English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

Mother Of All Paradoxes: Muslims Indispensable For The Hindutva Project

Published

on

gujarat-election

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By: Saeed Naqvi 

The Hindutva project would come down like melting ice cream if there were no Muslims, no Kashmir and no Pakistan to hate. This is elementary. Muslims, in other words, are an essential requirement for the BJP to win elections. Results from Gujarat confirm this truth yet again. Why Congress has done better in the rural areas is because the Muslim population is thinly scattered – not enough to be a cluster or a “pole”. And Hindutva needs a pole to polarize.

Hindutva is also handicapped in the rural areas by the continued prevalence of caste identities. These are the identities in which rural folk are secure. Migration to the cities results in dilution and gradual erasure of caste. In normal course this would result in a cosmopolitan identity with a talent to accommodate many strands.

What disrupts this possible secularization process is the all enveloping growth of sects – Narayansawamy, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and so on. Unlike the Brahmo Samaj which reached out like a ballet dancer, the sects popular in Gujarat are inward looking. From this platform, it is not difficult to whip up communal polarization against those faceless Muslims in old cities and ghettoes – Pakistan’s fifth column, love jihadis, slaughterers of cows, terrorists.

Islamophobia riding a crest of terrorism is not Narendra Modi’s invention. Modi just happened to be lucky even as George W Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld ordered a post 9/11 global order custom made for Modi’s machinations.

US occupation of Afghanistan, accompanied by the world’s biggest fireworks, a televised war, created superb conditions for rampaging Islamophobia anywhere. Modi who became Chief Minister on October 8, exactly the day when the retribution for 9/11 began to be visited upon the hapless Afghans, took full advantage. The televised global war on terror reached a crescendo in February. On February 27, 2002, occurred the burning train mishap at Godhara. Ahmedabad was ablaze by way of retribution. Never was an anti Muslim pogrom mounted on this scale. The global din of terrorism and Islamophobia gave the pogrom a backdrop with which it merged.

The pogrom exorcised the city of another ghost. For decades, an underworld don Abdul Latif, had terrorized the political establishment in Gujarat on both sides of the aisle. Even though he was killed in a staged encounter some years ago, the scale of the pogrom was for Hindutva an equalizer.

From Aurangzeb, to Abdul Latif, Dawood, Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar is a rapidly expanding rogues’ gallery. In the deepest recesses of their heart, Muslims are sympathetic to this gallery. It is against this growing fifth column, Hindus must consolidate towards a Hindu Rashtra in which the past shall be the future.

Just imagine, where would Hindu Rashtra be if the country’s Muslims by some superior incantation disappeared one day, vamoosed. The Hindu caste structure, exposed to electoral democracy, social justice, upward mobility, would be inverted in no time. Overwhelming numerical superiority would bring the base of the pyramid on top.

Muslims as a foil is therefore indispensable to the Hindu ruling class purpose.

Rahul Gandhi grasped this essential point to good purpose in Gujarat. He realized the BJP would communally polarize a situation if Muslims were visible on the Congress side. Muslims were therefore advised to steer clear of his line of vision. The Muslim Congress worker who navigated me to the Radisson Blu hotel where Rahul was holding his final press conference would himself not come up. “Ahmad bhai (Ahmad Patel) will also not be there”, he explained. Rahul was flanked by Ashok Gehlot and Randip Singh Surjewala. One spotted Rajiv Shukla and Jiten Prasada but no Ahmad Patel, who was in Ahmedabad though.

Even token visits to Muslim enclaves in the walled city or Juhapura were taboo for Rahul. The trick obviously worked. It drove the Hindutva think tank to distraction. They began to invent dark conspiracies with Pakistan. Poor Mani Shankar Aiyar came in handy for no fault of his. His friend former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri turned up for a wedding at the Nawab of Loharu in Jaipur. That evening Ambassador Surendra Kumar organized a high powered seminar on Pakistan at the India International Centre addressed by Gen. Deepak Kapoor, former High Commissioners TCA Raghavan, Sharat Sabharwal, whom Aiyar hurriedly enlisted to ginger up his guest list for Kasuri on his way from the Loharu wedding. Aiyar speaks Hindi but his control on the language can falter. He meant to describe Modi as “mean”, but the way he used the term “neech” or “low” lent itself to the interpretation that he had described the Prime Minister of “low birth”. There is an irony in the BJP targeting Aiyar as their most hostile Congress critic. Sonia Gandhi has not spoken to Aiyar for the past six years.

That Aiyar, out in the cold with his party, had to be resurrected by Modi to provide him with contrived themes for communal polarization shows that Rahul’s tactical aversion of Muslims is unsettling the opposition. Add to this the double whammy of incessant temple hopping and Rahul is well on the way to stealing the BJP’s platform.

So, cheer up Indian Muslims. What will the Congress not do for you?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Cricket news

IPL 2024: CSK’s Pathirana returns to Sri Lanka due to hamstring injury

The right-arm pacer played six matches in IPL 2024 picking up 13 wickets at an economy of 7.68 for CSK

Published

on

Fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana of the Chennai Super Kings suffered a serious setback on Sunday before of their IPL 2024 encounter against Punjab Kings. Pathirana, who suffered hamstring injury, will have to head back home to to Sri Lanka for a proper treatment and recovery.

