Muslim Victims Of Violence In Modern India – OpEd

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Derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) made by two officials from India’s ruling BJP sparked a mix of deadly protests and diplomatic spats in India. Complaints have been lodged with India’s ambassadors by countries such as Oman, Qatar, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

15 nations have protested India’s violation of the limit this time, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Qatar. It was obviously “over the line” to make derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Since the BJP came to power in 2014, religious polarization has increased, as has hate speech and attacks on Muslims. And the last few weeks have been especially tense after some Hindu groups went to a local court in Varanasi to seek permission to pray at a centuries-old mosque that they claimed was built on the ruins of a demolished temple.

The 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and Pakistan have also condemned India for BJP party members denigrating remarks about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Furthermore, the remarks sparked outrage around the world and within India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party facing condemnation in Muslim countries and other countries. Muslims protested in cities across Asia, including Pakistan and India. Indian authorities cracked down on protesters last week, but the Modi regime continues to demolish Muslim activists’ homes in order to pursue its ideology of Hindu supremacy.

This is not how Mr. Modi or the BJP has governed. India, founded as a secular nation despite its 79% Hindu majority and 15% Muslim minority, has slid toward Hindu nationalism under BJP rule. Under dubious pretenses, bulldozers have razed houses in majority-Muslim neighborhoods, with local officials even boasting about the demolitions. The BJP-led state government of Karnataka banned hijabs in schools, which the state court upheld in March. The hijab controversy in India cannot be viewed in isolation. It is a component of the chauvinist BJP government’s anti-Muslim rhetoric. 

And in Pakistan, two Hindus, Kelash Kumar and Aneel Kumar, were promoted to the rank of Lt Col in the Pakistani Army. Monitories in Pakistan are equal citizens, and it is the responsibility of the state to protect them.

With the rise of the BJP Party in India, the Muslim population has been subjected to disinformation, hate speech, media manipulation, repression, and vigilante attacks. The marginalization of Muslims reached a new high in 2019 when the government passed the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which discriminates against Muslim refugees. It was intended to be used alongside a proposed citizen verification process that had already disenfranchised 1.9 million people in just one state, raising the prospect of depriving millions of Muslims of citizenship.

Every year, hundreds of hate crimes are committed against Indian Muslims and other religious minorities, as local and state BJP officials engage in hate speech themselves. Despite this, Mr. Modi and the national BJP have remained silent until now. 

India is a country with deteriorating religious freedoms. But the international community has been silent over India’s ridiculous policy. 

The hijab controversy in India, discriminatory citizenship laws, lynching’s of Muslims on suspicion of consuming or transporting beef, and bans on communal prayers are all part of the BJP’s sinister anti-Muslim campaign.

Monitories in Pakistan are equal citizens and it is the job of the state to protect them and even recently, Kelash Kumar and Aneel Kumar, two Hindus, have been promoted to the rank of Lt Col in the Pakistan Army.

BJP is utilizing the political ideology of Hindutva to fuel violence and hatred towards the Muslim community. Hindutva supremacists believe that their God is only there for them and others are untouchables and consider Muslims in India invaders who must be converted back to Hinduism. Because, they find Muslims an easy target. 

The writer is an Islamabad based freelance analyst. You can reach author at: [email protected] 

Tofeeque Ahmed

Tofeeque Ahmed is a freelancer and media activist, writes on political developments and security issues with special focus regional affairs.

5 thoughts on “Muslim Victims Of Violence In Modern India – OpEd

  • June 30, 2022 at 1:45 am
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    With Pakistan’s steller record in human rights, I wonder why Indian Muslims are not moving to Pakistan? with Pakistan created as homeland for Muslims of South Asia, Indian Muslims will be welcomed with open Hnads by Pakistan. Do you agree Mr. Ahmed? or is it just talk?

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  • June 30, 2022 at 12:31 pm
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    THe innocence of the author is touching. Why has the percentage of Hindus come down in Pakistan to negligible – is it not because of constant persecution ?
    At the same time Indian Armed Forces much earlier have had generals and air chief marshals from the Muslim community, not to speak of 3 Muslim Presidents.
    But there is some grain of truth in what ever else he has said.

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  • June 30, 2022 at 4:46 pm
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    Udaipur Murder: Mohammad and Riyaz Akhtari, who filmed the brutal killing of Kanhaiya Lal in broad day light ,bragged about it in a video and also threatened PM Modi. Still the author believe muslims are threatened in India! Muslims in India have held highest positions including the President and large numbers have risen to the ranks of Generals and you are boasting of promoting two to Lt Cols who really have no real authority .In Pakistan the Sikh community is hunted around with their women not safe and their language Gurmukhi script not taught in schools. NO Indian Muslims would like to move to Pakistan, do you welcome them?Even Indian Muslims in Pakistan are treated as outcasts.So friend look within first…

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    • July 1, 2022 at 4:18 pm
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      Recently, after derogatory remarks which are highlighted by BJP’s spokesman, Muslims have the right to protest against them, and the government on the basis of protests is bulldozing Muslim houses.
      In March last year, there were even followed attacks on Tablighi Jamaat members across the country. BJP politicians openly supported the calls for a boycott of Muslims and said Tablighi Jamaat members ‘should be shot’.
      Millions attended Hindu festivals in India as COVID cases soar, tell me where were BJP covid-19 restrictions at that time? And specifically, targeted Muslims Tablighi Jamaat was made the scapegoat for spreading the virus.
      So aren’t Muslims being targeted inside India? So where is India’s Steeler record in human rights? or does humanity not exist in India Mr. PATIAL?

      Reply
  • July 2, 2022 at 7:58 am
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    Facts explain the near truth need no debate : Pakistan minorities now comprise only around 3% cent of the population where as it was around 15% in undivided Pakistan.In India the Muslim population increased from 9.4% (1951) to 14.2% (2011).

    Reply

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