Combating Islamophobia: Indian Scenario
Ram Puniyani
Recently UN General
Assembly adopted unanimous resolution to observe March 15 as “Combat
Islamophobia’ day. Though resolution was unanimous; India’s response was, “not convinced that we need to elevate phobia
against one religion to the level of an international day.” The term
Islamophobia came into vogue particularly after 9/11, 2001, when US media coined
the term ‘Islamic terrorism’ in the wake of twin tower attack. The large
section of Global media picked it up and hate against Islam and Muslims started
dominating the global space. In India in particular this phobia against Islam
and Muslims is becoming worse by the day.
In India, this phrase
which was coined globally got a further boost due to sectarian politics
prevalent here. Hate against Islam and Muslims has its genesis in the ‘divide
and rule’ policy of British, who introduced communal historiography and kings
rule was presented through the prism of religion rather than through power and
wealth. ... So the roots of Islamophobia in India were already
deeply rooted even before the global phenomenon added on to the prevalent ‘Hate
Islam-Muslims’.
Babri Mosque was razed
to the ground. Later Gujarat carnage was to break out and lead to the limitless
sufferings and consequent ghettoization. The reform process within the Muslim
community had already got a severe setback with the reversal of Shah Bano
judgment. Now the ghettoisation of the community as aftermath of majoritarian
violence put brakes on the possibility of the community coming out of the steel
like grip of conservative Maulanas. The extreme radical elements within the
community kept providing the much needed provocation to the majoritarian
onslaught against the hapless minority.
As India showed its
reservations to the UN resolution, the things back home did give a reflection
of the plight of Muslim minority here. ...
The offense of
communalism is on the march. The country in general and Karnataka in particular
has been witnessing series of incidents, at the level of Hate speech, boycott
of Muslims in trade, calling for ban on Namaz in open spaces, demand for
removal of loudspeakers in mosques are being floated ad infinitum.
Hate speech is
becoming a sort of ‘New Normal’, what with a Court ruling that “If said with a
smile” it is not a crime. Ruling establishment promotes Hate as we saw in the
case of Central Minister Anurag Thakur; giving the slogan ‘Goli Maro’ getting
full Cabinet rank. Yati Narsinghanand, head Priest of Dasna Devi Temple, is
going from bad to worse in this direction. In Haridwar Dharam Sansad the call
for genocide of Muslims was met with a stony silence from the Prime Minster.
In a recent
Mahapanchayat in Delhi in which anti Muslim slogans were given and Yati said
that Hindus should take up arms as there is a threat of conversion if a Muslim becomes a Prime
minster. In the same Mahapanchyat Suresh Chavhanke, Chief of Sudarshan TV also
spewed hate against minorities’ community.
Hindutva outfits have
also given a call that there should be no Muslim traders near the Hindu temples
or Hindu religious fairs. The ban is spreading in various places in Karnataka.
As a small respite two BJP leaders have opposed it and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder of biotechnology giant Biocon took to
Twitter to decry Karnataka’s “communal exclusion”.
A lot is happening in
Karnataka on communal front. The new Chief Minister is out play the divisive
role to the hilt. Also Karnataka Assembly has passed the law ‘Freedom of
Religion Bill’, aimed at intimidating minorities. Preparations are afoot to
emulate the same by Haryana Chief Minster.
More grounds are being
searched to harm the commercial interests of the community with the call to
boycott the Muslim traders on various pretexts. Now there is an incident in Karnataka,
Shivmogga, where Bajrang Dal workers have attacked a meat seller on the issue
of Halal meat. ‘Halal’ in Arabic means ‘permissible’. It is meat cut in accordance
with Islamic laws and although it is sold for consumption by Muslims, non-Muslims across India
purchase it from ‘halal’ shops too. The five
Bajrang dal activists who were arrested in the matter; got an easy bail, which
generally is denied to people like Stan Swamy, or those talking Peace like Umar
Khalid. In UP there were voices to ban the non vegetarian food during the
Navaratri festival, fortunately withdrawn; later. Earlier we had seen the
similar demand in Mumbai during a Jain festival Paryushan.
Wellness Company
Himalaya is being targeted for displaying Halal Certificate on its signboards.
The reason being its owner is a Muslim. It is being said that anyone who
supports their products will be promoting ‘economic Jihad’. This ‘economic
jihad’ formulation came as a latest addition to jihad series from ‘Corona
Jihad’ to ‘land jihad’ to ‘UPSC jihad’. The company has clarified that none of
its products contain meat derivatives. The certification is a prerequisite for
exporting the drugs, which other companies like Reliance, Tata, Dabur, Amul,
Hindustan Unilever and others have also procured.
From decades we have
seen the use of loud speakers in mosques to give Azan. Now this issue is also
being raked up in Maharashtra by Raj Thackeray. In Tripura another BJP leader
called for Government supported madrassas to be shut down as the Madarassas
produce terrorists. The Gujarat state government is making the
Bhagavad Gita a part of the curriculum for Classes 6 to 12th.
According Jamiat
Ulama-I-Hind factsheet; during July 2021 to December 2021 there were 59 cases
of hate speech and campaigns, 38 cases of violence (including lynching), 21
religious places were attacked, 2 cases of custodial deaths and 9 cases of
police atrocities and six cases of social discrimination. All this is the
outcome of prevalent Hate against religious minorities. It explains reservations
of Indian Government to wholeheartedly endorse the UN resolution for observing
15th March as “Combat Islamophobia’ day.
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