Prakash Raj’s Truth Revealed
Prakash Raj once again pointed his finger directly. In the discussion organized by the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), his statement made it clear—this country today is running under the rule of fear. Omar Khalid and others are not being released simply because of their Muslim identity. Because they are educated, aware, and know how to question—these very qualities have turned them into enemies.
Prakash Raj’s warning cannot be ignored. He said that India’s right-wing forces are looking toward Israel. If Israel succeeds in turning Gaza into a desert, then the same blueprint will be applied here as well. This is what they want to establish as the new normal.
We are witnessing how investigative agencies are being used to lock up young people in prison for years. Bail pleas are rejected one after another. This process has in fact become a tool to crush dissent. When the state holds all the instruments of power, instilling fear among people becomes the primary strategy of governance.
The examples cited by Prakash Raj shake our conscience. A common man carrying half a kilo of goat meat is lynched by a frenzied mob due to rumors. The killers of journalist Gauri Lankesh easily walk free on bail, strutting around the streets. Is this justice? Or is it a manufactured political narrative where hate and suspicion drive everything?
Even more frightening is society’s mindset. A friend fears Muslims, yet is a fan of Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan. When sad, he listens to Rafi’s songs, when in love, he reads Faiz’s poetry—yet the fear of Muslims does not go away. This is the result of the so-called “WhatsApp University’s” education.
In Prakash Raj’s speech, one idea kept returning: asking questions has become the biggest enemy of today’s government. Omar Khalid’s family did not fear asking questions, and that is why they are being suppressed. When questions are raised, the state trembles. That is why, as an artist and as a citizen, he is raising his voice.
In these times, his call is extremely important—“If we do not dare to speak out, if we do not say that no human being in this world is illegal, then this genocide will continue.”
This is the greatest challenge before India today. If fear and silence become the norm, democracy will lose all meaning. Therefore, we must choose—will we accept the ‘new normal’ of fear, or will we revive the power of questioning and protest?
