• To truly comprehend the profound impact of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) propaganda machine, one cannot overlook the dramatic changes in India’s social cohesion that have unfolded over the past decade.
• India has become an epicentre of Islamophobia with many people from the majority joining the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) in the boycott against Muslims.
Over the last 9 years, a lot has changed in India for the minorities, especially Muslims, who are constantly living in an environment of fear and hatred spread by the Bhartiya Janta Party and its aides. The systematic oppression and marginalization of minorities started right after the right-wingnationalist party came to power and gathered momentum, surprising even those, who used to live in peace and harmony with their Muslim brethren.
However, the intensity of the oppression started hitting new highs with the number of incidents pertaining to mob lynching, cow vigilantism, vandalization of mosques and hateful celebration on Hindu festivals increasing at a rapid pace. Many terms like “Pakistan or Qabristan” (Pakistan or Graveyard), “Jab mulle kaate jayenge ram ram chillayenge” (When the Muslims will be slaughtered, they will cry ram ram), started becoming normal in BJP’s India with the architect in chief Narendra Modi at the helm.
Not just the politicians, but the judiciary has also been alienating Muslims with the verdicts of Babri Masjid, Triple Talaaq, Article 370 and 35A. The introduction of NRC (national register of citizens) and CAA (Citizenship amendment act) has only added fuel to the fire with BJP aiming to strip the Muslims of their voting rights, leaving them as second-class citizens.
When the judiciary shakes hands with politicians to corner a certain community, the chances of restoring the status quo are next to zero. However, this is where the majority can play a defining role to safeguard the rights of minorities. History has proved time and again that propaganda and hate politics may be successful for a short-term, but it eventually dies down, unless the acceptance of a false narrative increases within the majority. If a society is based on high values and principles, it is difficult to shake the foundation.
Therefore, the litmus test for Modi’s BJP was always said to be the 2019 general elections in India, when the people of the country had well and truly understood the policies of the political arm of RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) inspired by Hitler’s Nazis. Many believed that BJP would find it difficult to retain the power, owing to its hateful campaign against Muslims for 5 long years, while others predicted a marginal win.
The results of 2019 general elections gave us an insight into the reality which is deep-rooted in the Indian society, when the Britishers used to play the game of fear called “Divide and rule”. A one-sided majority win for the BJP showcased that the foundations of secularism were shaken long back but a thin layer of democracy was hiding it. The results were testament of the fact that the majority seldom cares what happens to the minority as long as their safety is guaranteed.
After 2019, the hate-crimes against Muslims and other minorities started multiplying with many people, including parliament members openly calling for economic boycott and genocide of the Muslim community. The participation of common people in the hateful celebrations during their festivals, anti-Muslim programs, provocative rallies and calls for disturbing Friday prayers is well-documented. Even the public transport and corporate offices have started becoming unsafe for the Indian Muslims.
The extent of the hate against Muslims started going over the top with them being blamed even for the spread of coronavirus. The mainstream media, a lapdog of Modi’s BJP blames Muslims for everything that goes wrong within the country. The prime-time show is all but a hate show to provoke the majority against the minority. Muslims are being called out for the forms of “Jihad” that are unknown even to the Muslim community. Self-imagined anti-Muslim stories and songs are selling like hot cakes.
Despite the provocation, politics and propaganda, some people from the majority are stepping up to counter the hate and save the democratic fulcrum of India. Many journalists have resigned to avoid becoming a mouthpiece of the government. A number of judges, lawyers, authors, celebrities, athletes, etc., are showing dissent towards the policies of the current government. However, the impact on the ground seems to be too little and too late. While one reason for that is the fear of being called out by the law enforcement agencies, another reason is the increasing number of people accepting BJP’s policies to maintain their supremacy.
Even today, if the reports are to be believed, BJP’s stranglehold is set to give them a majority win in 2024 general elections yet again. Be it the construction of Ram Mandir (Temple of ram) over Babri Masjid or abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, introduction of NRC and CAA or severe ties with Pakistan, the BJP has given its majority a lot to cheer about.
At this juncture, the only way out of this hateful environment seems to be the realization that has to come from within. The majority has to step up before Martin Niemöller’s quote comes true.
“First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me”.
