On Rabble rousers

Demagogy is a dangerous art and this has been perfected by politicians in India. Closer to home in Hyderabad we have two such examples of unfettered demagogy. The Owaisi family fed the Muslim population of the old city about the danger from the Hindus and thrived on being anti Hindu. This has created a closed community in the old city with little development taking place in the area. The Owaisis instead of using their voting block to push government for more funds and development have neglected their constituency. In the process they themselves became rich.

Over the years they ran the area without much resistance and crushed any rebellion. They have now met their comeuppance by needlessly trying to flex their muscles on the government and making hate speeches. A strategic mistake which MIM will regret sooner. This may be the start of decline of MIM brand in the old city. They have created an opportunity for others to enter.

There is the other type of demagogy from Jagan Mohan Reddy. His has mastered the art of emotional black mail of the people to seek votes. He thought his sophisticated methods of corruption will not be caught and went on an overdrive in making illicit money. He is secular in some sense that he does not care where the money is coming from as long as it comes. He too has made a mistake of pushing the congress leadership too much and is languishing in Jail.

Then we have Bukhari’s of the Jama Masjid Delhi who have ensured their community is under developed by playing obscurantist for change. The senior Bukhari was rabble rouser No 1 typically he used to make senseless comments on all and sundry issues. They had some political clout in the past but they seem to slowly loosing grip on their people and political parties seem no more interested in them.

We then have the Togadia types who also go on overdrive and create fictional enemies to raise the emotions of the people. The chief rabble rouser in the Hindu right.

As India becomes a mature democracy and literacy levels improve this kind of demagogy will end. India should attain higher literacy levels sooner to put an end to rabble rousers who use lower emotions to gain power.