Hindutva extremists have become a global threat. Like all oppressors and terrorists, they attempt to deflect attention from their horrific crimes by conflating criticism of their conduct with that of Hinduism as a religion. They must not be allowed to get away with this.
Two years ago, when Indian troops were attacked near Pulwama in Indian occupied Kashmir, Delhi blamed it on militants from Pakistan. Recent revelations in some Indian media outlets have exposed the Modi regime’s complicity. It had advance knowledge of the attack but chose not to prevent it in order to boost its electoral chances in the April 2019 elections.
August 5 will mark one year since India’s illegal abrogation of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. Aware that the Kashmiris reject this, the occupation forces have intensified their terrorist acts against the Kashmiris. The pandemic has only made life worse.
February 5 has for decades been observed as Kashmir Solidarity Day. This year, it assumed added significance because of India's total lockdown in Indian Occupied Kashmir since August 5, 2019. Tens of thousands of Kashmiri youth have been arrested and imprisoned in unknown locations. There are grave fears for their safety and security.
Narendra Modi and his fascist followers are hell-bent on turning India into an exclusive Hindu state with no room for other religious groups. Their first target India’s 200 million Muslims but it will not end there. Modi’s racist policies have aroused Indians from a broad cross-section challenging its slide into absolute fascism.
India has been taken over by ethno-religious fascists where there is no room for religious minorities, especially Muslims. Leading figures of the ruling BJP have made this amply clear. The world can only ignore it at its own peril.
Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and their ilk are the most visible faces of fascism in India today but its roots go deep into Hinduism.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global “Goalkeeper award” to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi evoked more than its share of criticism from many quarters.
