By Sajjad Shaukat
It is surprising that
media did not take much notice of the report of a US Congress-established panel
which has shown serious concerns over the maltreatment of religious minorities
in India.
In this regard, on April
30, in its annual report 2015, the US Commission on International Religious
Freedom said, “Since the [last year’s] election, religious minority communities
have been subject to derogatory comments by politicians linked to the ruling
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and numerous violent attacks and forced
conversions by Hindu nationalist groups, such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS) and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).
The report pointed out,
“Hindu groups had announced plans in December to forcibly reconvert at least
4,000 Christian families and 1,000 Muslim families to Hinduism in Uttar Pradesh
as part of a so-called ‘ghar wap’' (homecoming) programme…the Hindu groups
sought to raise money for their campaign, noting that it cost nearly 200,000
rupees per Christian and 500,000 rupees per Muslim.”
The Panel asked the
Obama Administration to press the Indian government to publicly rebuke
officials and religious leaders who make derogatory remarks about various
communities including Sikhs.
However, as part of
anti-Muslim and anti-Christian approach, leader of the BJP and Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi is giving impetus to Hindu chauvinism. Indian society is
rapidly radicalizing, as unprecedented rise of Hindu extremism has posed
serious threats to the very existence of the religious minorities.
It is amazing that
theoretically, Indian Constitution safeguards the rights of minorities, but in
practice, ideology of Hindutva (Hindu nationalism) prevails. Hindu majority led
by the BJP has shown complete disregard to it, and commit excesses and cruelties
against Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Dalits with impunity.
Hindu politics and
culture, dominated by the fundamentalist parties such as BJP, VHP, Shiv Sena
and RSS including other extremist outfits have been propagating Hindutva.
Provocative utterances of their extremist leaders have resulted into unending
violence especially against the Muslims and Christians.
It is mentionable that
Hinduvta agenda enabled BJP hardliner, Narendra Modi to get a land sliding
triumph in the Indian elections 2014. In this respect, RSS driven anti-Muslim
move of the BJP including other Hindu fanatic parties could be judged from
various developments. On May 28, 2014, Rashtriya Hindu Andolan, a
Mangalore-based Hindutva outfit and activists from various right wing groups organized
a protest in Mangalore in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner by
demanding the authorities to ban the morning Muslim call to prayer (Azan)
across the country. Besides forcing the Muslim employee in a Parliament Canteen
by BJP leader to break his fast by stuffing piece of bread in his mouth,
statement of Deputy Chief of Goa, declaring India as a Hindu state might be
cited as example.
It is noteworthy that in
1992, a large crowd of Hindu Karsevaks (volunteers) in accordance with a
preplanned scheme of the Indian high officials entirely demolished the
16th-century Babri Masjid (mosque) to reclaim the land known as RAM
Janmabhoomi–birthplace of the god. The destruction of the Babri Masjid sparked
Muslim outrage around the country, provoking several months of inter-communal
rioting between Hindu and Muslim communities, causing the death of at least
2,000 people, majority of whom were Muslims. Besides, massacre of 2500 Muslims
in the in the BJP-ruled Indian state of Gujarat in 2002 and those of more than
2002 Muslims during the communal riots of 2008 in Uttar Pradesh—participation
of Indian high officials and leaders of the VHP, BJP and Bajrang Dal in the
incidents might also be cited as instance.
Similarly, in the recent
years, assaults on Christians, their churches and property have been executed
by the Hindu mobs in various cities of India. In this connection, at least 100
Christians have been assassinated by Hindu extremists, mostly in the state of
Orissa.
It is of particular
attention that on November 7, 2011, leader of the VHP, Pravin Togadia, in his
furious speech questioned the past of Muslims and Christians, and further gave
a call to Hindus to capture the Islamic holy places in Arab and Vatican of
Europe.
It is worth-mentioning
that forced conversions of other religious minorities into Hindus also
continue. In this regard, Bajrang Dal, an offshoot of the RSS, converted at
least 57 Muslim families (200 people) into Hindus at a ceremony in Agra, Uttar
Pradesh.
Previously, in early
September 2014, Christians were also forcefully converted to Hindus which
created unrest among Christian clergy. Recently, a similar event in Aligarh saw
Christian families converting to Hinduism. Since installment of the BJP
government in the center, this campaign has been accelerated.
As regards persecution
of minorities in India, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Testimony by Human
Rights Watch presented before US Senate Committee on atrocious attitude of
Hindu majority had highlighted the plight of minorities in India. The report
was presented before Indian general elections 2014. But, it is strange that
American government which had denied visa to Modi on the basis of his
involvement in Gujrat genocide, allowed.
Nevertheless, some of
the fanatic Hindu groups are not in favour of a separate and distinct culture
for minorities. A Hindu fundamentalist namely Prof Balraj Madhok had suggested
that the minorities must adopt Indian (Hindu) names.
Now, schools and other
educational institutions are being systematically Hinduized. References to
Hindu gods and goddesses abound in the text books. Books, prescribed by the
Education Boards contain lessons giving false stories of Muslim atrocities on
Hindu women, kidnapping, forced conversion etc.
Undoubtedly, Hindu fundamentalism
is increasingly widening its influence everywhere and has already established
for itself a firm base in every sector of the Indian society including
bureaucracy, media, educational institutions, and the like. The hate
campaign unleashed by the fundamentalist forces is keeping the minority wholly
preoccupied with defending their basic human rights and cultural identity.
Nonetheless, it is a
good sign that the US has abandoned its double standard by showing grave
concerns about mistreatment of Indian religious minorities. American said
report has exposed Indian false claim of the largest democracy, acting upon the
principles of liberalism and secularism. Now, the West and particular the US
must take appropriate steps against New Delhi in this respect. Otherwise, Hindu
extremists may cause World War 111 or clash of civilizations.
Email:
sajjad_logic@yahoo.com
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