All this is no doubt politically motivated to get votes. But it disrupts the entire social fabric of India, and does us immense harm.
A HALLMARK OF of a civilised society is that minorities therein can live with dignity and honour. From that perspective, I regret I cannot call my own country India civilised.
Muslims constitute only 15% of the total population of India ( which is about 1.4 billion ) while Hindus constitute about 80%. Hence it is the duty of the Hindu majority to ensure that the Muslim minority in India live with dignity and honour.
However, many incidents have occurred, particularly after the pro-Hindu Bhartiya Janta Party ( BJP ) came to power in 2014, of lynching of Muslims, bulldozing their houses, beating them brutally for not saying ”Jai Shri Ram”, incarcerating them in jail for long periods on frivolous and trumped up charges (e,g. Umar Khalid), accusing them of being terrorists, anti-nationals or pro-Pakistanis, etc.
A lady teacher in a school in Muzaffarnagar, UP told her Hindu students to slap a Muslim boy.
Indian Muslims have been marginalised in politics and public life. This recent video reveals what is going on in India
In the state of Karnataka, some Hindu rightwing youth entered a mosque, and repeatedly shouted ”Jai Shri Ram”. The police registered a criminal case regarding the incident, but a Judge of the Karnataka High Court quashed it, saying no criminal offence had been committed.
To my mind the Judge was clearly wrong. At least 2 criminal offences were committed (1) criminal tresspass under section 447 Indian Penal Code, and (2) hurting religious feelings under 295A.
In several incidents, Hindu rightwing youth entered mosques, removed the green flag on it, and hoisted a saffron coloured flag ( saffron is symbolically a Hindu colour ).
Many incidents are reported of Hindu processions deliberately going into localities having a large Muslim population, and shouting filthy provocative abuses against Muslims, Prophet Muhammad, and Islam, to which there was naturally a reaction, and communal riots ensued.
Demolition of mosques and houses of Muslims often occur. Hindu festivals often witness anti-Muslim violence
Hate speeches against Muslims and Islam are often delivered by Hindu bigots like Yati Narsinghanand and others, and have increased exponentially under BJP rule
There was a ban on saying namaz in parks and other public places, though there was no such restriction on RSS meetings there. I strongly criticised this.
All this is no doubt politically motivated to get votes. But it disrupts the entire social fabric of India, and does us immense harm.
India is a country of tremendous diversity—numerous religions, castes, languages, ethnic groups, etc—and so the only way to hold the country together and take us on the path of progress is to give equal respects to all communities and sects. This was the path of suleh-e-kul shown by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar, whom I regard as the real Father of the Indian Nation.
It is not that I am critical of oppression of Muslims alone. I am equally critical of oppression of Hindus in Muslim majority areas like Kashmir, or in Pakistan
I do not foresee the situation changing for a long time. Hence India (and Pakistan) will remain jaahil (uncivilised) countries for long. 
Markandey Katju
Justice Markandey Katju is former Judge, Supreme Court of India and former Chairman, Press Council of India.
Disclaimer : PunjabTodayNews.com and other platforms of the Punjab Today group strive to include views and opinions from across the entire spectrum, but by no means do we agree with everything we publish. Our efforts and editorial choices consistently underscore our authors’ right to the freedom of speech. However, it should be clear to all readers that individual authors are responsible for the information, ideas or opinions in their articles, and very often, these do not reflect the views of PunjabTodayNews.com or other platforms of the group. Punjab Today does not assume any responsibility or liability for the views of authors whose work appears here.
Punjab Today believes in serious, engaging, narrative journalism at a time when mainstream media houses seem to have given up on long-form writing and news television has blurred or altogether erased the lines between news and slapstick entertainment. We at Punjab Today believe that readers such as yourself appreciate cerebral journalism, and would like you to hold us against the best international industry standards. Brickbats are welcome even more than bouquets, though an occasional pat on the back is always encouraging. Good journalism can be a lifeline in these uncertain times worldwide. You can support us in myriad ways. To begin with, by spreading word about us and forwarding this reportage. Stay engaged.
— Team PT