SA religious bodies condemn Delhi violence
Narendra Modi’s citizen register laws are abhorrent to all right-thinking people
SOUTH African religious bodies have condemned the riots in north-east Delhi, which left more than 40 people dead and over 200 injured.
Over the past two weeks, India’s capital city has become volatile – with Muslims claiming they are being targeted in the majority Hindu country.
On February 23, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kapil Mishra demanded the Delhi police clear roads that had been occupied by people protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
He threatened to forcefully end the protests if the police failed to do so.
According to reports, the speech and false reports of attacks on social media were among the reasons for several clashes between pro-CAA and anti-CAA demonstrators.
Over subsequent days, three mosques were burned and a temple was damaged.
Some schools, shops, homes and cars were also set alight by rioters. There were also reports that Muslims were burnt alive in their homes.
Indian South Africans weighed in on the CAA and the riots in India.
Moulana Ebrahim Bham, secretary-general of the Jamiat Ulama South Africa, said the developments in India were distressing.
“We have seen how in Delhi mob thuggery, malicious arson attacks and vandalism have been unleashed on mosques. Extensive media reports have covered incidents of open brutality against non-violent protests. Avoidable fatalities have added a grim picture.”
Bham said the council emailed an open letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi via the Indian High Commission in Pretoria, raising their concerns.
“It is our expectation that India, as a nation that prides itself as the largest democracy on the planet and with a tradition of tolerance, would neither turn a blind eye nor condone such violations of the sanctity of places of worship.
“We have, therefore, appealed to the government of India to take appropriate steps in order to halt this deterioration of public order by apprehending and prosecuting the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.”
He said the perpetrators were sowing communal discord and intimidating those who are exercising their right to freedom of expression in a civil manner.
Faisal Suliman, chairperson of the South African Muslim Network, said it would be wrong to portray the attack by supporters of the right-wing Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) organisation on their Muslim countrymen as communal violence.
He said the RSS, via various statements from its senior leaders, made it clear that their aim was to wipe out Islam in India.
Suliman said the RSS, which had links to the BJP, had led to Islamophobia, fundamentalists and ideologists becoming emboldened.
“This is also because the police have been ordered to stand by and let the attacks against the Muslims continue. It is an orchestrated and deliberate campaign, not a spontaneous flare-up.
“The aim is to clearly drive Muslims out of their homes, take their businesses and make them renounce their religion, which happens to be Islam.”
Ashwin Trikamjee, president of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha, said those who started the riots must be held accountable.
“Civil commotions happen all over the world and we in South Africa must ensure that the events in India or in any other country for that matter must not divide us in South Africa.”
Jayraj Bachu, national leader of the newly-formed Hindu Unity Movement, described the violence as senseless.
“Those responsible, regardless of their religious or political affiliations, must be brought to book.”
He said it was embarrassing that the violence exploded when US President Donald Trump visited Delhi last week.
“This violence has not enhanced the image of India abroad.”
Bachu said some Hindus risked their lives to protect Muslim families during the riots and vice-versa.
Dinesh Naidoo, operations director for Serendipity Travel, said so far there had been no cancellations nor postponements by South Africans travelling to Delhi.
Shiksha Maharaj, spokesperson for One Stop Travel, said clients were guided by destination management firms and there was no embargo on travel to Delhi.
WHAT do Akbari, 85, a 9-month-old baby and rickshaw puller Prem Singh have in common? All three were killed during an orgy of violence instigated by India’s ruling party.
On February 16, I participated in a solidarity march in Durban – an event that was under threat due to authorities being misled by divisive agents.
The aim of the march was to raise awareness about discriminatory and unconstitutional legislation passed in India, leading to 75 days of mass protests that faced a deadly crackdown by their government.
My solidarity is not limited. I have been aware of India’s struggles for years. There are social media platforms on which millions of Indians share their views and experiences.
One anti-discrimination group has over 240 000 members.
In Kerala, over 7 million people protested against the supremacist legislation.
Some Indians are tired of apartheid-style fascism and a nepotistic economy where India’s richest 1% hold more than four times the wealth of 953 million people, the bottom 70% of the population, and where women and children suffer horrific violence.