The right-arm bowler, who took 13 wickets at an economy of 7.68 in six IPL 2024 matches, has been a star performer for CSK during an otherwise uneven season. Whether he will return later in the season is yet unknown to the team.

This incident coincides with worries about Deepak Chahar’s health. Earlier this week, he bowled just two deliveries in the match against Punjab Kings at the Chepauk before he strained his hamstring. The CEO of the Chennai Super Kings, Kasi Viswanathan, believes it is extremely improbable that Chahar will play for the rest of the season. The status of Deepak’s injury is not favorable. He had said on Friday that he won’t say Chahar  is ruled out of the season, but it is doubtful.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s star cricketer Mustafizur Rahman left the Chennai Super Kings camp to play for his country in the upcoming series against Zimbabwe. With 14 wickets in just nine matches, the left-arm bowler was the leading wicket-taker for CSK this season.

Chennai has five wins and an equal number of losses in 10 matches in the on-going season, and they are now ranked fifth in the points table. In to compete again against Punjab Kings at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, the five-time champions hope to strengthen their case for playoff qualifying. In the match at Chepauk, PBKS had beaten the team Ruturaj Gaikwad-led team by seven games.

Continue Reading

India News

Wrestler Bajrang Punia suspended by National Anti Doping Body after failing to give urine sample

Bajrang Punia, who won the country a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, is likely to be barred from participation in the selection trials that are scheduled for later this month. No Indian has yet won an Olympic quota in the 65kg category.

Published

on

Wrestler Bajrang Punia was suspended indefinitely by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), which could have an impact on his eligibility to compete in the upcoming Paris Olympics. Sources claim that on March 10, Punia neglected to submit a urine sample for the Sonepat selection trials, which is why NADA issued the order barring him from taking part in any events going forward.

With subject to paragraph 4:1:2 below and in accordance with article 7.4 of the NADR 2021, Bajrang Punia has been immediately provisionally suspended from participation in any competition or activity prior to the final decision reached at a hearing in this matter, according to an official release from NADA dated April 23.

Punia was in the forefront of accusations of sexual harassment made against former BJP MP and president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, along with a number of other elite wrestlers, such as Olympians Sakshi Malik and Vinesh.

The star wrestler, who earned the country’s bronze medal in the Olympics in Tokyo, will probably not be allowed to take part in the selection trials later this month due to his suspension in light of the allegations. In the 65kg division, no Indian has yet to win an Olympic quota.

India’s Sujeet Kalkal will compete in the World Qualifiers, which begin on May 9 in Istanbul.

The notice of suspension was sent not to the federation recognized by United World Wrestling (UWW), but to the now-defunct ad hoc committee of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

Punia rejected the directive of the drug control officer, alleging that NADA officials had not yet addressed his concerns. A few months before, Punia had uploaded a video purporting to have expired dope-collecting equipment.

The dope-collecting officer’s report states that he was told that his refusal would result in a warning for violating anti-doping regulations, but he still left.

Punia was asked to provide a written explanation by May 7th for his denial of providing a urine sample and supporting evidence.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Kareena Kapoor appointed UNICEF India national ambassador, says it’s an emotional day for her

Kareena Kapoor expressed her happiness after she was appointed UNICEF India National Ambassador.

Published

on

Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor, has been named the National Ambassador of Unicef India. In 2014, she became the organization’s first Celebrity Advocate. Kareena was driven to tears during her address onstage at her recent appointment ceremony. Adding yet another significant success to Kapoor’s already impressive resume is this new responsibility.

Kareena showed her appreciation and joy at being named the National Ambassador for Unicef India in an Instagram post on May 4. She underlined how committed she is to protecting children’s rights and making sure every child has an equitable future. Kareena thought back on her ten years of working with Unicef India, calling it enlightening and brightening.

Taking to Instagram, Kareena wrote, it is an emotional day for her. Being named the National Ambassador for UNICEF India is an honour for her, she added. The actor mentioned in her note that over the past ten years, working with UNICEF India has been incredibly instructive and enriching. She said she is happy of the work they’ve accomplished and she is reaffirming my commitment to speak out in favor of children’s rights and an equal future for all of them, she added.

The Crew  actor emphasized the value of defending children’s rights upon her appointment, pointing out that they are the next generation. She committed to utilizing her position to speak up for children who are at risk, concentrating on matters such as gender equality, education, and early childhood development. Kareena restated her conviction that every child is entitled to an equal opportunity and a promising future.

Regarding work front, Kareena is now enjoying the success of Crew, in which she starred alongside Tabu and Kriti Sanon.

Under the direction of Rajesh A. Krishnan, Crew centers on the journeys of three employed women against the backdrop of the aviation sector. In addition, Diljit Dosanjh, Kapil Sharma, Rajesh Sharma, Saswata Chatterjee, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda feature in the film.

She will be next seen in Hansal Mehta’s The Buckingham Murders in the upcoming months. She will be also seen in Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again.

Continue Reading

Trending

-->

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com