Pluralism means accommodating all without prejudice, but the way Indian Muslims are being oppressed belies Indian claim of being a democratic country, writes Wasim Ali.

A malicious campaign is being launched to paint Muslims black in India. The secular democracy of India has always been a matter of debate. Given the situation at present, it can safely said that leadership in India is anything but not but secular.
We all are well aware about the draconian laws and acts like Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), Public Safety Act (PSA) which have been imposed on the people of Jammu and Kashmir by the Government of India. All these laws are honestly implemented and functional in the State and are playing important role to seize the voice of innocent people of the valley. Whether it was the case of killing of an innocent Muslim youth, it was the case of showing any normal Muslim civilian the way of imprisonment or it is the case of sabotaging any Muslim voice which may rise against any injustice or human rights violation, the acts and laws are well in practice. How could a Muslim youth in Kashmir raise slogan of Allah-u-Akbar in the country like India where Muslims are in minority and have no role to play
In a secular democracy, minorities should be provided safety and dignity irrespective of their religion by the majority community. The present condition of Muslims in India is nothing but abysmal from the point of view of security, economic condition and social life. A large section has started feeling the deprivations in a very painful manner. Muslims are only faithful if they loudly recite Vandhe Mahataram otherwise they have been directed to find a way to Pakistan.
No state in India accommodated POTA which is anti Muslim and has an adverse effect on the people but here it was welcome and the fruit we are bearing. Anyway all anti terrorist acts and laws are being made for the Muslims in particular and Kashmiri in general. Thousand of our youths have been victimized by the blind acts imposed upon them and are imprisoned without any reason since so many years. Thousands of Muslims even in India were punished for being Muslims and have been thrown in jails. Muslims have been branded as terrorists.
After 9/11 attack on World Trade Centre in America a propaganda of portraying Islam as religion of violence has been launched. It became very difficult for Muslims to survive even in their own country. But in Kashmir Muslims were given the name of `terrorists’ in early 90’s, there is nothing new in Kashmir to know about terrorism, because we have been facing this since long.
It’s quite unfortunate that fanaticism is growing in the name of religion. Need is to keep that in check, if India has to really prove herself as a secular country.

(Wasim Ali is Sr. Computer Assistant, Directorate of Quality Assurance, University of Kashmir, Srinagar. He can be mailed at wasimali4@gmail.com, wasimali4@yahoo.com)

Lastupdate on : Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:30:00 GMT
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