Daily Times

Only in India can a politician feel free enough to dig out a controversial statement made by a minority leader out of the closet to flash an ultimatum for the entire community. Although violence should be condemned no matter what its roots or context, there were a million other ways for BJP leader Mithun Chakrabortty to react to a months-old threat issued by West Bengal’s candidate for Congress than to heat up the already charged political atmosphere.

Since Mr Hamayon Kabir had already been extensively censured by the Election Commission, what good could possibly come out of this fresh round of vileness? In recent years, India has witnessed a growing trend of divisive politics that has left minority communities, especially Muslims, feeling increasingly threatened and marginalized. The rise of religious intolerance and communal violence has created a hostile environment for Muslims in the country, leading to a sense of fear and insecurity in the community.

That shocking statement captured Mr Chakrabortty on video saying, “Chop (Muslims up and bury them underground,” only serves to further deepen the divide among communities. Moreover, the lack of accountability and action against individuals who make such inflammatory statements only emboldens others to follow suit. This culture of impunity has allowed hate speech to flourish and has normalized violence against minority groups.

Despite the BJP’s recent election setback, the persecution of Muslims in India shows no signs of abating largely because popular campaign strategies, based on Hindu nationalism and anti-Muslim rhetoric, have created a toxic political environment where one can easily cherry-pick the target. Sandwiched between the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), relentlessly targetted Muslims have grown accustomed to an undermined sense of belonging in their own country.

Political leaders and civil society must come together to address the growing polarization and hatred in Indian society. There is an urgent need to foster interfaith dialogue, promote understanding, and protect the rights of minority communities. But since the saffron bully seems unable to change its stripes, a better solution could be to step out into the open, tear down the facade of the largest secular democracy and let the Hindutva cat out of the bag. *