By Clarion India
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Tensions between Hindus and Muslims in Goa have intensified after the state chief of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) voiced concern over the growing number of Muslim voters in the state, warning that this trend could have significant political repercussions.
Rajendra Bhobe, the chief of Goa’s RSS unit, expressed alarm over the perceived increase in Muslim voters during a rally to condemn alleged atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh during the recent political upheaval there. “Muslims who have come to Goa for work should vote in their respective states,” Bhobe asserted, according to a Times of India report. “The increase in the number of Muslim voters will affect the results of the assembly elections in Goa.”
Bhobe’s remarks have sparked controversy, particularly his suggestion that a significant Muslim presence in Goa could lead to the formation of “another Pakistan” within India. “Hindus are sleeping. Will we continue to sleep?” Bhobe questioned, drawing a parallel to historical events where Hindus allegedly faced persecution. “There are many areas in our country where if we remain inactive, there is a possibility of another Pakistan being formed.”
Critics have strongly condemned Bhobe’s statements, pointing out the dangerous implications of his rhetoric. The suggestion that Muslim voters could lead to the creation of “another Pakistan” is seen as an attempt to incite fear and division within the community. “This kind of language is not only inflammatory but also baseless. It serves to deepen communal divide rather than promote unity,” said a political analyst. The remarks are perceived as part of a broader Islamophobic narrative that unfairly targets Muslims as a threat to the nation’s identity.
The RSS leader also highlighted the declining Hindu population in Bangladesh as a point of concern, stating that the Hindu population had dropped from 23% at the time of Bangladesh’s formation to just 7% today. “Hindus will be wiped out from Bangladesh in the next 10 to 20 years,” Bhobe claimed.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.