The state of Muslims in India

eat sellers in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India, have been protesting against the state government’s crackdown on slaughterhouses. According to the Indian Agricultural and Processed Food Product Export Development Authority (APEDA), the state has approximately 38 government-approved abattoirs. According to UP Pollution Control Board, India is one of the world’s top beef exporters and is fifth in consumer confidence among emerging market economies. However, the state of Gujarat has released a law on cow slaughter – punishable by life in prison .

Muslims in India are facing a series of provocative actions and statements by politicians who do not want to waste any chance to harass the minority. They keep taunting them to go to Pakistan if they want to perform their religious activities or exhibit their cultural identity and follow Islamic norms. A senior leader in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) even stated that Indian Muslims can continue to live in the country, as long as they give up eating beef.

Although Hindus and Muslims have been living together for centuries on the Subcontinent, I feel there has never been any sign of unity among their societies. The two have always remained distinct social systems with two separate cultures and two different civilisations. The state of Indian Muslims after 70 years reveals the truth regarding so-called ‘secularism’ in the country. The rift between Hindus and Muslims is the outcome of a divide and rule policy – a remnant of the British era. Regretfully, politicians in India are still following this evil practice and playing dirty politics by creating Hindu-Muslim tensions on sensitive issues.