Communal Seculars of Indian Politics

BY: RANBIR MANHAS PUBLISHED ON JUNE 7, 2020

Few foreign countries inimical to India’s unity and some local politicians desperate to stage a comeback have unleashed a joint campaign to malign India’s image. “India has become a burning hell for Muslims under Modi Raj,” is their complaint, but the million-dollar question is, “Is Modi government really against Muslims?” I have tried to find out the answer in the following paragraphs:

It is true that communal tension has grown in India after Modi’s coming to power six years ago, but how can we ignore the fact that anything that grows has roots in the past and past of Indian politics is Congress and its wrong policies?

First thing after independence, which Congress should have done to entrench the roots of secularism in the minds of Indians was to find an amicable solution of ‘Ayodhya Dispute’, but it kept sleeping on this heap of explosive; Congress government should have resolved ‘Kashmir Crisis’ for the good. Even giving away Muslim majority Kashmir valley to Pakistan would not have been a bad bargain if seen in the context of country’s division on communal lines, but Congress preferred to push this problem also under the carpet. Congress should have adopted the principle of one nation one law to promote communal harmony, but it unilaterally passed Hindu Code Bill without touching even a single clause of Muslim Personal Law thereby sowing the seeds of Muslim appeasement instead of secularism in Indian politics.

Although common Muslims are happy with the Modi government for its several economic schemes meant for their empowerment, the ‘special’ Muslims are upset with PM because by abrogating Article 370; by resolving Ayodhya Dispute and by providing social justice to Muslim women on the issue of Tripple Talaq, Modi has snatched from them the magic ladder of power. Interestingly, however, it is not the enemies of India and local politicians alone, millions of others who had been enjoying the fruits of fake secularism are also upset with Modi rule. Their agony is comprehensible and their struggle for existence justified, but using Rohangia and Bangladeshi Muslims to make another ladder to reach the lost seat of power in the name of secularism can neither be justified nor pardoned.

Let’s understand that our country is surrounded by hostile neighbors who are not only trying to destabilize us both militarily as well as diplomatically. Besides tackling them effectively, our government has to effectively deal with the enemy of Corona virus as well. Need of the hour is that we extend our support our government instead of creating hurdles in its smooth conduct and this, we can do by promoting real secularism not by following the secessionist policy of appeasement, which has already divided us and harmed our national unity only to the benefit of the power mongers

Next article next Sunday