Hindu
politics and culture, dominated by the fundamentalist parties such as BJP, RSS,
VHP, Shiv Sena and other similar groups which have been propagating Hindutva
(Hindu nationalism) felt pleasure,
because Indian elections 2014 based on the
campaign against Islam, Muslims, and Pakistan enabled BJP hardliner Narendra
Modi to get a land sliding triumph.
Prior to the elections of Narendra Modi as
Indian Prime Minister, some people were opining that Modi, being an economic
reformer, will not fall prey to the Hindu Hawks surrounding him, and will move
ahead with his “Economic Agenda” rather than “Hinduvta Agenda.” But, it was
widely believed that he would give an impetus to the Hindu chauvinism in India.
Undoubtedly, Muslims were aware of Modi’s
agenda to reduce the Muslim community in India to second class citizens. Muslim
anxiety in India is multiplying due the fact, because, during the election
campaign, Hindu majority was mobilized on ‘hate Muslim’ slogans and ‘anti
Pakistan’ jargons. Hence, Modi regime is likely to target and persecute Muslims
in India, while the incessant and unjust Indian propaganda against Pakistan is
beyond anybody’s cognition.
However,
as part of anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan move of the BJP including other Hindu extremist
parties, Indian Prime Minister Modi is giving impetus to Hindu chauvinism which
could be judged from various recent incidents and developments, and which point towards emergence of Hinduvta under the umbrella of
Shiv Sena backed by BJP government led by hardliner-cum-reformist Modi. Encouraged by
the election-victory of the BJP, on May 28, this year, in a provocative act to
disturb communal harmony among different religious communities in India,
Rashtriya Hindu Andolan, a little known Mangalore-based Hindutva outfit and
activists from various right wing groups organized a protest in Mangalore in
front of the office of Deputy Commissioner by demanding the authorities to ban
the morning Muslim call to prayer (Azan) across the country. Moreover, forcing the Muslim employee in a Parliament Canteen by BJP leader to
break his fast by stuffing piece of bread in his mouth, statement of Deputy
Chief of Goa, declaring India as a Hindu state, opposition to declaration of
Sania Mirza as Ambassador of Indian state by calling her daughter-in-law of
Pakistan might be cited as instance.
On
July 12, while threatening a nuclear war, BJP leader Dr. Subramaniam Swamy, a staunch promoter of Hindutva stated
that India needed only two years to defeat Pakistan militarily, and the only
solution of Kashmir was war, as “there is no peaceful, democratic solution.”
Besides, soon after assuming power,
Modi government, hurriedly decided to forcibly annex and integrate disputed
territory of the State of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), uncovering its intentions to wrap up the article 370 of the Indian
constitution which ensures a special status to J&K. The aim behind is to fortify measures and continue its
illegal occupation in the J&K. Therefore, United Nations Military Observer
Group India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in New Delhi was asked to vacate official
accommodation, claiming that its role had become irrelevant, and indicating its
intention to violate UN Security Council’s resolutions on Kashmir dispute, and
to further commit human rights violations in the India-controlled Kashmir.
Furthermore,
New Delhi which has initiated unprovoked firing at the Line of Control (LoC) in
Kashmir including Working Boundary in Sialkot and other sectors across
Pak-Indian border, wants to continue it.
Nevertheless, New BJP led-Indian government is
vigorously pursuing an aggressive agenda of jingoism to strengthen its hold in
the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).
Besides keeping pro-movement leadership of Kashmir under detention and house
arrest, masses are being subjected to worst kind of psychological trauma with a
purpose to weaken the ongoing Kashmir movement. In this context, Indian refusal
to repeal draconian laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the
Public Safety Act (PSA), continuation of oppressive regime through
barrel of gun, search operations to harass innocent masses especially the youth,
undemocratic attitude towards peaceful protestors (wherein recently a 15 years
old youth has been shot dead in Kulgam), creating environment for revocation of
article 370 of Indian constitution to absorb IOK as state like Bihar and
Punjab, conspiracies to divide Kashmir on communal lines by creating separate
and protected colonies for Kashmiri Pandits, and setting side Pakistan’s
efforts to resolve the core dispute of Kashmir including other issues between
both the neighboring countries might be cited as example.
