India has served as an example for the liberals owing to its secular constitution which negates the idea of a single state religion. The Indian constitution propagates the concept of inclusiveness, but the incumbent government of Narendra Modi is bent on fanning Hindutva ideology. The latter is averse to the view of adjusting any other religion but Hinduism. This is tarnishing India’s secular image. The incumbent prime minister, Narendra Modi, is trying tooth and nail to make India a Hindu state.
Such hidebound approach of Modi would definitely lead to India’s disintegration. Already the disenfranchisement among its masses exists in North East India, Punjab and Kashmir. Now given this reality, the Indians should be sure of the fact that Modi is intentionally stepping up schism within Indian society.
If we canvass Modi’s rule, then he has not let any chance to dent Muslims’ standing as a minority in India. For instance, he assaulted Muslims by tampering with their laws like triple talaq. He also banned the cow slaughter and accused Muslims of carrying out ‘Love Jihad’. He did so to appease the Hindu conservatives. But he championed the steps like criminalising triple talaq as a favour to Muslim women against patriarchy.
The Indian constitution propagates the concept of inclusiveness, but the government of Narendra Modi remains determined to fan Hindutva ideology
Moreover, as per the reports of ‘India Spend’, approximately 86 percent of victims of cow vigilante violence in India are Muslims, and 97 percent of these crimes have taken place after Modi ascended the saddle.
Of late, an attempt to bring down Quaid-e-Azam’s statue in Aligarh Muslim University by the student wing of Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) was also a part of the party’s larger political strategy, since Karnataka state elections were scheduled for May 15. It was just to spike the communal tensions ahead of polls. Such cheap attempts are made by Hindu nationalist parties wherever they encounter tough electoral competition.
Similarly, the Modi government has also been busy in muzzling any dissenting voice. The murder of high profile journalist like Gauri Lankesh can be taken as an example. In the same manner, the constant character assassination of liberal writers like Arundhati Roy exposits the Modi’s modus operandi to quell dissent.
Lastly, the blinkered attitude of current Indian government has taken a great toll on the secular identity of India. As the hate crimes against Muslims which include lynching, forced conversion and attacking the places of worship has earned India a bad name. Furthermore, if this approach continues then the chances of India’s division into smaller states cannot be ruled out. Thus, the way out lies in doling out equal rights to all the minorities of India which the state’s constitution guarantees.
The writer can be contacted at [email protected]
Published in Daily Times, May 18th 2018.