While the march was powerful, supported by stalwarts like Zulekha Mayet, Judge Thumba Pillay, Dr Betty Govinden, Dr Devi Rajab and others, it was targeted by distorted and deceptive rhetoric.
Pillay experienced intimidation. He asked how he would live with himself if Indians had to leave South Africa, but Muslims were excluded.
I wondered what would happen if the South African government welcomed all refugees, except Hindus?
Vitriolic attacks compelled me to be objective.
I acknowledge opposition is based on two premises.
One: that minorities are discriminated against in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
Two: that this is an Indian crisis and South Africans have no right to an opinion.
Let us speak to one. Like many, I too condemn discrimination against minorities, whether it occurs in South Africa, India, Palestine, the US, Pakistan or anywhere else.
Many issues faced by these countries are a result of colonisation rooted in a divideand-conquer strategy.
India and Pakistan were once one. It pains many to see the results of the destructive Faustian fracture, but colonialists must be smiling in their graves.
India’s current rulers had nothing to do with its independence in 1947.
The problem is that the Narendra Modi government’s Citizenship Amendment Act welcomes all minorities, except Muslims.
This bigotry is a threat to and violation of India’s secular constitution. The irony is that the BJP claims to care for minorities, but in the last week over 40 people died at the hands of mobs who were protected by police.
Hundreds have been injured and thousands are homeless.
The problem with the National Register of Citizens is that people are required to prove citizenship by producing copious documents. Up to 15 different documents is still not considered enough.
In Assam, 2 million human beings were rendered stateless. Dalits, referred to as
“untouchables” by the elite, do not have access to documents.
The pogrom against progressive Muslims and Hindus resulted in burnt homes, shops, vehicles and documents. Gujarat comes to mind.
Indians resisting in Delhi, Shaheen Bagh, Azadi and other places are not blind to the Nazi masquerade.
Demonised as terrorists, they resist detention and concentration camps that erode India’s 74-year-old democracy.
But as parliamentarian Mahua Moitra expressed in her fiery address in India’s Lok Sabha on February 3, loyalty is standing up when dictators rule.
Our government is yet to take a position on this dystopian crisis. Perhaps we are at the mercy of influential groups.
Which brings me to the second criticism. The world stood with us against apartheid, and even now against gender-based violence, corruption, and a widening chasm between the elite and the rest. We cannot be silent.
During my interactions with people who fall prey to Hitler-inspired hate speech, I proposed a discussion and protest against human rights abuses on the subcontinent.
British MP Debbie Abrahams recently had her Indian visa revoked due to her position on the revocation of Article 370 in the Indian constitution, abrogating Kashmir’s autonomy.
I am reminded of that witch-hunt saying: “First they came for communists. I said nothing. Then they came for the Jews, Christians and Muslims. I said nothing. Then they came for us, but there was nobody left.”
People are incited by slogans like “Goli Maaro Kutto Ko!”, meaning shoot the dogs. Not surprising, considering the ruling class’s relationship with Israel.
In January, doctors told India TV that over 10 female students were sexually assaulted.
The BJP lost in the nation’s capital, Delhi. Delhi is being taught a lesson.
Meanwhile, journalists are attacked and Justice S Muralidharan, who tried to stop the incitement, was transferred.
At the march, I was approached by a well-wisher concerned I would not get an Indian visa. The xenophobic government is controlling internet use to suppress dissent.
My ancestors came from India. This year we commemorate 160 years of their arrival as slaves. Still, my solidarity is sometimes met with anti-Hindu accusations.
Like Zionism, imperialism and Wahhabism, all extremism is dangerous. No wonder US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia’s Mohammad bin Salman are signing weapons deals with Modi.
I grew up next to neighbours of all faiths. I strive to walk the talk, standing with people from different walks of life.
Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu. I am because you are, we are because of each other. I am heartened to see South Africans stand against the hatred and violence seen in photos and videos from India.
Cape Town and Johannesburg have peace and solidarity events. Globally, there are protests against discrimination and the politics of fear.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” said Martin Luther King jr.
We show solidarity because the power of the people must be stronger than people in power.
In the words of Arundhati Roy: “We have work to do. And a world to win.”
Amandla to India’s people, and viva Azaadi!
Palesa Mohamed is an activist, journalist, radio presenter, and mediation attorney. She writes in her personal capacity and welcomes constructive engagement.