A set of questions for Prasoon Joshi and Co

At the outset, the intellectual bankruptcy of this whataboutery business in a protectionist bigotry regime needs to be countered with a question: what is your take on the several incidents of mob-lynching in the name of cow and about this new trend of assaulting Muslims and forcing them to chant “Jai Shri Ram”.

prasoon joshi, artistes write open letter against jai shri ram, mob lynching — In the current times, any self-styled “Hindu” mob can now catch hold of any Muslim man or men anywhere and force them to chant Jai Shri Ram, failing which they could be thrashed or even lynched. (Illustration: CR Sasikumar)

“Jai Shri Ram” chant is sought to be the new “must” for Muslims in India after Vande Mataram. In the current times, any self-styled “Hindu” mob can now catch hold of any Muslim man or men anywhere and force them to chant Jai Shri Ram, failing which they could be thrashed or even lynched. If a Hindu opposes this, he could be termed an “anti-national”. That’s what some unabashedly pro-government artistes have said in so many words in an open letter. Their letter has come in response to a letter sent by another set of artistes to the Prime Minister, who expressed their concern at the new “Jai Shri Ram” campaign by the self-styled nationalists.