The recent spate of violence against minorities, especially Muslims and Christians, following the inauguration of the Ram Mandir on January 22, 2024, has once again exposed the deafening silence of India’s secular parties. These parties, which proclaim to uphold and preserve the values of a plural and inclusive society, have failed even to condemn the blatant attacks or demand justice for the victims.
Not the First Time
This is not the first time, that the complain is being made to these parties on their silence and failure to challenge the ruling government, It has become a normal function and attitude of these parties in such circumstances. In fact, these secular parties are failing the minority communities every day. But the situation is so dire and dark that minorities have no alternatives but to keep their hope high on these parties. It appears that the fate of the secular parties and persecuted minorities have been interlocked. Their loyalty remains unchanged, no matter how often they are failed by them.
The complicity of State Actors
The state’s complicity in the riots against minorities is undeniable. Instead of protecting the victims, the state actors have actively encouraged and participated in the violence, as documented by Human Rights Watch. As also seen in the recent violence, the state actors not only shielded the rioters while they were destroying the properties of Muslims in Mumbai, later, they themselves served Bulldozer justice to the the victims again. Many including lawmakers proudly share such a cowardly and illegal act by the authorities against the victims.
action start at Meera road. thankyou @Dev_Fadnavis ji pic.twitter.com/aMx0DzEDRR
— Tajinder Bagga (@TajinderBagga) January 23, 2024
The secular parties, who claim to champion the cause of a plural and inclusive India,amid such a havoc situation, have remained completely mum. This is a shameful betrayal of the country’s constitutional values and democratic principles by both the state actors and the opposition parties.
In a vibrant democracy, any act of violence based on ethnic, racial, or religious grounds would normally elicit a strong response from the opposition parties, who would challenge the law and order situation under the ruling government. But India has become a unique case, where the persecution and humiliation of minorities has become a source of cultural pride and political triumphalism for the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its supporters.
The kind of brute and inhuman politics that has unfolded in the recent years on global stage, that it poses a moral dilemma for minorities in India to even have hope from the international community and global society to raise voice for them.
They are the only ones who can help themselves now. They should remain optimistic, courageous, and prepared to confront any obstacles that come their way.
