Khalid Naveed, President of Youth Welfare Mahbubnagar, has called for the Muslim community in India to approach the country's recently introduced criminal laws with an open mind. In particular, the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) have been met with both hope and fear among the community, who have long been subjected to discrimination in India's legal system. While these new laws have been introduced to address issues like mob lynching and improve the speed and efficiency of the judicial process, there are concerns about implementation and potential for further discrimination. President Naveed has urged for an open and transparent approach to these laws to ensure justice and equality for all, including minority communities.
The Telugu Desam Party's minority cell has expressed concerns over the Waqf Amendment Bill, introduced by the BJP government in the Lok Sabha. Fathullah Mohammad, the general secretary of the cell, has pointed out certain sections of the Bill that are deemed detrimental to the Muslim community. With Muslims forming a significant vote bank for the TDP, Mohammad urges the party to consult with Muslim leaders before supporting the Bill in Parliament. He also elaborates on the concerns and expectations from both the TDP and the NDA.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the people of India have sent a clear message to the incoming government: Do not undermine the ideals of diversity, constitutionalism, and federalism. This article argues that the idea of a Hindu Rashtra, where Muslims are marginalized or disenfranchised, is a dangerous and divisive fantasy. Instead, all citizens should focus on promoting development and upholding the rights of all individuals, regardless of their religion.
The recently concluded 2024 general elections in India has shown yet again that common voters hold the power to make or break a government. Despite a biased media and a high-decibel campaign by the Hindutva forces, the majority of Indian voters remained secular and did not succumb to intimidation. This was evidenced by the defeat of the ruling party, BJP, by the opposition in the elections. A closer look at the results also reveals the significant role played by Muslim candidates, who secured a share of 4.42% in the parliament with 24 Muslim MPs.
An Indian engineer, who worked for a joint venture between India's DRDO and Russia's Military Industrial Consortium, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for spying for Pakistan's ISI. Nishant Agarwal was convicted under various sections of the Official Secrets Act and will have to undergo 14 years of rigorous imprisonment. This development is significant as it highlights the BJP's tendency to question the loyalty of Muslims and accuse them of supporting Pakistan.
As Kashmiris take to the streets to protest against soaring prices and demand for independence from Pakistan, they are setting an example for the entire Indian subcontinent. By focusing on real economic issues and rejecting government's diversionary tactics, they are leading the charge against poverty, unemployment, and malnourishment faced by many Indians and Pakistanis. The calls for freedom from Pakistan and hoisting of Indian flags signify the realization among the people that the partition of India in 1947 was a British tactic to keep Hindus and Muslims divided and prevent the region from becoming a modern industrial giant. Kashmiris are thus providing leadership to the entire subcontinent in their unwavering fight for economic and political progress under a secular government.
During the 2024 election in India, Muslims in Sambhal alleged that the Uttar Pradesh police disrupted voting by storming booths, taking away IDs, and physically assaulting voters. However, data suggests that the ongoing fear-mongering about the growth of India's Muslim population is merely a political tool, rather than a reflection of reality. BJP leaders' statements concerning a recent study on the subject have been criticized for being misleading.
Pakistan's Ambassador Munir Akram strongly condemned India's targeting of Indian Muslims, Christians, and Kashmiris at the UN General Assembly. He urged an end to the harsh suppression of these minority groups and called for opposition to the ideology of Hindutva. Ambassador Akram also expressed concern over the rise of hate, violence, and war worldwide and called for the urgent resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
During a campaign rally in Pune, PM Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance for allegedly using deepfake videos to stoke social tensions in the country. He warned that they were attempting to steal the reservation of marginalized communities and give them to Muslims in an act of political appeasement. The PM urged the Election Commission to take strict action against those spreading fake videos and accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar of being responsible for Maharashtra's political instability.
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, faced criticism from opposition leaders for his speech in Rajasthan where he accused the Congress party of planning to give wealth to "infiltrators" (read Muslims). Prominent leaders such as Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi denounced Modi's speech as divisive and desperate. They accused the Prime Minister of using hate speech to divert attention from his government's failures and called for strict action from the Election Commission.