What Are We Missing About The Violence (Especially Against Hindu Minorities) In Bangladesh
To begin with, there was an information blackout in Bangladesh making news about protests and violence hard to come by. This void was filled by several fake images and videos. Most of which are being caught and called out by fact-checkers. Some would still go around being circulated and popular sentiments aroused. Nothing new there.
The fact of the matter is, and in any way you look at it, there is violence going on. I shared a tweet by The Hindu correspondent days ago in this regard. Violence against minorities there is undeniable.
That said, I’ve maintained this in the past. Hindus will rape and kill Muslims, Muslims will rape and kill Hindus, Hindus will kill and rape Hindus and Muslims will rape and kill Muslims. As such, these things are not new and on most occasions need no outraging provided, and this is a big if, police or the state acts against such violent acts. For instance in India, when an Akhlaq or Pehlu Khan is murdered by Hindus and there are videos of their acts circulated online, despite this police do not act, plus people from the ruling party go on television and defend these murders with excuses, it sends a message that this is okay. That’s one part — wherein it is clear that those holding power support these killings. But does that mean Hindus support and love these murders committed with chants of religious slogans (Jai Shri Ram in these cases)? No, absolutely not. Hindu religion has nothing to do with such abhorring acts. But, and this is again important, when Hindus vote for people who committed these heinous crimes during elections, or when they hold rallies supporting rapists, or when they elect terror accused and distribute sweets and dance with rapists out on parole, that’s when they send a message that Hindus are okay with it. Very sad but it’s a reality we all need to acknowledge now if we want to change.
In Bangladesh, the violence is happening while their govt has failed. Their Prime Minister has long run away. There is no law and order. The mob does what it does. But unlike in India, their interim Prime Minister in his first address separated himself from the violent mobs. Unlike our leader, he abandoned people who were targeting Bangladeshi minorities as not belonging to him. Will police and larger state machinery act against it or will they not, will be seen in coming weeks. But as it stands, this violence has no sanction from their leader (whom protesting students themselves recommended). I have so far also not seen any religious body supporting or defending violence against minorities there. Here we have Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Hindu Mahasabha, that Haridwar congregation of saints from across India and scores more supporting and encouraging violence against Muslims and Christians. So what can still be said about Bangladesh cannot be said of India or its majority community or its ruling dispensation. The Opposite of that would be saying Indian police and army etc are incompetent in handling law and order because Modi has not fled away, there’s no breaking of law and order in India. Here in India, it is a deliberate tactic by the state which although capable, decides not to act and gives free hand to its foot soldiers. How else do you explain Monu burning Muslims alive in a vehicle and getting away? Or Delhi police who’s making Muslims who are lying in blood on the road sing an anthem (one of whom dies in the process)… The ruling party awards those who indulged in these violent acts. So far such things have not happened in Bangladesh. Would they also turn out to be like us? We shall see. Hope not. I hope Bengalis will show us they’re different from us. After all, they have chosen a Nobel laureate as their Prime Minister to start with…
Not to forget in the din is Ahmedia Muslims who are also minorities and targets of majoritarian violence in Bangladesh. We must know the anger of protesters is against anyone considered a supporter of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
One last point. Just like at the height of the Israel-Palestine war (rightfully genocide), there was international coverage of how a humongous amount of fake news was generated from India. And all fake news somehow was in favour of Israel. Similarly, there is now coverage of the same kind of rumour-mongering and fake news peddling in the case of Bangladesh from India again. Why are we, the Indians committing such reckless and abominable acts? What motivates us to lie in such heinous ways? What do we have to gain from such fake news peddling? Is it safe to assume the Indians here are Hindus? Or do you think Muslims are spreading rumours or Christians? Does not seem plausible right… Why are Hindus then doing such a heinous job of rumour-mongering during others’ hard times? What are they trying to achieve? What motivates them?
