KARACHI:
India is known as the world’s largest secular democracy that protects the rights of its minorities. But, since the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India appears to have shifted towards an extremist ideology. This was exemplified by the Indian government’s revocation of Articles 370 and 35A in 2019. These articles gave Jammu and Kashmir the autonomy to have their own constitution and make their own laws. Since 2019, the people of Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir have been suffering from grave human rights violations and abuses.
The state-sponsored anti-minority hatred has plagued all corners of Indian society. Muslims across India have faced violence, mosques have been closed, and Muslim women have been forced to not wear headscarves. What is appalling is that Hindu extremism is no longer limited to India alone and has spread to Western countries as well. Earlier, a video of Hindus attacking Muslims in England’s city of Leicester surfaced on social media. This was followed by another attack on Sikh men in Australia by extremist Hindus. In the US some individuals hoisted extremist flags and banners.
The alarming increase in attacks on minorities within India and outside of India has been largely ignored by the international community. This is primarily due to India’s strong global economic position. Many Hindu companies and individuals who have been alleged of promoting extremism are also important stakeholders in the West. If anything, the international community’s double standards have become apparent. However, the international community should act against this extremist wave before it increases to a dangerous level. Muslim countries can play an important role by urging the global community to take concerted action.
Hasnain Pirzada
Sukkur
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2022.
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