In continuing assaults on the Muslim community, four men have become victims of mob lynching since the general elections which again catapulted Narendra Modi-led BJP to power
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Opposition parties have come under severe criticism for their silence on recent cases of mob lynchings, attacks on Muslims, and demolition of their houses in different parts of the country.
The recent incidents of hate crimes and the police prejudice against Muslims did not draw any reaction from prominent opposition leaders, prompting activists, journalists and concerned citizens to call on them to speak up on issues concerning the minority community.
Prominent human rights activist and a Delhi University professor Apoorvanand pointed out that the opposition parties lack the will and courage to speak up on these issues.
“Opposition is speaking on NEET and NTA but is silent on lynchings and bulldozing of the houses of Muslims. What for were you given more numbers if you still lack the will and courage to talk about violence against Muslims?” he wrote on X.
In continuing assaults on the Muslim community, four men have become victims of mob lynching since the general elections which again catapulted Narendra Modi-led BJP to power. Three men were beaten to death allegedly by cow vigilantes of the far-right Bajrang Dal group in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur when they were transporting buffaloes from Uttar Pradesh on June 7. This Tuesday, a Muslim man was lynched on suspicion of theft in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh.
In Himachal Pradesh’s Nahan, a Hindutva mob on Wednesday vandalised and looted a Muslim-owned garment shop after he allegedly put out a WhatsApp status of animal sacrifice. In Telangana’s Medak, a Hindutva mob attacked a madrasa, its functionaries and vandalised properties of the minority community.
In Madhya Pradesh’s Mandla, the authorities demolished the houses of 11 Muslim families on the suspicion that beef was stored in their refrigerators.
Another noted rights activist Harsh Mander also echoed Apoorvanand’s opinion over the silence of the opposition.
“The surge of hate violence by mobs but also by state bulldozers directly after Modi’s return is a reminder of the core ideology of BJP/RSS. But what does the silence of the opposition reveal about the weakness of their moral & political courage?” he asked.
All India Muslim Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi also questioned the Congress party over vandalising of the Muslim-owned shop in Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh.
He asserted that the slogan ‘Mohabbat ki Dukan’ (Shop for Love) raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is like Prime Minister Modi’s “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”.
“If the looters were Muslim and the shopkeeper was a Hindu, the police would not be mute spectators. But I guess mohabbat ki dukaan is a jumla just like sabka saath, he said.
Activist Nirjhari Sinha said standing up against the atrocities is not the appeasement of any community as is being projected by the BJP
“Standing against atrocities is not called appeasement. High time INDIA alliance takes a stand against bulldozing of minorities,” she said.
Lamenting the silence of opposition parties, prominent journalist Rana Ayyub said: “At the core of the Sangh ideology is to make Muslims untouchables. The plight of being Muslim in India is that they are expected to throw their weight behind secular parties to protect the country from fascism but will have few speaking up for them when it matters the most”.
