Past conflicts need to be put to rest, not exhumed, a truth the Mr Modi would be wise to contemplate. PHOTO: AFP
Long-dead musicians in the form of respected Shehnai player Ustad Bismillah Khan have now been dragged into the fray. In life, he and his family were determinedly apolitical — but the family playing at a Congress party rally for Rahul Gandhi has been portrayed otherwise, much to their chagrin. No matter the clarification that their performance in no way should be taken as an endorsement, the allegation that it was will become another brick in the wall that divides Muslim and Hindu in India. With there shortly to be a re-swinging of the home-policy compass in India under Narendra Modi, the sense of unease is palpable — and not just in Muslim communities. Mr Modi has been conspicuously silent on a number of crucial incidents, most notably the 2002 Gujarat riots and his association with the Ayodhya campaign in the 1980s. Now is the time when we need to see confidence-building measures that are intercommunal, rather than a picking at old scars and wounds. Past conflicts need to be put to rest, not exhumed, a truth the Mr Modi would be wise to contemplate.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 16th, 2014.
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Shabana Azmi and her husband are one of the several Muslims who have made a successful career in India. They are the self styled spokesperson on Muslim grievance and secularism. I have never heard of these successful Muslims contrasting the plight of Hindus in the Islamic republic of Pakistan with that of the opportunities which talented Muslims get in India. Leave alone Pakistan's record of the treatment of people practicing Indian religions they do not talk of the plight of the Hindus cleansed from the Kashmir valley occupied by Muslims.
It is this attitude of Muslims in India which is disapproved by the Hindus. Modi represents the will of the Hindus to put an end to the appeasement of the ungrateful Muslims.
Yes, Muslims have much to fear Modi because they now know that if there is another Godhra type massacre anywhere in India, the retribution will be a hundred times more intense than the Gujarat riot.
So long Congress ruled india, the relations between India and Pakistan did not see any major deterioration despite beheading of Indian soldiers. Tolerance of highest level is the merit of Indian National Congress. If , after the incident of beheading of Indian soldiers, Congress rulers had not shown utmost maturity in reacting to the gruesome killings of our soldiers, both the countries could have come at the brink of war. War could have not brought back the live of those soldiers but would have caused massive destruction, homicide and incapacitation of soldiers and civilian population at large in both the countries.
Such a tolrence is not there in Hindu Rastravadi BJP. In case Pakistan repeats any such mistake, consequences may be extremely serious for both the countries. Pakistan's policy "KHUD TO DOOBE HAI SANAM, TUMKO BHI LEKAR DOOBENGE" will become true.
At all if both the countries went to war, whatever destruction India may have to face, But for Pakistan, that will suicidal.
So , Both the Governments should move in a positive direciton. Especially Pakistan should control evil designs of its Army and terrorist organisation operating against India from its homeland because Now BJP is in Power with full majority.
@Riya: Not even one Muslim candidate won in all the Maulana lands of India - UP, Bihar! And, that was not because none stood for election.
Flawed perception. If it was true how come all Muslim constituency seats in Gujarat,Rajasthan,Bihar,up have been won by bjp? Only in up/bh Rahul sonia and SP party high command were able to maintain their seats rest all Muslim constituency voted and went for bjp and won. All other options bsp,cong,aap,others 0 why? Even in Muslim state Jammu and Kashmir out of 5, 2 constituency went for bjp. So why would a community vote them so unanimously when if they are so scared and that too when they had plenty of secular and other options? You can perceive what you want people have spoken for themselves. They are pragmatic they didn't vote on caste religion basis. They voted for development, progress for india and indians to a person who can deliver his promise as he has done in Gujarat for past 14 years.
"There is a growing intolerance towards minorities in India " Name even one minority other than Muslims. You cannot. Then ask yourself why is the Muslim minority the only one in every country in the world, including India, targeted for discrimination and persecution? Could it be that Muslims are the only ones to blame. Then, ask why?
Unlike Pakistan where Hindus are suffering from Muslims, there is no such problems in India and Muslims can live peacefully with Hindus, Christians, Jains, Sikhs, etc. etc. India is too big a country and we will remain secular for all time to come regardless of the party in power. Muslim brothers in Pakistan need not worry
Pakistan has always pretended to be the spokesperson of the Indian Muslims. Whatever moral authority it had, it lost it in 1971. With more than 30000 Muslim lives lost in Pakistan itself since the Gujrat riots, Pakistan needs to take care of its majority before commenting on other countries minority. The Indian Muslims can take care of themselves, Thank you.
hindus were in the receiving end in kashmir . don't forget add it son.
coming from a country, who wiped out / wiping out each and every nonsunnis