We, Indians, are a strange lot. We just cannot accept a view point that is contrary to ours. And we tend to attack individuals than issues.
Take the case of the interview Sachin gave. He was asked a loaded question on Mumbai belonging to Marathis. Knowing the political implications of the answer, Sachin gave an answer saying he is an Indian first, then Maharashtrian and Mumbai belongs to all Indians. Well! He could not have given a different answer. At best, he could have side stepped the question. Once he has given the answer, then he should know what to expect as the sons of the soil issue is foremost in Maharashtra today.
Bal Thackeray in an editorial countered this by telling that Sachin was talking rot. Frankly, having adopted the sons of the soil argument, he had no choice other than to condemn Sachin on this issue. In a free society, that is his prerogative.
What is not acceptable was every other so called leaders jumped in and attacked Thackeray, not on the issue, but on speaking against Sachin. This is wrong. They can join the issue with Thackeray and say he is talking rubbish, which he is. But to tell him that he cannot oppose anything Sachin said just because Sachin is a national icon is rubbish. Sachin is an exceptional cricket player, but that doesnt mean that whatever he says on any issue should not be challenged, by anyone else.
This is the same case with Sonia and Rahul. Congress says that any view points expressed by them is sacrosanct and cannot be questioned. This is absurd.
We need to have healthy, issue based debates. The person and the issue should be delineated. That is what free speech is all about.
