Hate permeates the fabric of everyday life in India, from the streets to the highest echelons of Parliament. It serves as the driving force behind Hindutva’s continued grip on the nation’s socio-political landscape.
In a recent and disgraceful incident, the new Parliament convened its first session to discuss the success of India’s moon mission. However, what should have been a moment of national pride turned into an alarming display of bigotry. Ramesh Bidhuri, a senior lawmaker from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), unleashed a torrent of Islamophobic profanities, communal slurs, and obscenities during the debate.
On that fateful Thursday, September 21st, the BJP’s MP from South Delhi, Ramesh Bidhuri, plumbed new depths of hatred within Parliament. His vile Islamophobic attack on opposition Muslim MP Danish Ali knew no bounds, as he resorted to derogatory labels such as “pimp,” “extremist,” “terrorist,” “Mulla,” and “Katwa.” He even issued a veiled threat against Ali.
Mulla” is a derogatory term frequently used against Muslims in India, while “Katwa” is a slur aimed at circumcision in the Muslim community. Ali, in a response that echoed the concerns of ordinary Muslims across the country, declared, “If this can happen to me in Parliament, imagine what ordinary Muslims face daily.
This disturbing incident reflects the grim reality of being a Muslim in India today. Muslim MPs face vitriol within Parliament, while on the streets, vigilantes perpetrate brutal acts of violence against Muslims, and the police resort to extrajudicial measures, including encounter killings and property demolitions. Shockingly, a significant portion of the population seems to condone this culture of hate, as evidenced by their support for Bidhuri’s verbal assault.
Adding insult to injury, two former Union Cabinet ministers seated behind Bidhuri found amusement in his hateful tirade. Although Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed regret, it was couched in conditional terms, stating, “I express regret if the opposition member is hurt by the remarks.” The BJP’s response was far from unequivocal, with a mere show-cause notice issued to Bidhuri to explain his unparliamentary language within 15 days.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, known for swiftly suspending MPs on trivial grounds, surprisingly chose to ignore this egregious case. Nonetheless, the incident did trigger outrage among opposition parties and on social media, prompting calls for strict action. The opposition has urged the speaker to refer the matter to the Parliamentary Privilege Committee.
MP Mahua Moitra aptly pointed out, “The Other Backward Class (OBC) is an integral part of BJP culture—most now see nothing wrong with it.” Asaduddin Owaisi, chief of the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), ominously predicted, “The day is not far when there will be a mob lynching of a Muslim in the Parliament of the country.”
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi met with Ali to offer moral support and advocated countering hate with love. He also noted that the BJP’s tactics were aimed at diverting attention from the upcoming elections.
The BJP attempted to construct a narrative that painted Ali as the provocateur, alleging that he continually heckled Bidhuri and made derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This, they claimed, led Bidhuri to lose his composure and respond with unsavory language.
The BJP’s defense centers around the claim that Ali used casteist slurs against Modi, provoking Bidhuri. Amit Malyiya, the head of the BJP’s IT Cell, took to social media to defend Bidhuri, citing Ali’s choice of words in reference to Modi.
Ali now fears for his safety, believing that the BJP seeks to subject him to physical harm outside the parliamentary walls, following his verbal lynching within. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, known for his “Mann ki Baat” (speaking from the heart), has once again chosen silence in the face of these events.
The BJP and its leadership seem to revel in their perceived support for hate against Muslims, with Modi’s rise to prominence following the 2002 anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat serving as a stark example. For Indian Dalits, this dynamic has persisted for millennia, representing a power imbalance.
Being a Muslim in India is far from easy. Muslims encounter slurs in various facets of life, whether at school, work, on the streets, or on social media. Police stations and state institutions are no exception, creating an environment of fragility and vulnerability for Muslims.
Muslims face relentless discrimination regarding their dietary and religious practices, including the hijab, namaz, azan, or merely for their faith. This persistent humiliation seeks to strip them of their political rights and render them powerless. The constant assault on their self-respect forces them into a stifling silence, raising concerns about the potential consequences of such suppression.
Manufactured hate and conspiracy theories have targeted Muslims, blaming them for a range of issues, from population growth to pandemic spread and alleged treachery against the state. Open calls for violence and socio-economic boycotts further exacerbate their plight.
Hindu religious leaders contribute to this atmosphere of hate through events like “Dharma Sansad,” using religion as a tool to fuel animosity and seize power. Hindu processions often involve provocative actions near mosques or Muslim neighborhoods, resulting in a cycle of tension, police actions, and property destruction.
The top leadership sets the standard for political participation by espousing and perpetuating hate. From Modi to Amit Shah, and state leaders like Yogi Adityanath and Hemanta Biswa Sarma, disparaging remarks continue to fan the flames of hatred. When hate becomes a political tool at the highest levels, it fosters communal polarization and political mobilization, allowing perpetrators to act with impunity.
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A recent report by the Washington-based monitoring group Hindutva Watch revealed that 80% of anti-Muslim hate speech in the first half of 2023 originated from BJP-ruled states, often coinciding with election cycles. This hate has manifested in cow vigilantes terrorizing Muslim cattle traders, security personnel targeting Muslims on trains in the name of Modi and CM Yogi, Hindu processions provoking Muslims, state administration bulldozing Muslim properties, and a surge in police encounters. Discriminatory acts like the Citizenship Amendment Act have further marginalized Muslims, met with draconian state responses and biased media coverage.
This climate of hate has not gone unnoticed. Genocide Watch issued a report in March 2022 predicting a genocide of Muslims in India. In the name of democracy, majoritarianism runs rampant, confining over two hundred million Muslims to a system that disregards their basic rights and religious freedoms.
The recent appointment of Ramesh Bidhuri to a key poll duty position in the upcoming Rajasthan election hints at a disturbing trend. These incidents are symptomatic of a larger problem that cannot be concealed by rhetoric or excuses.
