Throw a stone into the water and it creates ripples. Throw a
casteist comment and it creates politics. At a time when caste politics and
politics out of caste is used as a tact to trigger sentiments of the common man
for votes, even the slightest of things magnify out of proportion when
misinterpreted. Add to it, the trendy netizens of today – meme creators, take
the volition of driving citizens astray.
That is what conspired when a photo of BJP State President
Tamilisai Soundararajan was shared on social media. Seen with the
defence minister Nirmala Sitaraman and a few other caders, Tamilisai was framed in a photo, eating in a steel plate while the others from a
banana leaf.
A party that is easily blamed for casteist intentions, the
picture drew censure and agony from those who buttered out racial
discrimination in BJP from an otherwise cordial event. The gentle waft of
wind gained momentum and drew more ire as netizens chose to quickly believe the
interpretation presented and shared it on various pages.
However, a quick call to the politician revealed the real
picture. Breaking into laughter over the interpretation, Tamilisai outright
denied of any such discrimination within the party. “The photo was taken during
a visit to a house in Virudhunagar. The hosts were only informed about the minister’s
arrival and did not expect many people. As it was a small place, they had not prepared
for other guests and were short of banana leaves. I picked up a plate and
helped myself as a friendly gesture,” she said striking out further confusion.
As elections are around the corner, even a spark escalates
into forest fire. Can we use more sense into creating harmony and fight for the
right causes than arousing suspicion and hatred? Caste or no caste, lets keep
elections out of it and think rationally to cast votes than yielding to caste
votes.
