Muslims are being targeted due to their religious identity, says Samajwadi Party MP from Kairana in Uttar Pradesh
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Strongly raising the issues of mob lynching, hate speeches and demolition of houses, Iqra Chaudhry, Samajwadi MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Kairana, said that the minorities, especially Muslims, are being targeted due to their religious identity.
Addressing the Lok Sabha on Friday, Chaudhry took a dig at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying that the country has a constitution but its enforcer has wilfully lost faith.
“Today, all sections are facing challenges but havoc broke out on Muslims. They are being targeted due to their religious identity,” she said drawing attention to the articles of the constitution which prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion and caste.
“The situation has got so bad that hate speeches, mob lynching and bulldozing houses have become normal, especially in Uttar Pradesh where a jungle raj is being run in the name of law and order,” she said.
Iqra Choudhary’s Remarks | Discussion on the Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India
The Kairana MP also questioned the silence of the Uttar Pradesh government after innocent persons were killed recently in Sambhal. “There is a rise in violence against minorities. But the people in power have either closed their eyes or promoted such incidents,” she said.
The Samajwadi lawmaker also slammed the government for failing to implement the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court to curb mob lynching. “Instead of stopping mob lynching, the people in power are fuelling the fire. They make such statements which promote further hatred. This disturbance has rooted so much that the secular character of our society is being questioned,” said Chaudhry.
She also criticised the decision of the Uttar Pradesh government directing owners of eateries and shops to put up their name plates at their ventures. This move, she said, was an attack on the livelihood of Muslims.
Iqra Chaudhry also mentioned the incident of a Muslim doctor being denied a house in a Hindu-majority area of Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh while asserting that such incidents occur as a result of communal policies and statements.
“Hate speech not only pollutes the thinking of common people but also influences the people who are sitting on the constitutional post. Recently, a judge of the Allahabad High Court made such remarks that the Supreme Court has to take note of it,” she said.
Pointing to the Waqf Bill, Iqra Chaudhry said that the constitution grants minorities rights to run their institutions but these institutions are under attack from the government. Sometimes, the Supreme Court comes to their rescue but it takes a long time to give its judgment. In this regard, she cited the examples of the Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Education Act and the Places of Worship Act, 1991.
She also raised the issue of alleged attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. “This is the call of the hour that we should ensure that no person lives in fear due to his religious identity. Every government should understand that where rights are snatched, peace is disturbed,” said Chaudhry.
