ISLAMABAD, January 16: India has entered into a very critical phase of communal strife after the Hindu zealots led by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) inspired Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders openly called for genocide of the Muslims and persecution of other minorities through tacit extreme ploys.
Indian and foreign media reports are rife with repeated incidents of lynching of Muslims and Dalits, destruction of Churches, trolling of scholars, detention of activists, the harassment of movie stars, persecution of the minorities, the erosion of fundamental rights, distortion of history, the usurpation of social media by hate speech and fake news and propaganda and encouragement of vigilantism.
The same alarming situation also found words in a Congressional briefing of President of Genocide Watch, Dr Gregroy Stanton, few days back, who had warned that something similar to the inhumane Rwandan genocide could happen in India if stern action was not taken by the government of India.
During a briefing in Washington, DC, he also referred to the event of ‘Dharam Sansad’ organized in Haridwar, where members of Hindu-right wing members made genocide calls against Muslims.
Dr Stanton bitterly criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his indifferent attitude. “As the leader of India, he has an obligation to denounce this genocidal speech. Yet, Narendra Modi has not spoken against it,” foreign media quoted the president of watchdog as saying.
According to experts, the reason extremist groups in India are on the rise, is clear; they have impunity and support from Modi’s led government.
Contrary to it, “India prohibits hate speech under several sections of its penal code, including a section which criminalizes “deliberate and malicious acts” intended to insult religious beliefs,” they added.
According to Human Rights Watch in its latest World Report 2022 unveiled on Jan 13, said that Indian authorities had intensified their crackdown on activists, journalists, and other critics of the government using politically motivated prosecutions in 2021. – PR
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