OMG! What did I see on AajTak last night?

The nightmare began around 10:00 pm and lasted a full

hour. The program was titled Uparwala dekh raha hai (God is watching) and featured a roundtable
with BJPs Sambit Patra, Saba Naqvi, John Dayal and some other Mameluks from Queen Sonias court.
The topic was Is it fair to connect Islam with terrorism? I can assure you that in case God really was
watching this show last night, God ended up with a terrible headache.
Yes, the show was all about repeating the same tired old platitudes about how Islam is a religion of
peace and yada yada yada
Why am I calling this a nightmare? Because BJPs Sambit Patra was right there, validating the vermin
like Saba Naqvi and John Dayal. This was really an outrageous example of how BJP has managed to
lose the media narrative. Who the hell are Saba Naqvi and John Dayal to speak for India, Indias
Muslims, Indias minorities or for anyone but themselves? By agreeing to sit at a roundtable on equal
terms with these people, is the BJP not contributing to the sense of self importance of these vermin? By
agreeing to sit at a roundtable, is the BJP not allowing these people to set the terms of the debate? Does
anyone really believe that these Mameluks like Saba Naqvi and John Dayal can be convinced by
argument? If not, then why does the BJP engage with them? By engaging with them, the BJP is only
raising the profile of its enemies.
And what outcome could be expected from such a debate? Nothing except platitudes about
the peaceful nature of Islam. TV debates like these keep the spotlight focused on pseudo-secularism.
Does the BJP really expect to win the debate? Why not change the debate to topics that matter: such as
FDI pouring in at breakneck speed, soaring forex reserves, the governments big reform push after the
Bihar polls? Instead of discussing Devendra Fadnavis successful Jal Yukt Shivir Abhiyan in
Maharashtra, a historic water conservation effort, the BJP ends up sitting in debates over beef and
Dadri and what not. In the run up to the 2014 elections, I remember Ravi Shankar Prasad saying once
that he was no longer interested in the sterile debate over secularism. What happened now? Why are
we back to discussing stuff that doesnt matter with a bunch of Mameluks?
Well, now you could say my blog itself could be accused of the same crime. I myself am always talking
about the handful of Mameluks in the media. Am I not giving them undue importance? Totally fair
point. But let me say this. I am not an official spokesperson of the BJP. I do not represent the BJP in
any capacity. Im one guy who responds to what I see on TV and what I read on the internet. Dear BJP,
leave the lowly work of responding to Mameluk talking points to Chaiwallahs like me. They are at my
level, not yours. YOU represent 282 Lok Sabha MPs who received 17 crore votes. YOU can drive the
debate. YOU can starve the Mameluks by refusing to talk about secularism. And whatever little
propaganda they have left: we on social media can take care of that. The BJPs greatest blessing is that
it has literally millions of supporters who do not expect even one paisa in return. Let us respond to the
Mameluk circus performers like Saba Naqvi and John Dayal. YOU go talk about FDI and reform.
Laugh away the issue of secularism, for that is what it is: laughable. Will you dare?