This is with reference to the report ‘Calls for Bihar CM to quit after he unveils Muslim woman’ (published Dec 17 in Dawn). India may claim to be the so-called ‘largest democracy’ in the world, or even may go on calling itself the ‘hub of technology and economic growth’, but reality on the ground mirrors the true face of Indian politics.
It reminds one of the famous saying: ‘The great threat to humanity is not war, but indifference.’ It rightly fits into the behaviour that was intentionally directed at disrespecting a Muslim woman without scant regard for religious, social and moral codes of honour.
Just because Nitish Kumar is the chief minister does not mean he is entitled to behave immorally, violating the dignity of women. Although he may have been seen behaving awkwardly before, his biases on communal and religious lines are evident.
What can be more evident than this incident to prove that Indian Muslims are not tolerated in India, and the inhumane treatment of the community is a recurring feature of Hindutva mentality?
The current Indian government has a long-cherished dream of establishing a Hindu state based on Hindutva ideology, which is opposed to pluralism, mutual coexistence and communal harmony. The Hindu dominance in politics has left the minority communities shattered and suppressed. No words can describe the emotions that the victim must have felt.
The incident is a clear proof that Indian politicians are not properly educated, and their indecent attitudes and behaviours speak volumes about their indifference to the sentiments of the various minority communities.
What Kumar did was an expression of Indian politicians’ real attitudes and feelings towards Muslims. This is simply hatred towards Islam and Muslims. This is pure Islamophobia. We have seen such Hindutva hatred towards Muslims for years. What is really alarming is that this politician has been elected chief minister several times. One wonders how he is capable of running state affairs with such a bigoted mentality. The incident should awaken the conscience of every liberal person who sees women empowerment as strength and the suppression of women’s right to dignity as the weakness of state.
India may be an ‘Asian giant’ with considerable economic, technological and diplomatic clout, but, internally, it is really in a rotten and crumbling state.
ABDUL QADEER SEELRO
LARKANA
