These elections mark completion of BJP-secular party divide purely on Hindu-Muslim basis. BJP’s rivals are increasingly looking like Muslim parties though their leaders are all Hindus.
After more than seven years of pendency, the Supreme Court is set to hear a PIL regarding a complete ban on Female Genital Mutilation within the Dawoodi Bohra community.
Anyone interested in the truth can easily look up the many instances—all those events from Kashmir to Lucknow—where Indian Muslims were at the forefront, raising their voices against terror attacks.
On 17 February, the Mahayuti government issued a fresh government resolution formally cancelling all earlier decisions & circulars linked to the 2014 Muslim quota framework.
The AI-generated video showed Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma shooting at a photograph of two people in skull caps, one of them being state Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi.
Discussing his new book ‘Arguably Contentious: Thoughts on a Divided World’ with ThePrint, Ansari also weighed in on parliamentary conduct, Palestine issue & Donald Trump.
Alarm bells are ringing after two brothers were assaulted in the Vikasnagar area of Dehradun Wednesday upon revealing their Kashmiri Muslim identity to a shopkeeper.
China processes over two-thirds of global lithium. Until Indian firms begin investing in lithium refineries, the raw material will continue to be exported to China for processing.
Leave aside long data runs, even if focus is put on specific episodes of pronounced crisis such as COVID-19 pandemic, America excels in recovering rapidly from such phases.
Defence minister helmed a review meeting of HAL projects which was attended by CDS Gen N S Raja Subramani, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, CMD of HAL Ravi Kota and others.
The central curse of our urban governance isn’t that more voters live in these slummified villages. It’s that the political class panders to them instead of improving their quality of life.
For every party nation comes first on paper. But do they really work like that? BJP is as good as other parties in this matter. If you truly care about nation , you will not induct corrupt and criminal politicians from other parties into your party. Power comes first for everyone. Nation is secondary
The fact that SG gives special attention to “Muslim voters” reveals a skewed and wrong assumption. The correct assumption should be that all are citizens of India and that is the only thing that matters. This is I believe is held by most Indians, including the Muslims. It is only the politicians who use the religion card to win elections, to gain political power. That’s it. And journos then publish articles like this as if this is a serious matter.
A spurious and even a very divisive argument that Mr.Shekhar is making here. How have Muslims fared in states ruled by BJP and how about the past decade or so since Mr.Mod is in power? The so called secular parties did little to nothing for the average Muslim while vaxing eloquent about protecting them even while directly or indirectly promoting anti-social elements from these communities and “anointing” them as their representatives. The examples are all before us to see – UP, West Bengal, Kerala to name some states. Commentators and senior journalists ought to have some level of humility – how often did they call these out, in ample strength when these “secular” parties were in the government? If even after a decade or more out of power parties like Congress are still talking about “Vote chori” instead of true introspection and corrective action, why are journalists jumping to the fray to help push dubious arguments unless they want to contribute to their increasing irrelevance ? If BJP is governing better and people vote them to power time after time, what is wrong in that?
If Muslims are entering middle class professions in larger numbers than earlier, then clearly they are doing much better in BJP-led India than they were under so-called secular parties. So, BJP and Hindus are not discriminating against them. Yet, they refuse to vote for BJP and will only vote for parties that want to divide Hindus and pander to their extremism.
Are Indian Muslims truly secular themselves? Ask them why they don’t vote for BJP even when BJP has not denied them any benefits and treats them exactly like other citizens. Is it because they have been led to believe- by their leaders and journalists like yourself- that Hindus are big, bad wolves who will eat them if they let go of their victim card?
Increasingly, Indian Muslims see themselves as Muslims first and Indians second. They are becoming increasingly radicalized. This is true all over the world for all Muslims.
So instead of seeing BJP as the problem, maybe you need to risk your secular credentials and ask Muslims why they don’t vote for the party that says that the nation comes first, not caste or religion.
