By Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a government body that monitors conditions abroad and U.S. responses, moved India to its category of greatest concern in an annual report released (Tuesday) 28 April 2020.
Since the Hindu extremist hijacked power in India, all minorities are under threat, especially the Muslims are the target. Muslims ruled India for 800 years almost and now they are forced to leave their houses and take shelters in far-flung areas to save their lives. RSS youth armed with sticks, knives, sword, or light weapons can target any Muslim by blaming him in either way to eat beef or spreading Coronavirus. RSS extremists backed by the government are attacking Muslims all over the country, damage their business, houses, rape women, kills youth. Police and law enforcement agencies either keep silent spectators or facilitate the extremist Hindus.
On the 5th of August 2019, Indian deployed 900,000 troops and imposed a curfew, revoking the special autonomous states of Indian Occupied Kashmir. Around 8 million people are under siege for almost 9 months. Draconian law empowered the armed troops to detain, arrest, or kill anyone without giving any reason. Under the search label, they can enter into any house, harass the family, torture, injure, arrest, or kill. Rape is being used as a weapon. Their crops are burned, houses are damaged, and businesses are closed. One of the most beautiful valleys on earth is crying due to a shortage of food, fuel, electricity, medicines, etc. Prolonged curfew and lockdown have caused a severe mental health crisis too.
In December 2019, the Indian Government passed a discriminatory Citizenship Act, debarring around two million Muslims from Indian Citizenship. India is demanding them either to convert to the Hindu religion or go back to Middle-east or Pakistan or Bangladesh. The target of this discriminatory bill was the Muslims only and can affect around two million Muslims.
The outbreak of Coronavirus has given one more reason to extremist Hindu government in India to blame Muslims and target them openly. Several Government Ministers, officials or politicians, have openly passed derogatory remarks and sparked anti-Muslim hate or encouraged Hindus extremists to target Muslims. The government has separated the wards for Muslims in the Government hospitals and most of the cases, do not entertain Muslim patients. Hindus extremists have announced a social boycott of Muslims and are not doing any business with them. Muslims’ businesses are collapsing in India.
It is not something new, Indian history is full of communal riots. Not only India, communal riots are happening all around the world. The state has the responsibility to address the issues on a non-bias basis and control the riots fairly. The state cannot be a party to either side and keep justice. But there is a visible difference that under Congress secular Government if riots outbreak, the Government intervene and bring under control. Secular governments were never a party to any community and try to resolve the issue amicably. But since the extremists captured the power, the situation has been adversely changed and the government is sponsoring riots.
The international community has shown its deep concerns. The 2020 report by U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), is much more serious than the 2019 and 2018 reports. EU Commission and Human Rights Watch and many independent International NGOs, Organizations, and Media have already taken serious notice of the deteriorating situation in India.
India has been exposed and could not hide facts anymore. It is time for the International community to take concrete steps to force the Indian Government to take preventive measures. UN should deploy its observers, peacekeeping force or put sanctions, what so ever may be the most effective tool, be used to protect the precious human lives.
Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan – Sinologist (ex-Diplomat), Editor, Analyst, Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan)
(The views expressed in this article belong only to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy or views of World Geostrategic Insights).
Image Credit: AP Photo/Ajit Solanki