India‘s hate spares no one
’New Delhi prevents devotees from visiting revered saint’s shrine
PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
According to one visitor, the saint arrived in India more than 300 years ago. “He came to India to preach,” he said. In India, he said, a Hindu landlord gave the saint space to live. “That became his final resting place,” he added. His Hindu landlord, according to the devotees, embraced Islam and is also buried near the saint. According to residents, the shrine, equally divided between Pakistan and India at the time of partition, is now a victim of Indian Prime Minister Modi’s hate. Divided by the international border between the two countries and guarded heavily by security forces, access to the shrine is restricted on the Indian side. “Regardless of the tension between the two countries, devotees believe, the Indian government should allow unrestricted access to the shrine,” urged one visitor. While India prevents devotees from visiting the shrine, Pakistan allows visitors on its side.
The shrine is a popular site every Thursday when scores of devotees visit to offer their respect on the Pakistani side.
Pilgrims who wish to visit Sanjha Peer hope India would one day make it easy for them to visit the other side. “Pious people belong to everyone,” said one pilgrim who visits the shrine regularly. “India must lift the restrictions,” he added. Since taking the reins of power in India, Prime Minister Modi has made nationalism the cornerstone of his agenda. Aimed at pleasing his Hindu voter base, Modi’s policies, according to analysts, are mostly anti-Muslim.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2020.
According to one visitor, the saint arrived in India more than 300 years ago. “He came to India to preach,” he said. In India, he said, a Hindu landlord gave the saint space to live. “That became his final resting place,” he added. His Hindu landlord, according to the devotees, embraced Islam and is also buried near the saint. According to residents, the shrine, equally divided between Pakistan and India at the time of partition, is now a victim of Indian Prime Minister Modi’s hate. Divided by the international border between the two countries and guarded heavily by security forces, access to the shrine is restricted on the Indian side. “Regardless of the tension between the two countries, devotees believe, the Indian government should allow unrestricted access to the shrine,” urged one visitor. While India prevents devotees from visiting the shrine, Pakistan allows visitors on its side.
The shrine is a popular site every Thursday when scores of devotees visit to offer their respect on the Pakistani side.
Pilgrims who wish to visit Sanjha Peer hope India would one day make it easy for them to visit the other side. “Pious people belong to everyone,” said one pilgrim who visits the shrine regularly. “India must lift the restrictions,” he added. Since taking the reins of power in India, Prime Minister Modi has made nationalism the cornerstone of his agenda. Aimed at pleasing his Hindu voter base, Modi’s policies, according to analysts, are mostly anti-Muslim.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2020.