It is notable that abrogation of article-370
was one of the election slogans of Modi’s BJP.
Now, Modi’s government has accorded top priority to this issue and
intensified the efforts towards its attainment. Article 370 protects people of
J&K in matters of citizenship, ownership of property and fundamental rights,
besides acting as jugular vein between State government of J&K and central
government of India. New Delhi is also making large scale propaganda to justify
revoking of article 370 at all possible domestic and international forums.
As already stated, BJP led India is trying to
change demography of IOK by settling Pundits in the valley by offering hefty
financial incentives. It is aimed at getting legitimate control over IOK. Such
a move has always been rejected by all leading political parties of IOK.
It is the right hour that Pakistan’s high
officials and media must expose the real intentions of the Indian Prime Minster
Narendra Modi who is implementing Hindu chauvinism as per agenda of BJP, Shiv
Sena and other Hindu fundamentalist parties.
In this respect, Pakistan’s internal entities
must show Indian evil designs to suppress Kashmir movement, and make all out
efforts to bring IOK under Indian fold. In this regard, BJP- led Indian
government’s inner psyche to promote Hindutva philosophy also needs to be
linked—Indian extremist Hindus’ desire that India becomes a classical Hindu
state where all others are to be treated as second rate citizens, as Hindutva
thinking does not accept outsiders as Indians. This is particularly in reference to Muslim community and Christians living
in India. These internal entities of Pakistan must indicate perennial human
rights violations by Indian security forces against people of the Indian-held
Kashmir, shameful criminal silence by world opinion builders and key communicators
regarding atrocities on Kashmiris, draconian laws, arrests of the Kashmiri
leaders on any plea for an indefinite time and illegal detentions—rape of
innocent women, extra-judicial killings of Kashmiri people including the youth.
While on such human rights violations, the
state and Indian security and law-enforcing agencies appear to be in connivance.
Thus such organized crime goes on in IOK on behest of New Delhi. The aim is to
maintain calm and suppress the voice of people of Kashmir.
Pakistan’s internal entities, especially media
must point out the practice of enforced disappearances, perpetuated under the
auspices of two black laws, AFSPA and Jammu Kashmir Disturbed Area Act as an
enduring legacy in Indian controlled Kashmir since 1989. They should widely
promote the veteran Kashmiri Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Gilani’s appeal to the
UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, about taking steps to initiate investigation
into the gross human rights abuses, being committed by Indian troops in the
occupied Kashmir.
Meanwhile, BJP government is stressing the
need to open cross LoC routes between IOK and Gigit-Baltistan (GB) under the
gambit of providing relief to divided families between IOK and GB, besides
boosting the depressed economy of GB. There are scores of wicked objectives
behind this move including exploitation of sectarianism and projection of human
rights violation in GB against Pakistan. Opening of LOC routes will afford
India to engage in recruiting agents and contracting favorable audience for
promoting Indian chauvinism, based upon its aggressive policies and anti-Pakistani
propaganda. Such a jingoism of New Delhi, in the long run, would instigate
anti-Pakistan sentiments, and promote separatism on the lines, followed in Baluchistan.
It will realize India’s longstanding dream of accessing Central Asian states
through GB. This scheme would also help India to contain China’s presence in GB
by restraining their economic interests. So, our media must expose Indian
designs, behind opening of cross LOC routes.
Particularly, educate domestic masses of GB
and opinion builders of Pakistan that India wants to manipulate sensitivity of
GB by targeting depressed economy, sectarian divide and divided kinship. New
Delhi, wants to open LoC between IOK and GB for fulfilling its own vested
interests at the cost of our country.
It
is mentionable that on the one hand, Modi is projecting himself as
a young, secular and energetic Indian leader, having a vision to bring economic
reforms in the country, besides fostering friendly relations with neighboring
and regional countries, while on the other hand, his projected image is being eclipsed
by various statements and actions of his party leaders, challenging the secular
status of India.
We
can conclude that BJP’s hardliner and the Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is giving a greater impetus to Hindu chauvinism
which could destabilize the whole region in the modern era of renunciation of
war, peaceful settlement of disputes and promotion of human rights.
Sajjad
Shaukat
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