Modi Govt must stop stoking anti-Muslim sentiment in India: Jagmeet Singh

Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party on Thursday expressed his concern about the rising threat of violence against Muslims in India.

Singh’s tweet came days after violence erupted in several Indian cities and towns during Ram Navami celebrations that turned communal, leading to rioting and arson.

In a tweet, Singh said: “I am deeply concerned about images, videos, and targeted threats of violence against the Muslim community in India. The Modi govt must stop stoking anti-Muslim sentiment. Human rights must be protected. Canada must play a strong role in working towards peace everywhere.”

Earlier on Sunday, anti-Muslim violence was reported in at least eight states of India as Hindus carried out rallies to celebrate Ram Navami.

Several mosques were targeted as mobs played high-decibel songs while passing the places of worship.

Reports of unrest and violence emerged from MP, Gujarat, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Goa, Mumbai, Delhi, and other states.

Visuals of bulldozing and razing down houses with police escorts have been widely shared on Social media.

The demolition drive was conducted a day after the Hindus attacked and demolished the homes, shops, and other religious properties of Muslims in Khargone Madhya Pradesh.

Quoting local Muslim residents, a report by Muslim Mirror said that they [Muslims] from MP went to the police to seek help but the police did not register FIRs, rather they arrested the Muslim youth who went to the police station.

“The culprits have registered fake FIRs and now in its guise, the authorities targeted the Muslims, especially those who stood against the atrocities, including activists, and demolished their homes, bulldozed their shops, and other important properties,” Zaid Pathan told Muslim Mirror, who is an activist and local community leader.

The report quoting the locals further said that Hindus barged forcefully into the Muslim areas of Khargone, Khandwa area of Madhya Pradesh, and many other places yesterday, damaged their properties, doused their homes, shops, and Mosques, hurled petrol bombs in the areas in the presence of police authorities.

“The culprits are free but Muslims are being arrested and their homes are being demolished,” the report quoted a local resident as saying.

“After today’s drive it is evident that the culprits have the full support of authorities,” he added.

Police have also beaten community leaders who demanded official authorization orders for the demolition drive, reports said.

“The politicians are busy reacting on Twitter and blaming Muslims for nothing but no one actually knows what poor Muslims are facing on the ground,” Zaid said, according to the report.

Another activist, Sami Khan who works with the Companions of Peace Industries, an organisation that works for the betterment of Minorities in India, said that the riots against Muslims were all pre-planned when the infamous member of BJP Kapil Mishra shouted Provocative slogans against Muslims like “musalmanu ke gharu mein aag lagaayeinge” (we will burn homes of Muslims) at an event at Khargone and this is the fallout of that event.

Reports of violence were also reported from various other states of India.

One video shows, young children, and women with toddlers dancing while there’s an Anti-Muslim song in the background during the Ram Navami celebration in Siliguri West Bengal.

Violence broke out in Goa’s Vasco town also where a mob allegedly attacked the local Islampura mosque. Later, the police reached the spot and took some of the youth into custody.