“High Court, take care of my children, if something happens to me “
A terrifying picture has emerged from Mothabari in the Malda district of West Bengal. Seven High Court judges were forced to flee for their lives at around 10:30 at night. Over the phone, they were desperately pleading with the registrar to save them. This is the image of a state that is part of India—the world’s largest democracy. When we boast about being the largest democracy on the global stage, will incidents like these from West Bengal be mentioned in the background? How are the people of Bengal supposed to feel proud of this so-called great democracy?
It reminds one of the Bantala incident. In the same way, Abhijit Sarkar’s mother cried, as she witnessed her younger son being murdered before her eyes. Abhijit was merely a supporter of an opposition political party. During the 2021 elections alone, 55 workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party were killed. Countless mothers in Bengal have lost their sons, yet no justice has been delivered. This violence, carried out with the direct support of the ruling party, can no longer be hidden. Because we have seen that from the highest levels of administration, there has never been any condemnation of these crimes, nor punishment for the criminals. Perhaps, in silence, the crimes were even appreciated. Crores of rupees have been spent in courts to protect the accused.
Communal provocation has been used to build a Muslim vote bank. The belief is that anything can be done, and minority votes will continue to ensure victory. If such a corrupt, authoritarian, violent, and vengeful system continues for a few more years, this land will soon resemble places like Bangladesh, Syria, or underdeveloped regions of Africa.
Public support for the ruling group has now hit rock bottom. To see justice through, Abhaya’s mother herself has become an election candidate. If elections are conducted fairly, there is no chance of victory. Therefore, the only goal is to retain power by creating fear through manipulation and tactics. Stirring up unrest has once again become the chosen strategy. There are no principles or ideals left—winning elections and making money has become the sole objective.
A section of bureaucrats and police officials, driven by personal interests, have joined this game that is destroying the future of West Bengal’s next generation. Many of them are non-Bengali; they have little concern for the fate of Bengal. Their children’s education and careers are based outside the state. It resembles the corrupt ruling structures of countries like Bangladesh or Pakistan. A government officer typically serves for 30 to 35 years, during which many governments may come and go. It is expected that they serve the public impartially. But what is the mystery that drives a section of these officials to shamelessly support extreme corruption?
At the root of Bengal’s downfall will also be the role of the media. In a democracy, the media is a pillar. If the media remains neutral, the ruling party is held accountable. Can media managers honestly place a hand on their hearts and say what role they have played? Even century-old media houses are participating in this destruction. What role have they played in building a corruption-free society? As a pillar of democracy, what have they done to protect it? Can they guarantee that their own children will be able to build their careers while staying in West Bengal?
At the heart of all this lies money. Politics has become so deeply entangled with wealth that losing power means losing income. A change in government would cut off massive streams of corrupt earnings. Therefore, even if public support disappears, they are desperate to cling to power through deceit, manipulation, and electoral fraud. The day opportunities to make money through politics are eliminated, the environment will begin to purify.
In minority-dominated areas, provoking religious sentiments, spreading half-truths, creating false panic, and inciting violence have become a part of Bengal’s electoral tradition. This was done even during the Left regime—videos of riots from Karachi were shown as if they were from Gujarat to create fear among minorities against the BJP. The same pattern continues today with narratives like the “one-second theory,” NRC panic, and controversies over food habits. However, many Muslims are no longer paying attention to such tactics. In search of work, many are migrating to Gujarat.
Using religious tension to capture political power is like playing with fire. There is also an anti-national undercurrent waiting to exploit such situations. Bordering Bangladesh, the developments over the past decade in districts like Malda and Murshidabad have become critical issues for national security. In the atmosphere surrounding SIR, there is a possibility that attempts may be made to create large-scale unrest. It remains to be seen what findings emerge from the NIA investigation.