By India Tomorrow’s Correspondent
NEW DELHI – Hindutva leaders, including those occupying high offices of power, have been going scot-free in the proven instances of hate speech and communal activities, while Muslim activists and journalists are the instant targets of the police investigation and vilification campaign of the media on the mere allegation of wrongful activities. This disturbing trend, visible since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2014, has exposed the double standards adopted by the government.
During the BJP regime, the violence against religious minorities has reached an alarming high, with no consequences for the vigilante groups responsible for the violence and no empathy or even acknowledgment from the side of the government. It can be inferred from the series of such incidents that the government provides impunity to Hindu mobs in such matters.
The violence further allows the state to place the blame on the Muslim residents of the affected area and question the legality of their properties and proceed with the demolition of said properties without following proper procedure or due process of law. The government’s illegal action has forced the Supreme Court to step in by issuing guidelines on the demolition of private properties.
The environment of escalated communal tensions which has been fostered by the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has allowed for properties, both religious and private, owned by minority communities to come under question in terms of their legality or face the risk of vandalism at any given point. A closer look at the situation is warranted to preserve the secular foundation of the country.
The patently communal statements of Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma, Maharashtra MLA Nitesh Rane, etc., in their speeches during the election campaign and at public events have drawn all-round condemnation, but no legal action was taken to send across a message affirming the rule of law in the democratic system. As a result, the hatemongers have felt encouraged to target Muslims and other minorities.
In contrast, police investigation has been launched hurriedly and the law enforcement agencies became active on the unsubstantiated allegations of promoting communalism and sedition levelled against Muslim activists such as Mohammed Zubair and Nadeem Khan. Zubair, who was arrested by Delhi Police over a tweet in 2018 and incarcerated for a month, has again been booked in a different case. Khan has also been targeted over an exhibition and attempts were made to arrested him recently.
This story was originally published in indiatomorrow.net. Read the full story here.
