The recent attacks on Christian Churches in Karnataka and Orissa protesting against forced conversion and now the riots, bloodshed and destruction of public property in Mumbai as a result of the controversial Railway recruitment exams do not augur well for the future of our country. Mumbai incidents had their repercussions in Bihar leading to collateral damages and disruption of train services by the agitating students and the unemployed Biharis. Now there is apprehension in the minds of some about the danger to the unity and integrity of our country itself.

A social activist and a management consultant Shiv Khera was eloquent when he spoke to a TV channel blaming our politicians for these problems. He added one more issue to the prevailing issues not addressed by our politicians. He particularly mentioned of lakhs of Bangladeshis (mostly Muslims) illegally living in India, courtesy politicians for adding numbers to their vote bank.

The Church attack in Karnataka, Orissa and the violent agitations in Mumbai that led to Raj Thackeray’s arrest and release on bail (for now) could have been certainly averted or even avoided if only the authorities had acted intelligently, wisely, prudently and in time.

Take the Church attack. It all started with the New Life Church, Mangalore, publishing religious tracts, flyers and books criticising Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu pantheon in a vulgar, obscene and despicable manner and circulating them among people with the intention of converting Hindus into Christian religion.

The Police could have, under the law, registered a case against the New Life Church and the individuals distributing those printed materials and giving publicity to it by holding a press conference. Of course, people like Arundhati Roy, Dr. U. R. Ananthamurthy and secular organisations would have protested and even accused the Police. After all, the “communal” BJP is on the saddle ruling the State!

But, this would have pre-empted the attack on Churches by the Hindu activists and the Bhajrang Dal, the sword - arm of the saffron brigade of India. Or, at least, it would have contained further attacks in time. The Police and the government did not take action against the offending New Life Church because of the past habit of handling the offences committed by minorities in India with kid-gloves. Now, face the music. Similarly, the question of Railway recruitment exam being conducted in Mumbai (such examinations are conducted in Bangalore and other regions also as a policy by the Railways).

Here, the Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav is from Bihar, the backward State. His contribution for keeping the State that way is no less considering that he had been ruling Bihar for nearly 15 years. It is understandable that he wanted to load Railways with as many Bihari youth as possible. But, the route he has taken is immoral and even illegal. Railways are not of Bihar State. It is Indian Railways. Youth of all the States must find job opportunities in Railways. It can’t be cornered for Biharis alone by not publishing about the recruitment exams in the regional language papers. In Maharashtra the advertisement should have been published in Marathi papers. This the Railways did not do deliberately, by hindsight.

The Railways should have woken - up to the reality and seen the potential danger the moment Raj Thackeray raised the issue and taken corrective steps by way of releasing advertisements about the exams in local Marathi papers. This, the Railways did not do. And see what happened. Indeed, discretion is better part of valour. Lalu Prasad Yadav might have thought that he could fool the Maharashtrians also like he was fooling the Biharis. Sadly, he met his Waterloo here.

It is wrong to say this kind of agitation and protest will lead to the Balkanization of India or another partition of the country. No. There is no such danger if the government at the Centre respects the regional aspirations of the country’s constituencies. After all, India is a Federal State with a Unitary Character.

While the Centre shall render unto the States that which are of States, the States too should render unto the Centre that which are of the Centre. Only then can we have Unity in Diversity and be able to steer the Ship of State called India through the high seas of governance smoothly. Let our politicians think about the country, not of the impending election. If India loses, who wins? Jai Hind.