I am not worried for my life, threats are not new to me: Nikhil Wagle

In a piece for mid-day, senior journalist Nikhil Wagle, who has been getting threats from the right-wing outfit Sanatan Sanstha, explains why he rejected police protection

Last week, the Mumbai police visited my home and handed me a letter in which they offered me protection. I refused the offer saying one constable will not be sufficient to save my life. The police did not specify the reason. What they said was that the offer to protect me was based on a general threat perception.

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Nikhil Wagle

I came to know the real reason only when a senior journalist called me on Sunday from New Delhi, saying that the police have intercepted conversations between sadhaks (workers) of Sanatan Sanstha and found that I could be their next target. They could kill me, said the journalist.

I told the journalist the same thing: I will not accept any protection from the police. It is the duty of the police and government to protect everyone. They can do it by offering freedom of expression. They should stop people who do not approve of any thought or expression that goes against their philosophy or agenda.

Such individuals and institutions are there in large numbers, and they associate themselves with different religions. They do not like the questioning of their conduct, ways and means. Sadly, these individuals and institutions do not adhere to the teachings of their respective religions, which call for non-violent ways.

The ‘theoretical parts’ of religions that exist in this world are common in this regard. I have always sought an atmosphere where healthy debates are accepted, enjoyed and taken part in by all stakeholders. But I must say that today’s atmosphere is poisonous.

Any thought that they (right-wing forces) think is detrimental to their agenda is suppressed with physical force, and intellectual forces are forced to take a back seat. I would request the governments to change this into a democratic setup where people like me can express our views without fear or favour.

As far as Maharashtra is concerned, nobody seems safe these days. People like Bhalchandra Nemade, who is one among the few Jyanpeeth awardees of the state, need to be protected by the police. There are several other intellectuals who live under threat to their life. What kind of a state are we living in?

Instead of asking people like me to accept armed guards, the police and the government should be worried about the state of affairs. They should prepare themselves to deal with this kind of terrorism as well. My sympathisers ask me if I’m not worried about my life. Let me tell them that I’m not worried at all.

Threats to my life are not new to me. Sanatan Sanstha has tried to use force with me even before. They wrote against me in their mouthpieces in print and online and even published my phone numbers, asking their workers to intimidate me through texting and voice calls in 2011.

Sanatan has been after me especially after I did a television debate on the anti-superstition bill in 2011. Their spokesperson had walked out of the debate giving enough hints that I will not be spared by his organisation. The threats continued for at least two months after the debate was aired.

I say again that I’m not worried at all. Earlier, several organisations, including some political parties, had attacked my offices and assaulted me and my colleagues. But that did not deter them or me from doing our job of exposing anti-constitutional forces.

And let me assure them that I will continue to ask uncomfortable questions and moderate debates against bad forces as long as I’m alive and kicking.

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