It seems, at least in the domain of mass media, that we are living in an age of binaries. Today in India, where sane voices taking middle ground on the issues of communalism, terrorism and nationalism are being drowned in the cacophony of social media trolls, the discourse is increasingly being shaped by extreme voices. This was more evident in the recent events that rattled the nation - from the attack on Amarnath pilgrims in Kashmir to the communal riots in Basirhat, West Bengal. While the right-wing accused the "liberals", "Leftists", civil society and mainstream media of selective outrage, the "liberals" responded by blaming the right-wing brigade of stoking the communal fire, of deliberately blaming the minority community and posting fake news to justify the cause. Are we entering a new era of polarisation? Is there a justification in the charge labelled by right-wingers against civil society and liberals of selective outrage? Or are foot-soldiers of communalism taking it too far with communal elements running amok?
