Following the rape and murder of a girl named Asifa there have been protests and marches in India. The Indian media has focused much attention to this. There has been a candle lit vigil attended by Rahul Gandhi. This was a terrible and tragic incident which, unfortunately, occurs almost daily in India.
One wonders therefore, why this incident has elicited such a strong reaction? Is it not the case that every case of rape and/or murder, irrespective of the victim’s religion, is as terrible and heinous as any other? Any case where a woman has been violated in a violent and despicable manner is as bad as any other.
So why then is it that talentless, self-serving D list celebrities are posting pictures of themselves on social media holding placards saying “I am Hindustan. I am ashamed”? Why is it that Rahul Gandhi has found the time to attend a candle lit vigil for this case only? Why has he not held candle lit vigils for Hindu victims? Is it because in this case the victim was a Muslim and the alleged culprit a Hindu?
The very language being utilised is misleading and inflammatory. “I am Hindustan. I am ashamed”. But by using the word “Hindu” this is a deliberate strategy to malign an entire religion. This is typical of those who are trying to project Hindus in a negative light.
Do Christians ever say “I am Christian, I am ashamed” for the children who have been abused by their clergy? Do Muslims say “I am Muslim, I am ashamed” when a boko haram or ISIS use rape as a weapon of war?
Unfortunately, this tragic incident has been used to start a politically motivated campaign by a desperate opposition to malign the government and Hindus. This is aided by a biased Indian media whose correspondents, perhaps, owe much to certain political parties.
Those who display such placards should indeed be ashamed. Ashamed that instead of being proud Hindus they are maligning their own religion. Those politicians who are seeking to make political capital out of a tragic case should be ashamed that they are stooping to such low levels for a few votes.
We are told that terrorism has no religion, that those who commit acts of terror do not represent any religion. If that is the case, then surely this argument also applies to those who commit rape and murder.
All Indians, whatever their religion should unite to condemn those evil people who violate and murder innocents.
Piyush J. Fatania
Northampton
