Minorities

In recent weeks, Hindutva leaders like Pravin Togadia and Lata Singh Thakur engage in fear-mongering, with Muslims being the object of hate and suspicion.

Two Muslim youth were travelling, when they were chased by the police. One of them lost his life after being shot, another is recovering from gunshot wounds in hospital. The police have filed a case, under various charges, against the accused.

The Maharashtra unit of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has condemned the lodging of a criminal case by the Mumbai police against 13 persons — all members of the minority community — in connection with a prayer gathering to commemorate children killed in Palestine on the occasion of Children’s Day

After an FIR was filed against several Halal-certifying organisations on November 17 in Lucknow, the UP Government on November 18 released an order that banned the sale, manufacture and distribution of Halal items in the state.

Some Muslim shopkeepers in India are no longer stocking Israeli and US products in support of the people of Palestine and this move has started a small movement amongst the local community. This tiny boycott is a pale reminder of the powerful Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions (BDS) movement in the USA

The Haridwar Police have reportedly jailed a Muslim youth for selling chicken eggs at Har Ki Pauri, a sacred ghat on the banks of river Ganga on allegations of hurting Hindu religious sentiments reports Zee News and Muslim Mirror; sale of meat and eggs in towns like Rishikesh and Haridwar has been upheld by the Supreme Court in 2004

Delhi Police has issued a notice to mosque imams, instructing them not to include prayers for Palestine during religious services, reports Inquilab, a widely circulated, Urdu daily.

In a shocking turnaround, the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) banned candidates from wearing all forms of head cover(s) from recruitment exams without mentioning hijab specifically citing attempts of malpractices; but allowed toe rings and mangalsutras to be worn after protests by right wing, Hindutva groups

From his memorable speech at the Rampur Congress as President of the INC to his famous words on sedition —-"Is sedition a name for freedom struggle which is not successful? If that be so, I would fully agree with it"— Maulana Azad represents a threat to communalists of all hues

Syncretism of Diwali- How Mughal emperors celebrated Diwali and contemporary Muslims celebrate today