u/HyperionRed

Russia has been spreading disinformation for over a decade now. They interfered in Brexit, they have their pawns in the right-wing parties across Europe: Vucic in Serbia, Orban in Hungary, AfD, Marine le Pen, Nigel Farag and Reform all suckle on the teat of Russian disinformation and war mongering.

Paris protests were going on peacefully for weeks, being ignored by the government and the cops kept escalating. In Spain, Italy, India, the younger generations are fed up of the capitalist shit they're being force fed.

Look at Serbia indeed. It's inspiring, how they toppled their authoritarian, corrupt government.

I'm looking at India next. The state unleashed right wing goons and the cops, who brutally assaulted and arrested protestors and independent journalists, while legacy media is portraying the protestors as foreign agents. Hopefully, they're inspired by their Serbian counterparts.

The question is, are you more disturbed by calls to "riot" on social media or by the fact that the CDU, via the Junge Union wants the cops to show no mercy?

To expand that, are you disturbed by the rise of the AfD, the Russian and American interference in politics here, the influence and obscene wealth of billionaires and corporations and the wrecked world the next generations are going to inherit?

The USA has always supported fascists, imperialists and reactionaries, because that's its own nature.

Maybe an exception could be made for FDR but even then, during the Second World War the US military was still segregated, for example.

Plenty of homegrown "geniuses" in the USA already. You have the chief idiot in the Whitehouse.

Oh you have achieved self-awareness. Congratulations.

The same court released men convicted for gangrape and murder, saying they were cultured Brahmins.

You realise that mangroves create an extremely sensitive ecosystem, which cannot be replaced.

There are ways to reduce traffic by investing in better public transport, upgrading the existing busses and expanding the number of buses.

The vast majority of people do NOT have private vehicles.

In that case, a child has a better understanding of the Left than you.

Fascists are the attack dogs of capitalists, when the people get fed up and start rising up against the robber barons.

I am assuming you are American, because the fact you think that a billionaire can be on the Left is something that only be attributed to the infantile, simplistic and ignorant understanding of politics, economics and history that most Americans have.

Put the phone down, Anant!

You had me in the first half.

Doesn't make it any less disgusting.

The police exists to pacify the population and protect the interests of their masters. Much like during the colonial era. They're not there to protect the weak and uphold the constitution.

That's why they're busy beating up poor people and students, and arresting comedians. Meanwhile the people who swindle money, vandalise venues, rape women and incite riots are protected. In fact, they are so well protected that they go on to become business leaders, ministers and governors.

Punia? You mean Punit Pania?

Still waiting for a response :)

I will give you a hint with reference to your Hitler analogy, as far-fetched as it is. Wondering why Hitler did what he did is something academics have intensively studied and continued to do so. Probably one of the most studied subjects in history.

Ah a fellow Bombay history nerd.

Thank you! It infuriates me how many Indians are ignorant of the history of our subcontinent and try so desperately to make some glorious, eternal culture out of it. These are people who want Mumbai to be like Rome or Athens, while a visit to the Kanheri and Elephanta Caves would show a different history, no less interesting.

Considering right-wingers slavishly follow whatever hatefilled nonsense is presented to them by their leaders, yeah, may as well be a bot.

One need only look at people who worship Putin, Modi, Erdogan, Trump, Bibi, Bolsonaro to see how fucked in the head they are.

I appreciate your candour and your long answer. Getting it out of the way: I am a militant atheist and despise any and all organised religion, including Islam. Sharjeel and I would not see eye to eye on many issues. I am also a Sindhi, half of whose family left Karachi, Hyderabad and Shikharpur in 1946 and 1947, before Partition. Now back to you.

You say "they" tore your country into three pieces. Let's address that first. The Muslims of the subcontinent are not a monolith. Few communities are, in fact.

A whole lot of Muslims opposed partition, including but not limited to Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Allah Bux Soomro, Sikander Hayat Khan, their political parties the Khudai Khidmatgar, All India Azad Muslim Conference, the Unionist Party. Religious groups such as the Darul Uloom Deoband opposed it then and continue to oppose partition till this day. Finally, a whole bunch of Muslims stayed on India, in spite of the bloodshed and violence that rocked the subcontinent, especially in Punjab and Bengal. That cannot be reconciled with your position that "they" tore the country apart. That would be reductive and / or ignorant. A point to be added is that the Hindu Mahasabha and RSS both endorsed the "Two-nation Theory". Savarkar himself said

I have no quarrel with Mr Jinnah's two-nation theory. We Hindus are a nation by ourselves and it is a historical fact that Hindus and Muslims are two nations.I have no quarrel with Mr Jinnah's two-nation theory. We Hindus are a nation by ourselves and it is a historical fact that Hindus and Muslims are two nations.

Then you talk about terrorist attacks being planned every other day. Even if that were true, the planning and execution is done by a fraction of a percentage of muslims. Many if not most are not even Indians but Pakistanis. By your logic, the same hatred could be applied to all Sikhs due to the actions of Khalistanis, or to all Hindus due to the actions of Bajrang Dal, RSS or Gau Rakshaks.

As for Jinnah and his role. Reread what Sharjeel has said about him. For all his flaws, and Jinnah's flaws were many, most Indians have a very stupid understanding of him (and indeed of history in general). In fact, Pakistanis also have a very dumb understanding of history but that's their problem.

One question is why did a secular, Kutchhi speaking and anglicised barrister, who was in the Congress and initially mocked the Muslim League, end up leading the League and creating a Pakistan that was anathema to his personal views and position? There are many others but they require proper, critical and scientific study of history.

Now what makes you think Sharjeel wants to create a separate state for Muslims yet again? He is arguing for electoral reforms, such as proportional representation, as opposed to the pretty rubbish first-past-the-post Westminster system. He has argued for reforms to the Constitution, which even Ambedkar said is not set in stone.

Even if you oppose him, which you have a right to, locking him away without a trial is a coward's approach. Defeat his points factually instead of using force.

Answer my question and I'll gladly answer yours afterwards. Common courtesy, no?

How the fuck is that helpful? You gonna throw out catholics? Sindhis? Parsis? Where will they go then?

You need to get your head out your ass and realise that cultures evolve. Invest in people, not some fascist fantasy of a pure ethno-state.

Muslims are demonised on tv every night. The PM openly mocks and insults them at election rallies. Movies like Kerala Story get made in which Muslims are portrayed as one-dimensional, scheming evil characters. This movie is promoted by the government.

Tell me, are muslims in India not besieged? And what exactly bothers you in his tweet? Is your nationalism so insecure and so fragile, that him calling for Jinnah to be studied is a problem for you?

Have you ever paused to consider why he says what he says? Not whether it is right or wrong but why?

The constant demonisation of muslims, the marginalisation, the need to constantly prove their loyalty is such a burden, I am surprised more of them are not pissed off and venting their frustrations.

The same logic applies to the communities who join and support the Naxalites, or the separatists in the North-East.

For a moment think about why.

And then think about Umar Khalid, and what he said and his beliefs. Even he is behind bars for the same reasons, even though Umar is an atheist, a constitutionalist and he quoted the Constitution.