Religious Animosity in Secular India

By Zaheerul Hassan
Second largest democratic country “India” apparently pretending her as a secular state but on ground situation is quite opposite to the claimed one. Many recent incidents are presenting the miserable condition of Muslims, Christians and Sikhs in India. Apart from minorities’ even low caste Hindus are being mal treated and not allowed to perform their religious obligations in open. Killing of Mohammad Akhlaq for slaughtering of cow in village Bisada, painting the face of Kulkarni, banning beef in Kashmir and all over India, ruthlessly beating of two innocent young Muslims boys in Mumbai, disrespecting Sikhs’ Holly book “Sri Guru Granth Sahib”, killing two Sikh protesters outside the historical Sikh shrine at village Bargari of Faridkot district, inhumaneness against Kashmiris, Maoists and Christians in Orissa are some of naked examples of state sponsored terrorism against minorities. It only proves that against minorities, by design Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is supporting extremists’ like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
Recent, communal violence broke out when Mr. Akhlaq 50s years old was killed in the village of Bisada, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where the slaughter of cows is banned. On 10 October 2015, Shiv Sena activists’ grubby black painted Kulkarni’s face since he refused to cancel former Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri’s book launching ceremony. Mr. Kulkarrani is a renowned scholar and researcher currently and heading Observer and Research Foundation (ORF) in India. Kulkarrni even during his visit to Pakistan strongly condemn cumulative extremism in India. He also emphasized that negotiations between two neighbouring atomic states is utmost important to avoid nuclear conflict between them.
On 14 October, 2015 Indian police exposed its barbarism while firing more than 200 gunshots toward Sikhs. The Sikhs were protesting against the desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib outside the historical Sikh shrine at village Bargari of Faridkot district.
The firing has taken the lives of two Sikhs and left several injured. Two other Singhs’s were known to be injured severely. The deceased was identified as Gurjit Singh, resident of Srawan village, and Krishan Singh, resident of Nimami Wala village.
Just after couple of days, again on 22 October 2015 Police party had ruthlessly beaten up two Dalit children and their heels have been burnt alive at Sunped village in Faridabad. Later on another 15-year-old Dalit boy, who was charged with theft of a pigeon, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Haryana’s Gohana town on the same day. When local population protested against this brutality of the police, the ruling elite and the security forces tried to hush up the culprits of Shiva Sena.
In this regard, Ex-Indian army chief and Union Minister General VK Singh has prompted severe backlash from fellow countrymen over his ‘racist’ remarks regarding recent Dalit killings in Faridabad, the largest city in the north Indian state of Haryana. In fact, he in a recent speech in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh compared the killing of two Dalit toddlers to “throwing stones at a dog”. His remarks on Dalit community sparked the situation countrywide and opposition parties started demanding his immediate sacking from the Ministry of External Affairs, which he heads. Although, later on Gen VK Singh has tried to rescue from the criticism while saying that wrong meaning have been given to his statement over Dalit’s agitation.
Meanwhile, Dalit soldiers serving in Indian armed forces had shown their disappointment over their ex- chief’ ’statement. The credible sources reveal on the condition of anonymity that Dalit soldiers have asked their commanders to ban the former chief from visiting armed forces Institutions and attending functions. In this connection, Intelligence sources also cautioned the Singh that any frustrated and rigid Dalit soldier likely to assault him.
Earlier, on 19 October in New Dehli, Shiv Sena people have attacked Engineer Rashid, an independent lawmaker from Jammu and Kashmir. They threw ink and engine oil on his face when he was holding press conference on the topic of ‘beef party’ at the Press Club in Delhi. This was the second attack on the MLA within a fortnight. The purpose of such like attacks on Kashmiris leaders could be to terrorize and attempts of pressing all sort of voices those can be helpful in internationalizing Kashmir issue and exposing barbarism of Indian Army against innocent Kashmiris.
