islamophobia - a big concern for India

(Ahsan Zaheer, islamabad)

Islamophobia has arisen as the biggest danger to the Muslim World. Islamophobia is a term used to depict antagonism, fear and hatred of Islam, Muslims, and Islamic culture, and active discrimination against them.

This time in India, Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made insulting and derogatory comments against Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). The comments were made by Nupur Sharma during a TV debate last week in the backdrop of a series of communal incidents across the country.

Recent remarks of BJP leaders did cause a great deal of trouble for Prime Minister Narendra Modi government. India is confronting a reaction from the all Muslim countries as well as from Arab world. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has also denounced the insulting remarks and asked United Nations to take necessary action for the protection of rights and freedom of minorities in India.

The diplomatic fury over the remarks on Prophet Muhammad by BJP leaders Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal continued even as the BJP government tried to calm down the rage in various countries, asserting that it respects all religions. The controversial remarks also sparked a trend on social media in various countries demanding for a boycott of Indian products. Fifteen countries, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Malaysia, UAE, Jordan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bahrain, Maldives, Libya, Turkiye and Indonesia have recorded official protests against India over the controversial comments.

For face saving and to diffuse the backlash coming from around the world, The BJP has suspended spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled Naveen Jindal over the controversial comments. Leaders of India’s BJP also instructed party officials to be “extremely cautious” when talking about religion on public platforms.

BJP is famous in India and worldwide for using such tactics to for their politics. Basically, BJP politics are based on anti Muslim and anti minorities’ agenda and BJP priority is to convert secular India into a pure “Hindu state”.

When Modi led BJP government came to power, it gave full freedom to Indian forces and other right wing groups to go lethal against minorities especially Muslims of India. Modi government has made life of Muslims miserable in India especially in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of article 370.

BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi proving to be a nightmare for minorities of India, especially Muslims, Dalits and Sikh communities. Minorities are being deprived from their basic human rights. Minorities are not safe anymore in India and it is alarming.

Researchers, activists, and former top bureaucrats have expressed worry at the growing wave of Islamophobia in India, which is home to 10.9% of the world's Muslim population.

A wave of Islamophobia is sweeping Indian state and relevant authorities are silent on this sensitive, serious and alarming issue. Life in New Delhi and the rest of India, however, is not easy for Muslims anymore under BJP regime.

No one can deny efforts of Pakistan to counter Islamophobia at every forum. The adoption of the resolution by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to declare March 15 as International Day to Combat Islamophobia was a major victory for Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts. Former Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has welcomed this decision by UNGA to approve a resolution setting March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

Under the Modi fascist regime, Inspired by the “Hindutva ideology” hate crimes, demolition of holy places, social boycotts, Islamophobia and forced conversion have escalated. BJP ideology is taking Indian society towards polarization and religious radicalism.

There is a strong need for regime change in India for the sake of humanity, a secular Indian state and for a peaceful region. Worldwide, such policies are giving negative picture of India which used to be once a secular state.

Ahsan Zaheer
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