Escalating Attacks on Indian Muslims Follow Ram Temple Ceremony
Mumbai, India– A routine drive through Mumbai’s Mira Road neighborhood turned into a terrifying ordeal for 21-year-old Mohammad Tariq. While operating his father’s white loading auto carrier, Tariq was accosted by participants in a Hindu nationalist rally.
Young boys, mostly teenagers, dragged him out of the vehicle, brutally assaulting him with punches, kicks, batons, flag staffs, and iron chains. His father, Abdul Haque, recounted the harrowing incident, expressing his son’s ongoing fear.
The rally, initially peaceful, spiraled into a violent mob, targeting several Muslims in the area, vandalizing shops, and damaging vehicles while chanting “Jai Shri Ram” (Victory to Lord Ram). Similar rallies, accompanied by far-right pop music, unfolded near mosques and Muslim neighborhoods across various Indian states.
The catalyst for this violence was the consecration of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the ceremony. The temple is being built on the site of the 16th-century Babri Masjid, which was demolished by Hindu far-right groups in 1992, leading to nationwide riots claiming over 2,000 lives, predominantly Muslims.
Modi, in his address from Ayodhya, dismissed concerns about rising religious tensions. He proclaimed, “Ram is not a problem but a solution,” emphasizing the foundation of a “grand, divine India” while marking India’s Republic Day.
However, the temple’s inauguration, the Indian government’s involvement, and the violence against religious minorities have raised questions about India’s deviation from its 1950 Constitution.
Religious Tensions and Marginalization Threaten India’s Democratic Image
Following the temple ceremony, a Muslim graveyard was set ablaze in Bihar, a Muslim man was publicly humiliated in South India, and a saffron flag symbolizing militant Hinduism was hoisted on a church in central India.
As violence escalates and minorities feel increasingly marginalized, India’s international reputation as a democracy is at stake. Human Rights Watch has cited the systematic discrimination against religious minorities, particularly Muslims, and India’s decline in global democracy indices.
The rise of Hindu nationalism, a shift from secular values, and Modi’s consolidation of power challenge India’s role as a democratic ally to Western nations, particularly in countering China.
While Modi and the BJP anticipate a strong showing in the 2024 national elections, concerns persist that the temple’s construction may not quell the Hindu nationalist movement’s desire for further religious confrontations.
Prominent civil rights activist Harsh Mander underscored the importance of resisting these divisive forces. He joined thousands in Kolkata for an “anti-fascism march.” Similar protests occurred nationwide, emphasizing India’s constitutional commitment to equal rights for all citizens.
As India grapples with its identity and future, the events surrounding the temple inauguration have left many questioning the nation’s secular democracy and the enduring impact of religious tensions.
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