The BJP is vigorously preparing for 2019 elections and is already using anti-Muslim violence and rhetoric, lavishly bashing Pakistan and Babri Masjid issue to polarize and gain Hindu sympathies while several of its members are already issuing threats to Muslims to convert or be prepared to face consequences.
This was stated by British Kashmiri journalist Murtaza Shibli at a public talk on "Rising Extremism in India" organized by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) in collaboration with the Islamabad Council of World Affairs (ICWA) on Friday under its Distinguished Lecture Series, says a press release.
Shibli started off with the current situation in India, went through the history briefly and talked about the possibilities of what could happen in 2019 when elections are due in the whole of India - the BJP has given enough indications that it wants to win elections; it has been forcefully converting Muslims into Hinduism, under the Ghar Wapsi (Back to Home) banner in its attempts to turn India into a Hindu Rashtra or a Hindu nation. He also talked about the committee formed by the Modi government, which functions under the Ministry of Culture, whose aim is to help shape the mentality of the nation and show that India is for and of the Hindus alone by rewriting history altogether. He talked the audience through how the concept of Hindutva was popularized, and highlighted how the RSS has consolidated its hold on the younger Indian generation mind-set through schools and hence managed to cultivate deep-seated hatred.
Shibli went on to say that in recent years the BJP has been increasing the use of muscle using tools such as violence and threats. Its agenda also includes an escalation of war with Pakistan or instigating a small war with Pakistan - a version of which is currently being played out along the Line of Control (LoC) in order to illicit a much bigger reaction.-PR