Fifth column: I wish PM Modi had pointed out that without rule of law there can be no democracy | The Indian Express

Fifth column: I wish PM Modi had pointed out that without rule of law there can be no democracy | The Indian Express

Written by Tavleen Singh |Updated: June 30, 2019 8:04:17 am

Tavleen Singh, a leading Columnist associated with The Indian Express. Find all Columns from Tavleen Singh here.

Fifth column: I wish PM Modi had pointed out that without rule of law there can be no democracy

The vigilantes have mostly got away with what they did. Inevitably, now that Narendra Modi’s mandate is bigger than the one that he got last time, many of his supporters see it is as sanction for them to carry on with their violent activities.

In Parliament, meanwhile, the Prime Minister made two fine speeches in which he painted a glowing picture of the ‘new’ India he promises he will build. A prosperous, powerful, secure India in which every citizen will be treated equally.(LSTV/PTI Photo)

From Indore last week came pictures of the son of a senior BJP leader using a bat to attack officials on government duty. From a village in Jharkhand came a video of the latest lynching. Tabrez Ansari was tied to a pole and, while being beaten with sticks by a mob, ordered to repeat ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Jai Hanuman’. The video of his terrified face was too awful to watch, but went viral on social media as did the news that the local police, instead of taking him to hospital, locked him up. It took him four days to die. And in his last days his family was not allowed to meet him.