Mubarak Baloch
The liberal face of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s India is now perhaps getting pale day by day. Every other day media carries the news of Hindu extremists hate campaign against non-Hindu population both Muslims and Christians are being the major victim. Both communities are suffering the worst as their religious places are vandalized and their faith is derided. Two days back a section of media reported that few Hindu activists believed to be associated with Gau Rkshak Dal (Cow Protection Movement) detained two Muslim boys in Haryana and forcibly made them eat cow dung and drink beast’s urine. They were suspected transporting cows from Mewat to Delhi. In few of Indian states beef is presently banned. But transporting cows from one place to other has nothing to do with beef ban. In fact these guys might have been shifting animals for farming and dairy product purposes. This grisly act has attracted media attention far and wide. On being questioned with regard to rising tide of Hindu extremism Indian PM Narendra Modi replied that media should avoid reporting hawkish statements of Hindu stalwarts. Would this strategy make Hindu stop mounting hate against Muslims?
Recent court decree on Gujrat pogram acquitting a number of accused and handing down lenient sentence to few others show Indian judiciary being leniently tilted towards Hindu militants. Broad daylight massacre of Muslims in Gujrat stands beyond doubt that Hindu extremists, with active connivance of Mr. Modi who was chief executive of the state then, were involved lynching innocent people and setting their houses ablaze.
Gharwapsi campaign has been going on in which Muslims, Christians and other non-Hindu minorities are converted to Hinduism both by offering carrot and showing stick. Below Poverty Line (BPL) card is given to poor segment of people as an incentive to change the faith. Hundreds of families have been converted so far. BPL card scheme is government launched programme which is being misused to promote Hindu faith at the cost of other religions. Besides, intimidative tactics are also used compelling people to change their religion.
Dalit (untouchable) population is also suffering the same fate. Lately, Rohith Vemula, a doctorial student in Hyderabab university with three of his colleagues was expelled from hostel and they were barred from visiting public spaces in university premises. Being under the spell of extreme dejection Rohit subsequently committed suicide. In a similar situation a Dalit named
Mr. C.S Karnan, Justice in High court of Madras was restrained from discharging his judicial responsibilities after he opposed his transfer from Madras court to Calcutta High Court being extra-legal. Subsequently, he stated, “I’m ashamed of being born in India I would shift to a country where caste system is not existing”.
With regard to Mother Teresa, Mohan Madhukar Bhagwat head of RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) in a media statement said that her welfare oriented activities were actually designed to carryout proselytizing. This encouraged Hindu militants who vandalized several churches including one in Chhattisgarh in March 06, 2016 and Sunday service congregation was disrupted. Subsequently, one elderly nun was also raped. Liberal voices are being gagged like Sudheendra Kulkarni’s face was blackened by Hindu hardliners when he sponsored Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri’s book launching ceremony in Mumbai. Engineer Shaikh Rashid, member IOK legislative assembly was also sprayed with black paint after he condemned Hindu extremists activities targeting minority population.
The upsurge in Hindu chivunisim is witnessed after Modi’s RSS guided BJP government took the governmental reins. Liberal outlook of India is fast disappearing. Shabby treatment meted out to minorities is also having spillover effect in the region. Not good feelings are taking place in neighbouring countries over this Hindu chivuvisnism and Hindu community living in neighbouring countries have apprehensions for obvious reasons. The moral fabric of Hindu society has gone so weak that there is large number of rape incidents particularly low caste Hindu families are targeted. Nirbhaya alias Joiti ‘s (a medical student) case of rape had hit international media attention. She was raped and subsequently murdered by the rapist in Delhi. Lately, India’s Defence Attache’ Brig SK Narian had to be called back from Indian embassy in Kabul after he sexually molested an Afghan girl who visited embassy for grant of study visa. Hatred and bigotry towards other faiths and rising graph of licentiousness are painting a poor picture of India’s social and moral milieu. Saner elements in India should wake up and reinvigorate the liberal forces in order to stall the further slide into this morass.
