Secretary-General UN Mr. ANTÓNIO GUTERRES’ statement in the background of Pandemic “We need to raise our voices against all expressions of racism and instances of racist behavior. We urgently need to dismantle racist structures and reform racist institutions.”
While the whole world is fighting against Pandemic and International Organizations & leaders are appealing to integrate all efforts to defeat the COVID-19. Political Leaders, Intellectuals, and religious leaders — including Pope Francis — have added their moral voice in support of a global fight against Pandemic.
The virus is not differentiating between poor and rich, no discrimination to race, religion, and ethnicity. The virus has victimized whole humankind and poses a huge threat to humanity around the globe.
But in India under the RSS backed Modi Government is still taking extreme steps of discrimination, and spreading hate against its minorities, especially against Muslims.
The Indian Express has reported, “Ahmedabad (India) Civil Hospital has created separate wards to admit Hindu and Muslim patients with COVID-19 infections and suspected cases. According to the Medical Superintendent Dr. Gunvant H Rathod, two different wards for Hindus and Muslims had been created as per a state government decision.”
Human Rights Watch reported, “The government failed to prevent or credibly investigate growing mob attacks on religious minorities, marginalized communities, and critics of the government—often carried out by groups claiming to support the government. At the same time, some senior BJP leaders publicly supported perpetrators of such crimes, made inflammatory speeches against minority communities, and promoted Hindu supremacy and ultra-nationalism, which encouraged further violence. Lack of accountability for past abuses committed by security forces persisted even as there were new allegations of torture and extrajudicial killings, including in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Haryana. There were repeated allegations of violations by government forces in Jammu and Kashmir during security operations. The report described the impunity for human rights violations and the lack of access to justice. It noted that the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA) impede accountability for human rights violations.”
The report also pointed out “Mob violence by extremist Hindu groups affiliated with the ruling BJP against minority communities, especially Muslims, continued throughout the year amid rumors that they traded or killed cows for beef. Dalits, formerly “untouchables,” continued to be discriminated against in education and jobs. There was increased violence against Dalits, in part as a reaction to their more organized and vocal demands for social progress and to narrow historical caste differences. Authorities continued to use laws on sedition, defamation, and counterterrorism to crackdown on dissent. Journalists faced increasing pressure to self-censor due to the threat of legal action, smear campaigns and threats on social media, and even threats of physical attacks. Authorities increasingly used the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act to target civil rights activists and human rights defenders. The Indian government also continued to use the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) to restrict foreign funding for NGOs critical of government policies or protesting the government’s massive development projects. Cases filed by NGOs challenging government decisions to suspend or cancel their FCRA were pending in court. Increased number of rape, mainly in Indian Occupied Kashmir. Women and girls with disabilities continue to be at a heightened risk of abuse.”
Renowned Pakistani Actress, Mehwish Hayat said when the world is uniting to fight against a common enemy, India using this coronavirus pandemic as a way of spewing hatred and discrimination against the Muslim citizens.
While the whole world is engaged in fighting against COVID-19, but India is making this opportunity in victimizing Muslims. This barbaric act is not acceptable by any standards of the civilized world. We strongly condemn it and appeal to the International community to take preventive measures immediately. India has crossed the all records of human rights violations already, if not addressed appropriately, and adequate measures are not taken, there will be no end to the suffering of minorities in India, especially for Muslims.