Since the author is so keen to ask about representation of a community by comparing their representation across the spectrum and not just legislatures. So mulims form about 15 percent of the Indian population and the author is so worried about them. And there should be genuine concern around this because we want to be an egalitarian country. But why does the author never prsenets the representation of the OBCs , SCs and STs across the spectrum from politics to judiciary to bureaucracy to armed forces officers. I mean they form nearly 80-85% of the population. Is it not a bigger worry that people who form the majority have almost no representation compared to their population. I have rarely seen the author point these out, maybe it does not fit the author’s agenda or propaganda. Or maybe the definition of egalitarian society is very different for the author
Saath toh sab ko dena chahiye. Think of India’s microscopic community, the Parsis, least dependent on the government for their Vikas. Can any strand of India’s fascinating tapestry be disregarded merely because it lacks electoral salience. That can create an unfeeling, tungsten edged sensibility. Diminishes India.
Very happy to read that more Muslims are entering the learned professions. Even more, that their numbers in the civil service and the armed forces are growing. Clearly, hard won victories, because they do not enjoy the benefit of reservations, which help Dalits, Adivasis and now the other backward classes. 2. After the red wine, some black coffee. Politics is about power. Empowerment. Ensuring that the electoral process shares out benefits to different sections in the government structure, which still matters so much in a developing country. So, if over the last three general elections, not a single Muslim has entered the Lok Sabha from the BJP, that causes concern. Not a single Muslim minister in the Bengal Cabinet ( although expansion will take place in due course ), despite their being almost one third of the population. 3. Going beyond electoral politics, or even the fraternal spirit of the Constitution. India aspires to join the First World. What is the sort of society we should create which takes us there. Singapore decided at birth that social cohesion and communal harmony were essential building blocks, has made a success of them while essaying its stunning economic rise. We should think deeply about the sort of society we are becoming.
This has ‘problematic’ written all over it. If, going by the author’s previous article here, a ‘Muslim veto’ — real or imagined — was an issue, the situation now is one where the voice of Muslims (non-Hindus actually; the article says ‘Hindu’) has been vetoed and rendered irrelevant entirely.
Think about this way: One side is the rabid Hindu nationalist behemoth, devouring state after state relentlessly.
If the other side must necessarily be a ‘Hindu-led coalition’, where does that leave the interests of non-Hindus? ‘Go to Pakistan’ (as a Congress leader recently snubbed a critic of a certain propaganda film), I guess?
Let’s be clear of one aspect. Present day Muslims in india are not ” Bechare ” like in earlier period Hindus were under Muslims rule. They are what they are because they decided to NOT be part of Secular India by always voting as a block on religious lines instead of economic or policy issues. Present day Success of Modi is due to reaction of Hindus to Muslims consolidation in earlier elections. To make Muslims also ( like Hindus) Secular it is necessary to remove tag of MINORITY from Muslims community. No where in the world any community of 150 millions strong members is designated as MINORITY. Then Muslims should stop voting as a block on religious lines. Then Hindus will automatically offer them share in power.
PS: Hindus should learn experience of other countries specially European liberal democratic like Denmark, Sweden etc and steps taken by them treating Muslims.
BJP MLA Dilip Ghosh put it perfectly when he said that Muslims of West Bengal should ask themselves what have the secular political parties done for them. For 50 years the Left Front and TMC ruled over Bengal – yet, Muslims remain at the bottom of the pyramid in every aspect of social and economic life.
Muslims must introspect as to what caused this. They voted en masse for these political parties and were primarily responsible for keeping them in power for half a century. In return, what did the Muslim masses get?
Unless Bengali Muslims introspect and course correct, a bleak future awaits them.
You did not mention that APJ Abdul Kalam was made president of India by BJP government. BJP honors Muslims who put India first and integrate in to India culture. They despise Muslims who want to make India an Islamic country and try to control the Hindu population. Hindu’s have realized that their civilization is at stake and they have to save what their forefathers have fought for thousand’s of years.
