#abu siddik

[indizombie]

Hardly a day passes without news of mob violence against Muslims and Dalits. The violence may range from online trolling, online abuse, rape, and intimidation to physical attacks, lynchings, and calls for genocide. The excuses abound the myth of the Muslim population boom, cow killing, cattle trading, beef eating, love-jihad, burqua, the nuisance of the azan, etc. From their food habits to sartorial wear, from their prayers to recitation of their holy book—everything is under the Hindutva scanner. The non-issues are the main issues in Modi’s “New India”. And flames of hatred are being nurtured at each home. To our surprise, even our mothers and sisters, so-called anchors of moral values and familial congeniality, are fueling the flames of hatred.

Abu Siddik, ‘Flames Of Hatred In Modi’s India', Countercurrents

[indizombie]

The fear and horror with which the Indian Muslims are passing days under the Modi years can hardly be grasped by Desi and Videshi intellectuals, academics, researchers and columnists. Yes, they may present the pathetic marginalisation of Indian Muslims on all fronts of life with data, statistics, charts, and graphs. But they cannot feel a Muslim’s fear during his train travel in cow belt states or during his Friday prayer at a mosque. Fear is looming large in his surroundings. His good neighbours may become the worst enemies, provided the situation demands so. Betrayal is lurking behind each door. If the time comes, it will exhibit its monstrosity with full force. When our neighbours are clapping hands and worshipping the ubiquitous presence of the most adorable man on earth, the mass murderer, then the news of genocide calls loses its steam. The steam of genocide is manufactured at each home with countless WhatsApp forwards and hate messages.

Abu Siddik, ‘Flames Of Hatred In Modi’s India', Countercurrents

[indizombie]

Fear and hatred have gripped the air, water and earth. There is no respite from it for a second. Watch a TV show; watch a movie; read a magazine, newspaper or journal; take a seat on a bus or a train; take a cup of tea or coffee at a street corner—Muslim bashing is everywhere. Still, our Marxist and liberal brothers are yelling against identity politics. They claim that class struggle is all that matters. When the repeated calls for Muslim genocide are openly made by the adherents to Hindu Rights, our proletariat brothers and sisters are dreaming of only a class-neutral society, not caste-neutral, not community neutral. Caste and community issues remain untouchable to the liberators of humanity.

Abu Siddik, ‘Flames Of Hatred In Modi’s India', Countercurrents