Combat hatred, ‘godi media’ and ‘WhatsApp university’ with love and truth, speakers urge public in Vijayawada

Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi addresses rising communal hatred, emphasizes combating divisive forces with love and unity, not hatred.

“The BJP government’s army of ‘godi media’ and ‘WhatsApp university’ that aims at driving a wedge between two communities in the country can only be combated with love,” said Congress Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi.

Addressing the people at a meeting organised by the Society for Communal Harmony, in a jam-packed Siddhartha Auditorium on Sunday, the MP and other speakers expressed concern over the rising hatred among people against one another, the role of misinformation in widening the wedge and the importance of communal harmony.

“The BJP government has hundreds of tools whose only work is to divide the society. But, even if there is one person in the society who is ready to take on the government, hatred will be defeated,” the MP, also the chief guest, said.

“Not all fights are political. Some should be fought at an individual level. We should do whatever we can to bring peace,” the MP said, weaving in couplets here and there during his speech that received thunderous applause and hoots from the crowd. The auditorium was packed to its capacity.

He said that while 288 MPs voted for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, almost an equal number of 232 MPs opposed it.

“If only the MPs from TDP and JDU voted against the Bill, it would not have been cleared today. While Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu promises all support for Muslims, why did his MPs vote in support of the Bill?” the MP questions.

Later, Supreme Court Advocate Prashant Bhushan, the special guest in the programme, said that the chief concern of the BJP government is about staying in power and that it lacks the foresight to recognise the impact its divisive policies will have on society in the long run.