Furthermore, Shiva Sena extremists’ have stormed Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) where President Pakistan Cricket Board’s official supposed to attend a meeting with his counterpart on the conduct of Indo- Pak Cricket Series in India. The protesters demanded to cancel talks with Pakistan on India-Pak Cricket series. Shiva Sena not only stormed BCCI office but also asked International Cricket Umpire Mr. Aleem Dar to quit ongoing Indio-South African Cricket Series. Mr. Aleem Dar was supposed to officiate as umpire in the fourth and fifth ODIs between India and South Africa in Chennai and Mumbai on October 22 and 25 respectively.
Actually, Hindus extremists under the shelter of Modi are involved in terrifying minorities while carrying out looting, murdering and using state missionary against them and low caste Hindus. In fact, their desire is to forcefully inject and impose the extremists’ thoughts for achieving Hindus’ supremacy throughout India as well as in the region. Shaping Hindus’ radicals’ thoughts BJP party established an alliance with Shiva Sena in 1992 and sought the support of globally notorious Intelligence agency RAW.
Notably, from 1994-2015 over 3000 Muslims have been killed in Gujrat and Mumbai. Notably, in 2002 over 2000 Muslims were killed in Gujrat state, where Narendra Modi was Chief Minister. Different inquires and independent circles have clearly stayed Mr. Modi responsible for mass-genocide of Muslims. In fact, Modi has been intoxicated by extremist’s Hindus from his childhood and believe in Hindu supremacy in India and all over the region.
Even though, Prime Minister Mr. Modi faced terrible criticism in media but he and his party BJP, and its senior’s ministers did not condemn the extremists Hindus violence against Muslims and Sikhs. Therefore, it has been confirmed now that Mr. Modi remained deliberately quiet over Shiva Sean violence against minorities. In this regard, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi the worst victim of ideological intolerance. Former union minister Arun Shourie on 2 November 2015 stated that PM Modi must speak out on intolerance. Earlier, on 17 October 2015, Congress President Sonia Gandhi while addressing a rally at Jalalpur town clearly alleged that PM Narendar Modi is responsible for the ongoing communal violence. She contested that Hindus and Muslims do not fight on their own; it was in the interest of some that they do. She also carried out march and asked Indian president to Congress President Sonia Gandhi led her party’s protest march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Indian presidential palace, against the ‘continuous rising intolerance’ under the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government, according to a report on the Hindustan Times website. The party said that an atmosphere of fear prevailed in the country.
At the occasion of his 50 birthday famous Indian Bollywood star Shahrukh in an interview showed his concern over increasing extremism and intolerance. He also threatened that as protest against extremists, Hindus may return the awards. But instead of feeling sorry about it, BJP started while thrashing out asked him to leave India and go to Pakistan.
Later on, former naval Chief Admiral Raam Das also condemned the Ex-Army Chief statement regarding Dalits. Likewise, renowned South Asian writer Arundhati Roy on 5 November 2015 issued a statement explaining her decision to return the 1989 National Award she received for Best Screenplay, saying, “I want to make it clear that I am not returning this award because I am ‘shocked’ by what is being called the ‘growing intolerance’ being fostered by the present government.” She clarified that Intolerance’ is the wrong word to use for the lynching, shooting, burning and mass murder of fellow human beings.
Likewise, till now over 45 reputed writers, thinkers and individuals from various segments of society while protesting against Modi governments Hindus had returned their national awards.
All above incidents forced me to say that India is no more a secular country and converted into dictatorial extremists’ state where lives of minorities and low caste Hindus are in danger. Therefore, such type of extremists’ behavior may lead India towards further anarchy and bifurcation, since already 123 major and small movements including Khalistan, Kashmiris and Maoists are their way to independence. These movements have completely weakening the foundations of India since participants of independence struggle are fighting for their basic rights to live their lives according to their religious and norms. Due to biased Hindu policies, Muslim, Tamils and Sikh communities have completely lost the trust and started migrating to Canada and others European countries. While talking to the media, on 16 October 2015, prominent Indian writer Munawwar Rana has very rightly expressed that it is impossible for India to eliminate 170 million Muslims. He further stated that if the religious hatred continues to increase like the way it has been increasing, a new Pakistan will be formed out of India. Anyhow, UN and human rights agencies should take account of Modi government’s polices since supporting extremists and increasing influence of Shiva Sena may give access and provide them chance to capture some Indian nuclear arsenal which can put regional peace at stake.