New Delhi: The consequences of the recent attempt on the life of former US President Donald Trump are currently being assessed by analysts.
There’s an emerging notion that these kinds of occurrences are part of a trend where people, encouraged by certain political classes and motivated by personal goals, turn to violence to make their voices heard.
An English daily article written by a retired IPS officer heightened the controversy on Thursday.
In addition to this conversation, Rajya Sabha MP and BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi expressed concerns regarding the increased use of harsh language in political discourse at a press conference held today in Delhi.
He cited alarming examples of international political violence, including the murder of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the recent assault on US presidential contender Donald Trump.
As Trivedi noted, “Political parties frequently use terms like ‘violence’ and ‘murder’ for short-term gains,’ which inspires statements that incite violence and assassination.” Using such strong language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi is regrettable and concerning.”
He specifically targeted Rahul Gandhi, berating the Congressman for his habit of insulting the Prime Minister using disparaging language.
In a message for Rahul Gandhi, Trivedi said, “This politicking with national security has persisted for a long time. If you have assumed the role of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, demonstrate some maturity.”
In the meantime, many observers think India is not immune to these political activities, which have been more common in the last ten years.
Prime Minister Modi has been singled out for criticism on several unimportant matters. Political analysts contend that the opposition has launched a “negative campaign” in response to his popularity and his achievements in undermining the Congress party’s long-standing dominance.
Such politicians have frequently used the pretext of free speech to justify their charges against the Prime Minister.
Analysts point out that the Congress’s unhesitant support for this approach against PM Modi is especially shocking, given that it has lost two Prime Ministers.
The grand old (Congress) party used provocative rhetoric against Prime Minister Modi during the Lok Sabha election campaign. Regretfully, the political elite tends to ignore the reality that Prime Minister Modi has been a top terrorist target.
The Congress and other Left-wing political parties appear to have forgotten about occurrences such as the repeated bomb blasts at Gandhi Maidan in Patna in 2013, which occurred during one of Narendra Modi’s rallies when he was the prime ministerial candidate for the then Lok Sabha elections.
Since PM Modi took power ten years ago, political rivals have persistently used inflammatory language and disparaging remarks against him.
Analysts recall Rahul Gandhi’s statement, “People are no longer scared of him,” following a security breach in PM Modi’s cavalcade in June 2024.
Rahul Gandhi also said in 2020 that “Within six to eight months, PM Modi would be unable to step out of his home without facing attacks from unemployed youth.”
In January 2022, protesting farmers put up roadblocks in Punjab’s Ferozpur area, causing PM Modi’s security convoy to be delayed for almost twenty minutes on a flyover. The ruling Congress promptly held the Special Protection Group (SPG) accountable, also writing off the incident as “political drama” and absolving the state police from all liability.
Moreover, during the farmers’ rally, the Congress-led opposition parties did not denounce the menacing comments made by certain farmers and students against Prime Minister Modi.
In 2013, Imran Masood, who was elected on a Congress ticket to the Lok Sabha from Saharanpur in 2024, made explicit threats of violence against Modi, the BJP’s PM candidate at the time. Despite his comments, the Congress leadership has continued to associate with him.
These incidents suggest that the political conversation is trending in a way that may jeopardise the life of a leader such as Narendra Modi, who was elected to the Prime Ministership for a third time because of his widespread popularity and good relationships with many grassroots groups.
