As Harsh Mander, the founder of the Karavan-e-Mohabbat Campaign for solidarity with Indian victims of religious hate and violence, recently put it in conversation with a global news outlet, “An environment has been created across the country that enables and encourages this kind of violence.” He was quick to point out that for the perpetrators, such attacks are ‘an act of heroism.’ How could they not be when leaders of India’s ruling party, like Gaur, are so brazen themselves in their support for extremism and call for religiously-motivated violence? While BJP leaders may, for now, pat themselves on the back and proclaim that the sacking of Gaur from party ranks is proof enough that the party does not tolerate religious violence, there is a serious need for introspection on their part. It is no coincidence, as has often been pointed out by many in and outside of India that Hindu erxtremists-led attacks on minorities have increased since Narendra Modi came to power.
Critics of Pakistan often use the jibe that the Two-Nation Theory, and by extension, the very basis for the existence of the country sank in the Bay of Bengal after the separation of East Pakistan. It seems, however, that many in both India’s ruling elite and general populace are hell-bent on dredging it back up.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2019.
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