While many people across the world, including in the Gulf Arab states, the MENA region and South East Asia, celebrated Christmas Day, it was distressing to see several cases of assault, intimidation and harassment of people celebrating the day in parts of India. In one shocking incident, a visually impaired woman was allegedly assaulted by a BJP woman leader in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. What is more disturbing is that the police were seen as bystanders and did not stop or arrest those involved.
The central BJP government and some BJP-ruled states also added to the distress by denying employees a holiday on Christmas Day in the name of “good governance”. It is worrying how BJP ministers and MLAs in Goa, including minority leaders, as well as independent MLAs supporting the BJP, appear to be silent on these incidents. It also raises questions about how a large section of BJP voters are comfortable with such developments.
Many supporters of the BJP have relatives working in foreign and Gulf countries, where they live as minorities and freely celebrate their religious festivals. The double standards in India are therefore troubling. Continued harassment of minorities could lead to anger and resentment, both within the country and abroad. It is hoped that better sense will prevail in the way minorities are treated in India.
