EVER since its independence in 1947, India has been portraying itself as a secular state. In essence, secularism calls for equality among the masses, irrespective of their religious belief, class, creed or social status. In its entire history, India has violated these norms of secularism. The biggest example of being the Hindu authoritarian and non-secular state was demolition of Babri Mosque in 1992 and legalizing this act by Indian Supreme Court in November 2019. Indeed, the final verdict of Indian Supreme Court on November 9, 2019 in the case of historic Babri Mosque had stunned almost all international jurists and the communities linked with international law.
Besides, the judgment also surprised the unbiased intellectual class in India who believed in fair play and impartiality of the Indian Supreme Court. As per the verdict of the Indian Supreme Court, 2.77 acres of land of the Babri Mosque was dedicated for the construction of Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. The Supreme Court ordered the Indian Government to allot five acres of land for the construction of Mosque (in lieu of the demolished Babri Masjid) in another place. Following this historic verdict, the highest Indian court is being viewed as a shielding court or else a covering body for the illegitimate and illegal acts of the Hindutva being sponsored by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
This verdict was a black dot (shameful act) on the face of the Indian Supreme Court, Indian Government and the Indian society. The global jurists criticized, condemned and looked-down this verdict and expected the Indian superior court to reconsider its unjustified judgement. Unfortunately, despite passage of four years, the Indian Supreme Court and Indian Government did not reconcile. It is worth mentioning that earlier on December 6, 1992 fundamentalist Hindus from all organizations and political parties across the length and breadth of India gathered at Ayodhya and attacked the historic Babri Mosque.
They demolished it under the protection of Indian police and paramilitary forces. As a result of clashes over the demolition of the Mosque, more than 2,000 people (mostly Muslims) lost their lives. This was a great exposure of Indian secularism. Kalyan Singh, then part of BJP and Chief Minister of the UP, has denied the charges of allowing the carnage to happen and rather emphasized for the immediate construction of the temple. He said, “I have no regrets.” The Ram temple has to come up, the structure (mosque) has to go.” L.K Advani and top BJP leadership were part of this plot which took place under the Government of Congress, the so-called secular face of India.
Indeed, India has been a hard and fundamentalist Hindu State throughout. It projected its secular character for the consumption of the international community. Realistically, the so-called secular India is a land of extreme contradiction and intolerance. Minorities and lower Indian castes are very vulnerable for exploitation by higher Indian castes without any remorse and state protection. Infringement of human rights is a regular feature because of these lower classes and minorities. In the garb of secularism and democracy India has been exploiting the minorities throughout the post-colonial period. Through a well-planned strategy, the areas inhabited with people other than Hindu majority were kept backward and deprived of basic facilities of life.
The worst among all was the economic deprivation and providing no facilities for the basic education for these poor minority masses. Among Hindus, even the low class Dalit, were discriminated against alongside the minorities. Besides, Sikhs forming approximately 1.9% of Indian total population are being discriminated against and relegated to all spheres of life in Hindu-dominated India. In the post-1980s campaign, the Sikhs are looked down upon and considered as anti-state and anti-India. Today, the Indian Government and RSS are directly targeting the Sikh community in India. Indian RAW is involved in the killing of Sikhs who settled elsewhere in Europe and North American states after Indian brutalities of 1980s. Recently, Indian RAW attempted to assassinate a Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York which was foiled by a US spying network. The US Government has sought Indian clarification and is likely to pursue the case in the court of law. Besides, the Indian Government is still not cooperating with the Canadian investigation into the murder of another Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Christians forming almost 3% of the Indian population are equally discriminated against and humiliated in India. They are also facing the fanatic onslaught of the RSS for conversion into Hinduism. Killing of Christian community in Manipur in 2023 is a new example. Through a massive campaign against Muslims, the major minority group in India, forming over 17% of total population, Indian Muslims are discriminated, humiliated and forced to convert into Hinduism or else leave India.In fact, Indian Muslims are paying the Price of Partition. Modi’s India demands Muslims to convert into Hinduism or else leave India. As per Pew Research Centre analysis, out of 198 countries, India ranked as fourth worst in the world for religious intolerance.
International community noted the highest cases of religiously motivated acts of violence and state-sponsored terrorism against minorities in India from 2014 to 2023; the BJP era under Prime Minister Modi. In 2019, Indian Parliament passed laws which run contrary to secularism and democratic norms. Indian acts of targeting its minorities outside Indian borders are very dangerous trends which the international community and United Nations should take seriously. India cannot be allowed to kill its minorities within India and outside its borders with impunity.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
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views expressed are writer’s own.