Secularism ? That word is why BJP wins. There is no secularism only psudeo secularism. The only community which has to follow secularism are the Hindus (which includes Sikhs, Buddhist and Jains)
But guess who doesn’t actually have to follow secularism ? There is the answer. People sick and tired of these words which don’t matter anymore. Muslims get away with any bad idea in their community and if anyone chooses to reform it then they are called bigots or anti Muslim.
Just look at the reaction when BJP banned triple talaq ? You can also gauge the early reaction of UCC even before it has been implemented.
Unfortunately Hindus feel threatened when the demographics are changing. It’s literally becomes about survival. Why do you think the bhadraloks voted for BJP this time ? They were scared.
All of a sudden in the last few years I have seen so many burqas in my quaint little town. So clearly Muslims are becoming less Indian and more Arabic. Obviously it’s their right to wear anything but people can see it and will claim that this is an alien culture.
For every party nation comes first on paper. But do they really work like that? BJP is as good as other parties in this matter. If you truly care about nation , you will not induct corrupt and criminal politicians from other parties into your party. Power comes first for everyone. Nation is secondary
If this is the end of Minority Appeasement, it should be considered a welcome development.
UCC as mandated by Supreme court can become a reality only of Minority Appeasement ends.
The fact that SG gives special attention to “Muslim voters” reveals a skewed and wrong assumption. The correct assumption should be that all are citizens of India and that is the only thing that matters. This is I believe is held by most Indians, including the Muslims. It is only the politicians who use the religion card to win elections, to gain political power. That’s it. And journos then publish articles like this as if this is a serious matter.
A spurious and even a very divisive argument that Mr.Shekhar is making here. How have Muslims fared in states ruled by BJP and how about the past decade or so since Mr.Mod is in power? The so called secular parties did little to nothing for the average Muslim while vaxing eloquent about protecting them even while directly or indirectly promoting anti-social elements from these communities and “anointing” them as their representatives. The examples are all before us to see – UP, West Bengal, Kerala to name some states. Commentators and senior journalists ought to have some level of humility – how often did they call these out, in ample strength when these “secular” parties were in the government? If even after a decade or more out of power parties like Congress are still talking about “Vote chori” instead of true introspection and corrective action, why are journalists jumping to the fray to help push dubious arguments unless they want to contribute to their increasing irrelevance ? If BJP is governing better and people vote them to power time after time, what is wrong in that?
If Muslims are entering middle class professions in larger numbers than earlier, then clearly they are doing much better in BJP-led India than they were under so-called secular parties. So, BJP and Hindus are not discriminating against them. Yet, they refuse to vote for BJP and will only vote for parties that want to divide Hindus and pander to their extremism.
Are Indian Muslims truly secular themselves? Ask them why they don’t vote for BJP even when BJP has not denied them any benefits and treats them exactly like other citizens. Is it because they have been led to believe- by their leaders and journalists like yourself- that Hindus are big, bad wolves who will eat them if they let go of their victim card?
Increasingly, Indian Muslims see themselves as Muslims first and Indians second. They are becoming increasingly radicalized. This is true all over the world for all Muslims.
So instead of seeing BJP as the problem, maybe you need to risk your secular credentials and ask Muslims why they don’t vote for the party that says that the nation comes first, not caste or religion.
Since the author is so keen to ask about representation of a community by comparing their representation across the spectrum and not just legislatures. So mulims form about 15 percent of the Indian population and the author is so worried about them. And there should be genuine concern around this because we want to be an egalitarian country. But why does the author never prsenets the representation of the OBCs , SCs and STs across the spectrum from politics to judiciary to bureaucracy to armed forces officers. I mean they form nearly 80-85% of the population. Is it not a bigger worry that people who form the majority have almost no representation compared to their population. I have rarely seen the author point these out, maybe it does not fit the author’s agenda or propaganda. Or maybe the definition of egalitarian society is very different for the author
Saath toh sab ko dena chahiye. Think of India’s microscopic community, the Parsis, least dependent on the government for their Vikas. Can any strand of India’s fascinating tapestry be disregarded merely because it lacks electoral salience. That can create an unfeeling, tungsten edged sensibility. Diminishes India.
