The Leitmotif Of The Ongoing General Elections Seems To Be Islam And Muslims
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
30 April
2024
The drift
or leitmotif of the ongoing General Elections seems to be Islam and Muslims.
Examples
are for you to see: Chief minister of UP Adityanath alleged on Thursday that
the Congress’ attempt to give reservations to Muslims from the OBC quota in
Karnataka was part of its agenda to push the country towards “Islamisation
and division.”
Union
Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday sparked a row after he alleged that the
Congress wants to “give
your children's property to Muslims.”
The PM said
a few days ago that Muslims were infiltrators who
churned out children. It's now free for all.
Long ago, K
R Narayanan, the former President of India who studied Political Science in
England under Professor Harold Laski, wrote that Professor Laski predicted that
the future politics of India would be based on the flagellation of Muslims!
When Laski opined this, India was under Congress rule and Muslims were
relatively better. But hats off to the great man who could foresee! Exactly the
same is happening at the moment when Muslims are at the receiving end, thanks
to the discriminatory politics of BJP.
Astute political
analysts are of the view that in a democracy, a leading political party often
picks up a specific group of people for target practice. It invariably happens
when the leading party is unsure of its overall performance at the hustings.
The current
political dispensation is not sure whether it'll be re-elected. But it's
certain that polarisation will help in such iffy situations. India is already
polarised on religious lines. Hindus and Muslims are now clearly divided. BJP
is trying to widen this gulf and repeating its narrative of Muslim-bashing.
Otherwise also, Muslims have always been used as pawns on the political
chessboard. Congress may have been sympathetic towards Muslims, it also used
them as a vote-bank.
Way back in
1972, Amitabh Bachchan acted in an immensely forgettable and super-flop film, 'Raste
ka Patthar.' But the film had a meaningful and relevant title-song penned
by Anand Bakshi, "Raste Ka Patthar Qismat Ne Mujhe Bana Diya, Jo Raaste
Se Guzra Ik Thokar Laga Gaya." Let me paraphrase the song in today's
context, "Raste Ka Patthar Qismat Ne Musalmanon Ko Bana Diya/ Chahe Jis
Ki Sarkar Bani, Musalmanon Ko Kya Mila?" (Fate has relegated Muslims
to the stones on the street/ Regardless of any political party at the helm,
what have they got?).
Rabid
Hindus like Mr Anburaj will bay for my blood, but no one can deny the fact.
Mind you, I ain't a supporter of Muslims or Islam. I just call a spade a spade,
nay a shovel. I praise when it's required and condemn when it's needed,
regardless of any affiliation or allegiance.
-----
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-politics/leitmotif-general-elections-muslims/d/132229
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism