By Mohammad Salman,
Indian Republic has chosen its new president. The country has seen enormous pomp and show at the inauguration of the new president. These are the moments when one feels proud of the great secular India. But the moment you start feeling happy and confident in the forward looking vibrant and secular India, something happens that shatters all the hope.
Why communal violence erupting in secular regimes?
Alas! this is happening again. One of the most secular parties is in the command at UP and at the centre. Yet we have seen spurt in the riots in recent months. Communal Violence First started in Kosi Kalan (near Mathura)…Then tensions erupted in Pratapgarh. Next city to face communal unrest was Bareilly and then Meerut. And the most widespread massacre is going on in Assam. All this exactly after 10 years of 2002 Gujarat Pogrom. Who is responsible — the communal minds or the secularists in charge of the UP, Assam and Delhi? It’s tough to hold one responsible.
In last ten years, much emphasis has been given for the so called war against terror and financial reforms, but no genuine efforts were made for the citizen’s basic security. Deep within the minds of administration, it seems the blood of citizens in general and minorities in particular has been taken for granted. It can be used either as a weapon in war against terror or can be used as a magnet for pre election vote polarization. As per the news, at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi, even the self proclaimed fighters against corruption did not entertain the people protesting against the communal violence of Assam.
America though hated by Muslims does not show bias with its Muslim citizens
India’s beauty lies in its versatility of people, thoughts, belief, religion, culture, languages….Every nation is doing its best to preserve its identity and to provide its citizens highest security. Even the US, the most widely hated country in Muslims eyes, a country where the military was taught the lessons against Islam, care for its citizens’ security and wellbeing without any bias whether Muslim or non Muslim. Even Muslims in US are quiet well on development and security index. But in India where Muslims form almost quarter chunk of the total population have to live in psychological fear all the time as any Muslim anytime and anywhere can be blamed as anti national, any Muslim can be labeled as terrorist. They are betrayed in politics both by those whom they oppose or whom they support…The massive mandate of the Muslims given in SP favor and subsequent communal unrest in UP, the massive support to UPA and subsequent failure to change the ground conditions even in 8 years of rule, are examples of betrayal.
Community leaders should strengthen social harmony
It’s high time for the community leaders to start working seriously in the direction of social harmony apart from just organizing Mushairaz. Most of these recent incidents started with slight provocations. There should be proper coordination of efforts to keep the social harmony at its best. The channels of dialogue should remain protected and open with other communities at ground level by each and every community member as its foremost responsibility. Our community’s elites just remain involved in criticism of religious scholars while uneducated remain provoked all the time. There needs to be Mohalla, street level efforts by educated Muslims to take initiative to control, restrain at such situations. Bridge of social service, solidarity should remain alive all the time. This would be possible only when each one of us would be true practicing Muslims, would be involved in doing social work, would be involved in keeping our self updated with the current affairs and above all would be going to Masjids five times with right earnest throughout the year not only in Ramzan,.
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