In Delhi, the public debate in the past week was consumed by two incidents that once again spark a larger conversation about how the right wing extremists in India are bent upon pushing the Muslims against the wall. Notwithstanding the protests by a minority in support of two individuals – tennis Star Sania Mirza and a catering supervisor at Mahrashtra Sadan in Delhi – the government’s “silence”, rather a refusal to act, against those who committed the grave acts tells a much bigger story.
Sania Mirza was in the centre of a controversy when the newly created state of Telangana appointed her a brand ambassador. Sania is married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, and the right wing immediately questioned how she could be made the goodwill ambassador of an Indian state. Unsavory comments reached the crescendo when one Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) MP from the state called her the “daughter-in-law of Pakistan”, questioning her commitment to India.
Sania has represented India in international tennis courts for years and won laurels for her country. She has also been awarded Padme Shri, one of the top civilian awards in India, and the Arjun Award, the highest award in sports.
An emotionally hurt Sania broke down on NDTV when asked about the comments against her. “My roots are here. I will be an Indian for as long as I live. I am a very patriotic person that is why I am so emotional right now,” she told Barkha Dutt. Even as some of those who criticized the move mellowed down and agreed she did belong to Telangana, the cat was out of the bag.
Muslims in India have been under tremendous stress for the last few years, since terrorist activities in India have risen. Hundreds of people are being rounded up as routine even after a small incident takes place and there is no scrutiny or accountability. That is the case with ordinary Muslims, but even celebrities like Sania have to swear by patriotism every now and then. Marrying Shoaib Malik must be considered a very personal decision, and unless she takes Pakistani citizenship and moves away, she cannot be targeted like this. No doubt there were louder voices to support Sania, but increasing intolerance in the Indian society is seen as a matter of great concern.
[quote]An emotionally hurt Sania broke down on NDTV [/quote]
In Dehlhi, a group of Shiv Sena MPs forced a Muslim supervisor in Maharashtra Sadan (Mahrashtra State’s Resident Commission) a chapatti in his mouth when he was fasting. Their complaint was about the food but they made the supervisor the target despite his pleas that he was fasting. This too created a furore in the media and the society. Prime time shows on national TVs were consumed by these two issues, with saner voices questioning the government’s inaction.
With the right wing BJP in government, and with Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, this lack of action indicates how such diatribes could even get official sanction.
One MP in question has 16 criminal cases pending against him, and similar is the case with the nine others who accompanied him. The government was cautious in reacting, as Shiv Sena is the traditional ally of BJP. The incident not only enraged Muslims but the right thinking people among the Hindus as well. The MP justified his action and remained unapologetic.
These incidents are seen as precursor to hammer driven attitude the right wing parties will be adopting in the months and years to come, and with government’s cover such elements may get encouraged to do so.
When the issue of discrimination and injustice is raised, the immediate reaction from the culprits is that Pakistan is also treating its minorities unfairly. That is a flawed argument. India is the largest democracy in the world and the constitution is more than clear as far as the rights and protection of all communities and faiths are concerned. The biggest issue with Indian Muslims is that they do not have a leader. This leaderless community is thus becoming vulnerable to onslaughts.
The author is a journalist based in Srinagar, and the editor of English daily Rising Kashmir
Sania Mirza was in the centre of a controversy when the newly created state of Telangana appointed her a brand ambassador. Sania is married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, and the right wing immediately questioned how she could be made the goodwill ambassador of an Indian state. Unsavory comments reached the crescendo when one Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) MP from the state called her the “daughter-in-law of Pakistan”, questioning her commitment to India.
Sania has represented India in international tennis courts for years and won laurels for her country. She has also been awarded Padme Shri, one of the top civilian awards in India, and the Arjun Award, the highest award in sports.
An emotionally hurt Sania broke down on NDTV when asked about the comments against her. “My roots are here. I will be an Indian for as long as I live. I am a very patriotic person that is why I am so emotional right now,” she told Barkha Dutt. Even as some of those who criticized the move mellowed down and agreed she did belong to Telangana, the cat was out of the bag.
Muslims in India have been under tremendous stress for the last few years, since terrorist activities in India have risen. Hundreds of people are being rounded up as routine even after a small incident takes place and there is no scrutiny or accountability. That is the case with ordinary Muslims, but even celebrities like Sania have to swear by patriotism every now and then. Marrying Shoaib Malik must be considered a very personal decision, and unless she takes Pakistani citizenship and moves away, she cannot be targeted like this. No doubt there were louder voices to support Sania, but increasing intolerance in the Indian society is seen as a matter of great concern.
[quote]An emotionally hurt Sania broke down on NDTV [/quote]
In Dehlhi, a group of Shiv Sena MPs forced a Muslim supervisor in Maharashtra Sadan (Mahrashtra State’s Resident Commission) a chapatti in his mouth when he was fasting. Their complaint was about the food but they made the supervisor the target despite his pleas that he was fasting. This too created a furore in the media and the society. Prime time shows on national TVs were consumed by these two issues, with saner voices questioning the government’s inaction.
With the right wing BJP in government, and with Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, this lack of action indicates how such diatribes could even get official sanction.
One MP in question has 16 criminal cases pending against him, and similar is the case with the nine others who accompanied him. The government was cautious in reacting, as Shiv Sena is the traditional ally of BJP. The incident not only enraged Muslims but the right thinking people among the Hindus as well. The MP justified his action and remained unapologetic.
These incidents are seen as precursor to hammer driven attitude the right wing parties will be adopting in the months and years to come, and with government’s cover such elements may get encouraged to do so.
When the issue of discrimination and injustice is raised, the immediate reaction from the culprits is that Pakistan is also treating its minorities unfairly. That is a flawed argument. India is the largest democracy in the world and the constitution is more than clear as far as the rights and protection of all communities and faiths are concerned. The biggest issue with Indian Muslims is that they do not have a leader. This leaderless community is thus becoming vulnerable to onslaughts.
The author is a journalist based in Srinagar, and the editor of English daily Rising Kashmir