Do Muslims have to be endorsed to be a part of India?: Abdul Khaliq (LJP)

New Delhi, Oct 1: Modi's speech at the Madison Square in New York was special in many ways, but primarily for his endorsing the patriotism of the Indian

who would "live and die" for the nation.

Although appreciating this speech, LJP general secretary Abdul Khaliq expressed his disappointment saying that the politics of religion in India is so deep-rooted that the Prime Minister had to step in to endorse our patriotism.

He said,"I am an Indian but the fact that I am a Muslim has endangered my claim to equal citizenship. I say this not because of our laws which are unexceptionable but because of the mind-numbing environment of hostility and prejudice, the inexorable growth of sheer distrust and hatred for the Muslim and all that he represents."

He further believes that the situation is worsening as all Muslims are either being compared to terrorists or are being overly protected, which he calls 'disappointing' as being a part of the country that need not be done in the first place.

From jobs to accomodations, Muslims are considered the "other", requiring more attention than the SCs, STs and the OBCs. They are considered the root cause of all problems, riots, sexual assaults, love jihad and more.

Despite endorsements and positive advertisement, the cloud of distrust hovers and it is not going to be easy to evade that.

Politicians too have no qualms in branding the community. Menaka Gandhi, for instance, had said profits from trade of slaughtered animals go into financing terrorism. Senior police officials too do not hesitate to post inflammatory views against Muslims and Islam in youtube.

Indeed, this point makes us re-think what exactly we are trying to do with the community-disowning them bluntly or subtly. Both ways, they will be dying inside bit by bit. High time that they witness the 'Acche Din' too.

OneIndia News