New Delhi, June 30: In an unprecedented gathering, elected Muslim Members of Parliament, former MPs, and union ministers from various political parties shared a platform at Jawahar Bhawan here Saturday to discuss the severe challenges facing the Muslim community during the last decade of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rule. Organized under the banner of Indian Muslims for Civil Rights, the event aimed to strategize on overcoming the community’s current plight.
Former MP Mohammed Adeeb addressed the audience, highlighting that Muslims in Independent India have never faced such difficulties, not even during the partition of 1947. The communal harmony fostered by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru had assured equal treatment for all citizens, which influenced many Muslims to remain in India rather than migrate to Pakistan.
However, the situation has drastically changed over the past ten years since RSS-trained Narendra Modi became Prime Minister. Unlike previous communal riots that subsided with government intervention, the recent anti-Muslim violence is driven by Hindutva ideology, targeting Muslims across BJP-ruled states. Incidents of mob lynching, unlawful demolition of Muslim homes, and arbitrary arrests of Muslim youths have become alarmingly common.
Muslims had hoped for a change with the opposition INDIA bloc in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Despite BJP’s inability to secure an absolute majority, forming the government with NDA allies led to continued disappointment for the Muslim community. The immediate aftermath of Modi’s re-election saw violent incidents against Muslims, including lynchings and bulldozing of Muslim properties, with little to no response from prominent opposition leaders.
The indifference of Opposition leaders prompted Muslim politicians and intellectuals of all political backgrounds to unite under the initiative of Mohammed Adeeb. They discussed the necessity of maintaining unity and working with secular Hindus to combat atrocities against Muslims. The speakers emphasized that the majority of Hindus rejected the politics of hate in the recent elections, suggesting a glimmer of hope for communal harmony.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind President Syed Sadatullah Husaini encouraged Muslims to remain hopeful, noting that the rejection of BJP candidates in constituencies where Modi delivered hate speeches indicated a broader rejection of divisive politics. He called for continued struggle and resilience in the face of ongoing challenges.
The assembly at Jawahar Bhawan underscored a collective determination to address the crisis and advocate for the rights and dignity of Muslims in India, fostering a spirit of unity and resilience against the backdrop of political and social adversity.
