Naomi Klein coined the term ‘Disaster Capitalism’. After the devastating flood of Kerala the fascist BJP and their parent organisation RSS are coining a new term, ‘Disaster Fascism’.
It’s nothing new to them. This is a tried and tested method for them. Awaaz – South Asia Watch Ltd in a report pointed out in a report, titled ”In Bad Faith? British Charity and Hindu Extremism”, RSS branches in the UK have been raising large funds in the name of Gujarat Earthquake Orissa Supercyclone. This fund was used for organising the 2002 Gujarat pogrom.
The RSS and Sangh Parivar have been using this tried and tested method in the Kerala floods too. The Sangh elements were campaigning in social media not to donate to Chief Minister’s relief fund.
In the initial days of the Kerala floods, when people were risking their lives to save people, RSS elements were nowhere to be seen engaging in relief work. On the otherhand, they were campaigning in North India that RSS were active in rescue works. They even went on to claim that 10 of their cadres died during relief work. This is a total lie.
Once the flood waters receded, RSS and its charity ‘Sewa Bharati’ are seen in organising relief works especially in and around Hindu temples.
The damages caused by the floods are enormous. It would take years to rebuild Kerala. The communist ruled Kerala government asked for Rs 2200 crore for immediate relief work. What the centre allotted was a meagre Rs 600 croroe. Meanwhile many governments around the world came forward to donate money to Kerala. The biggest donation came from United Arab Emirates where millions of Keralites work. In a tweet, PM Modi thanked the ruler of Dubai. However the central government backtracked and refused accept the donation, citing procedural problems and past precedents. In fact, as per National Disaster Management Plan 2016 section 9.2 and 9.3 published by central government – donations given voluntarily by other countries can be accepted . This is disaster fascism at work in Kerala. This is to make of Kerala suffer for the natural devastation and beg for money from the right wing central government.
The Modi-government had even written to all Indian embassies around the world not to accept foreign financial help for Kerala tragedy.
In the meantime, the right wing rumour mills are on an overdrive to prove that the floods happened because Kerala is communist, Kerala eats beef and so many other calumnies. An RSS ideologue and a director of Reserve Bank of India S. Gurumurthy even went so far as to say that the floods happened because Kerala women wanted to visit the celebate God, Lord Ayyappa temple in Shabarimala!
The plan of the right wing and openly fascist central government is to crunch Kerala for funds. When Kerala is crushed the right wing will step in with charity to help people. The idea is to prepare the ground in the ‘fortress’ Kerala to be receptive of the fascist Hindutva ideology. When it is ready they will sow the seeds of hatred. And that is called ‘Disaster Fascism’.
Binu Mathew is the editor of www.countercurrents.org
Is there an online site for people to send donations to Kerala for flood relief? Do you know of one or have one at Countercurrents? Please let people know where we can send donations to avoid the current injustice!
You can donate here https://donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/
When in the History of Hinduism have the Upper caste (Who are only 10%) done any good to the lower caste or the Poor in this Country ?? India is a democracy only on Paper — Ancient Hindu mindset and Caste still prevails —- You go out of the Marriage Hall with your Upper caste Host and see some people standing there with a Begging Bowl in their hands and you ask your Host who are they ? And he will tell you that they are poor People and because they did some grave Sin in their previous Life that is why it is their Karma that they are condemned to suffer in this Life — So it is their fate that they should suffer and Pay for their Sins and we should in no way Help them or give them Charity or Food —–In short he is saying that it is their KARMA and if HELP is given then the Gods will be Angry on you —- During the Kerala floods which were Man Made and caused untold devastation and suffering one Upper caste Hindu Swami was saying that “‘No Help whether in monetory or kind Should be given to People of kerala because they are Beef Eaters — And the Gods are Punishing them for their Sins” — In short they want all the Money or Charity to Roll in Temples — Minorities are already considered as Alien to the Nation and will soon be losing their Voting Right and made Third Class citizens ( They are already Second Class Citizens at present ) when India will become Bharat with Saffron flag when it becomes a Hindu Rashtra — And Nathuram Godse will become Father of Nation —