Living in fear

While those who constitute the religious minority in India – especially if they happen to be Muslim – continue to watch over their shoulders for another attack or another verbal assault, the UN human rights chief has delivered a firm warning to India telling it that minorities are being ‘marginalised’ in the country. This should feel like an especially hard punch to a country which continues to term itself secular and has consistently claimed that unlike some of its neighbours, its citizens have equal rights regardless of their belief. The recent attacks on Kashmiris and other Muslims across the country suggest this is not the case. The notice take by the UN of the situation should compel all Indians to wake up and take immediate heed of the crisis.

India hosts a vast Muslim population of nearly 175 million people. This is not a number that can be easily dismissed. The divisive politics the UN has warned of could hurt the country very deeply and very sharply. Communal riots have been witnessed in the past in Indian cities and towns. More violence would obviously hurt individuals and the country as a whole. As it moves into election mode, Indian leaders from across the political spectrum need to examine what went wrong with the ‘Shining India’ spoken of for decades and why minorities today in the world’s biggest democracy live in constant peril.

The situation also seems to be deteriorating. The UN says it continues to receive reports of increased harassment of Muslims and people from disadvantaged groups including low-caste Hindus. There is no evidence at all that India has been able to overcome hatred and anger. The discrimination and unease cuts across the boundaries of religion, caste or ethnicity. In Indian-occupied Kashmir, people face an especially stressful time. The mass arrests of leaders and activists linked to groups involved in the freedom struggle continue, and with this process come the police action and harassment that Kashmiris have lived with now for many decades. A change is required. Indians everywhere need to recognise that without solving the Kashmir conflict, the kind of violence we saw at Pulwama and in its aftermath could continue. The manner in which Muslims have been pushed aside in the present scenario is also an ominous warning sign. We are glad the international community has taken note of the brazen violation of international conventions by New Delhi. The world must not allow any more genocidal violence or any more actions which hurt minority groups in the country or go against the interests of the Kashmiri people.