments implementing its aspirations should be honest and work with commitment, failing which the Constitution too would become weak in protecting national integration. He said it was unfortunate that some people were talking about changing the Constitution and abolishing reservation.