Muslims in the western Indian state of Gujarat, especially in the rural areas, are living as second class citizens, according to Harsh Mandar, a former IAS officer and prominent activist for communal harmony in Gujarat.
The situation in Gujarat is deteriorating, more than three years after the deadly 2002 Hindu-Muslim riots, in which more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, died, Mandar, told a conference organized by Association of Indian Muslims, (AIM).
Mandar, who quit the IAS protesting the state's failure to curb the violence in Gujarat, worked for nine months in Gujarat to observe the Muslims' situation.
"The poison of communal hatred has percolated in the environment of villages of Gujarat so deeply that it has seeped down into the Muslim community's soul which now lives in total isolation," he said,according to the IndianMuslims.Info.
Mandar also said that thousands of the refugees who escaped their homes during the Gujarat riots are afraid to return. Moreover, he said that some of the displaced are not being allowed to enter their villages, and that the rest are being threatened or blackmailed to drop their cases in the court.
Other conditions for their return include: keeping quite about the atrocities perpetrated on them, to live separately, no freedom of Azan (call for prayers from mosque) loudly, to live with social-economic boycott etc.
Mandar also said that those who have returned live in fear and isolation, accusing the state of failing to improve the situation. He warned that India is passing through a very difficult time wherein saffron forces are determined to marginalize minorities and keep them as second-class citizens.
"We are fighting second freedom struggle not on roads but in the minds of the majority community of Gujarat to change their perception and attitude towards minorities," he said.
He also said that he wants to design a plan to "bring about some interaction between Hindus and Muslims", stressing the need for inter-community dialogue and reconciliation.
Meanwhile, social activist Prof. Ram Puniyani of Bombay, told the conference that some evil forces are trying to widen the gap between Hindus and Muslims, citing last month's deadly blasts in Bombay as an example.
"Muslims and Islam are being tagged with terrorism in order to deny them their rights and justice. If only Muslims were terrorists then Indonesia with highest Muslims population in the world would have been the headquarter of terrorist activities," he explained.
KC
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