After reports of threats made by the Hindu Extremist party, Shiv Sena, against the Australian cricket team, the Australian government and media are now very concerned about the safety of their players in India. So they should be. This threat was issued in reaction to incidents of random violent attacks against Indian nationals in some Australian cities. While the concern of the Indian government about the safety of its citizens is justified, it should be noted that Shiv Sena or the Army of Lord Shiva, is the same right wing Hindu extremist political party that has over the past years orchestrated violence against minorities in India, intimidated political opponents and carried out a reign of terror and intimidation against anyone who dares to speak against their hate-mongering leader Mr. Bal Thackeray. Hence if Bal Thackeray has issued a threat against the visitors, it is indeed a worrisome development for the international community in terms of the security of their players during the Commonwealth games which are to be held in India this year. There is a long list of heinous acts of violence that have been perpetrated by Hindu extremist parties like Shiv Sena for decades in India.
Almost coinciding with the 13th round of Sino-Indian border talks (New Delhi, August 7-8, 2009), an article (in the Chinese language) has appeared in China captioned ‘If China takes a little action, the so-called Great Indian Federation can be broken up’ (Zhong Guo Zhan Lue Gang, http://www.iiss.cn, Chinese, August 8, 2009).
Interestingly, it has been reproduced in several other strategic and military Web sites of the country and by all means, targets the domestic audience. The authoritative host site is located in Beijing and is the new edition of one, which so far represented the China International Institute for Strategic Studies (www.chinaiiss.org).
Claiming that Beijing’s ‘China-Centric’ Asian strategy, provides for splitting India, the writer of the article, Zhan Lue (strategy), has found that New Delhi’s corresponding ‘India-Centric’ policy in Asia, is in reality a ‘Hindustan centric’ one. Stating that on the other hand ‘local centres’ exist in several of the country’s provinces (excepting for the UP and certain northern regions), Zhan Lue has felt that in the face of such local characteristics, the ‘so-called’ Indian nation cannot be considered as one having existed in history.
MUMBAI: “Am I a criminal or a terrorist?” asked an upset Emraan Hashmi on Friday. The Bollywood actor said he had been denied a house he wanted to buy in the upmarket Pali Hill area of Mumbai because he was Muslim. Read ‘Muslims unwelcome? Yes, says Emraan Hashmi‘
This, ofcourse is not the first time the ‘myth’ of India’s so called ‘Secularism’ has been shred to pieces. Noted Indian actress, Member of Parliament and renowned social activist Shabana Azmi is among the thousands of Muslims in India who have been a victim of India’s religious intolerance.
Quoting from IndianMuslims.com, instances like the one narrated below are a daily occurrence in ‘Secular’ India:
“As soon as I entered the train, I saw some commuters beating up a Pathani-clad man. Even before I could realise what was happening, two of the commuters saw me and started hitting me as well. They just kept saying ‘get out of this country, go back to Pakistan, you do not belong here, you are the ones responsible for the blasts in the city’,” says a shocked Ghojaria.
The watch repair mechanic was all the more stunned when he was asked to take the name of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna. “When they started hitting me, I screamed ‘Allah’. That’s when they told me to call out to Ram and Krishna instead. They said they wouldn’t let go of me if I did not chant the names,” alleges Ghojaria, adding that the mob even pulled his beard. The abuse stopped only when the train reached Churchgate terminal. “Nobody came forward to help me. I felt utterly helpless throughout. When the train came to a halt at Churchgate, all the commuters, including the attackers, simply walked away,” adds Ghojaria. [Read Full Article]
The fifth and sixth days of June which remind the tragic memory of India’s Operation Blue Star launched on the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikhs in 1984 have come at a time when Pakistan’s armed forces have been conducting Malakand operations against the Taliban. It looks interesting to compare the phenomena and other dimensions of these operations.
The main aim of the Operation Blue Star led by Indian General Kuldip Singh Brar was to arrest Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the only spiritual leader who had been boldly fighting for the genuine rights of Sikhs. Indian government which never tried to negotiate with the Sikh leader had signed no peace agreement with him or the Sikh community, while activities of Bhindranwale were only confined to the Golden Temple. As regards Pak military operations, Swat peace accord was signed on February 15 this year between the government and the militants led by Sufi Muhammad. Meanwhile, National Assembly passed the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation which was also signed by Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari. While implementing it, two Qazi courts were appointed in the Malakand Division. But, by setting aside the terms of the peace pact, the Taliban equipped with heavy weapons started making checkpoints, strengthening their position in Swat and Dir. They not only refused to renounce arms, but even entered Buner in open violations of the peace agreement.
The Indian government’s “war against terror” may cost the Congress party dearly in the election.
Arrests and alleged extrajudicial killings of Muslim youths have angered many in the Islamic community.
“People in power have branded us as terrorists and used us as a vote bank, this cannot go on,” said the all-powerful cleric of Delhi’s Jama Masjid mosque, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, in a recent press conference.
“The security of Muslims is one big issue, as after every blast in India a series of arrests of Muslim youths takes place,” said a spokesperson for the influential All India Muslim Personal Law Board. Muslim men were “systematically killed” in routine police encounters, he alleged. [BBC]
The central government is weak, corrupt, ineffective and impotent. Kashmir is on fire, as is Assaam and Bihar. 250 million Dalits do not feel “Indian”. The 150 million Muslims have been so mistreated that they are in abject generational penury. It will take more than 3 centuries to pull the poverty stricken out of destitute living. The media focuses on “Incredible India”, a figment of the imagination of the West.
Its a sad state of affairs when our own government defends the actions of our enemies when instead we should demand action and threaten air-strikes at the bases of VHP, RSS, Bajrangdal etc. Watch this eye-opening video:
The pogrom in Gujarat, the targeting of Christian missionaries, all go unnoticed in the
western world because India is a major trading partner. —Reuters/File photo
ALMOST anything is digestible in the heat of the moment.
When Mumbai came under attack, most of Pakistan mourned as well. And why not, for who other than Pakistanis have been most brutalised by terrorism in the 21st century? We understand the pain, the trauma, the scarring of a collective psyche. When Indian leaders resorted to bellicosity, and when the media in that country went hysterical, most Pakistanis said let it be, they need to express their grief. Extreme anguish and irrationality can go hand in hand, and that is perfectly understandable even at a remove. But the dust has settled now and it is time to talk sense.
The fifth and sixth days of June which remind the tragic memory of India’s Operation Blue Star launched on the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikhs in 1984 have come at a time when Pakistan’s armed forces have been conducting Malakand operations against the Taliban. It looks interesting to compare the phenomena and other dimensions of these operations.