Very happy to read that more Muslims are entering the learned professions. Even more, that their numbers in the civil service and the armed forces are growing. Clearly, hard won victories, because they do not enjoy the benefit of reservations, which help Dalits, Adivasis and now the other backward classes. 2. After the red wine, some black coffee. Politics is about power. Empowerment. Ensuring that the electoral process shares out benefits to different sections in the government structure, which still matters so much in a developing country. So, if over the last three general elections, not a single Muslim has entered the Lok Sabha from the BJP, that causes concern. Not a single Muslim minister in the Bengal Cabinet ( although expansion will take place in due course ), despite their being almost one third of the population. 3. Going beyond electoral politics, or even the fraternal spirit of the Constitution. India aspires to join the First World. What is the sort of society we should create which takes us there. Singapore decided at birth that social cohesion and communal harmony were essential building blocks, has made a success of them while essaying its stunning economic rise. We should think deeply about the sort of society we are becoming.
This has ‘problematic’ written all over it. If, going by the author’s previous article here, a ‘Muslim veto’ — real or imagined — was an issue, the situation now is one where the voice of Muslims (non-Hindus actually; the article says ‘Hindu’) has been vetoed and rendered irrelevant entirely.
Think about this way: One side is the rabid Hindu nationalist behemoth, devouring state after state relentlessly.
If the other side must necessarily be a ‘Hindu-led coalition’, where does that leave the interests of non-Hindus? ‘Go to Pakistan’ (as a Congress leader recently snubbed a critic of a certain propaganda film), I guess?
Let’s be clear of one aspect. Present day Muslims in india are not ” Bechare ” like in earlier period Hindus were under Muslims rule. They are what they are because they decided to NOT be part of Secular India by always voting as a block on religious lines instead of economic or policy issues. Present day Success of Modi is due to reaction of Hindus to Muslims consolidation in earlier elections. To make Muslims also ( like Hindus) Secular it is necessary to remove tag of MINORITY from Muslims community. No where in the world any community of 150 millions strong members is designated as MINORITY. Then Muslims should stop voting as a block on religious lines. Then Hindus will automatically offer them share in power.
PS: Hindus should learn experience of other countries specially European liberal democratic like Denmark, Sweden etc and steps taken by them treating Muslims.
BJP MLA Dilip Ghosh put it perfectly when he said that Muslims of West Bengal should ask themselves what have the secular political parties done for them. For 50 years the Left Front and TMC ruled over Bengal – yet, Muslims remain at the bottom of the pyramid in every aspect of social and economic life.
Muslims must introspect as to what caused this. They voted en masse for these political parties and were primarily responsible for keeping them in power for half a century. In return, what did the Muslim masses get?
Unless Bengali Muslims introspect and course correct, a bleak future awaits them.
You did not mention that APJ Abdul Kalam was made president of India by BJP government. BJP honors Muslims who put India first and integrate in to India culture. They despise Muslims who want to make India an Islamic country and try to control the Hindu population. Hindu’s have realized that their civilization is at stake and they have to save what their forefathers have fought for thousand’s of years.
Relations between BJP and Muslims needs to improve. And Congress should also focus on development, to build it’s credentials.
Secularism ? That word is why BJP wins. There is no secularism only psudeo secularism. The only community which has to follow secularism are the Hindus (which includes Sikhs, Buddhist and Jains)
But guess who doesn’t actually have to follow secularism ? There is the answer. People sick and tired of these words which don’t matter anymore. Muslims get away with any bad idea in their community and if anyone chooses to reform it then they are called bigots or anti Muslim.
Just look at the reaction when BJP banned triple talaq ? You can also gauge the early reaction of UCC even before it has been implemented.
Unfortunately Hindus feel threatened when the demographics are changing. It’s literally becomes about survival. Why do you think the bhadraloks voted for BJP this time ? They were scared.
All of a sudden in the last few years I have seen so many burqas in my quaint little town. So clearly Muslims are becoming less Indian and more Arabic. Obviously it’s their right to wear anything but people can see it and will claim that this is an alien culture.