Hinduphobia seems to be the flavour of the season with Samajwadi Party (SP) Shafiqur Rahman Barq joining the long list of politicians baring their anti-Hindu fangs. Barq, a member of parliament from the Sambhal Lok Sabha constituency, asserted that Bharat neither was nor will it ever be a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ while claiming that ‘Islam is the only true religion’.

The SP MP was angered by Juna Akhara Mahamandaleshwar Yatindranand Giri’s statement terming Bharat a Hindu Rashtra. Barq declared that none would agree to a Hindu Rashtra and advised Giri to read the Quran. For good measure, he added Giri had no right to discuss Islam as he wasn’t a Muslim and hence hadn’t read the Quran. According to him, Hindu sants have no business commenting on Islam.

“Muslims in this country will not put up with the remarks expressed by the CM, as well as those of Dhirendra Krishna Shastri”, the SP MP emphasized with reference to CM Yogi Adityanath’s comment about Bharat being a Hindu Rashtra. Furthermore, he stated that Islam founded by Allah is the ‘only true religion’ in the world while others are merely cults that were formed later.

“Quran is a divine scripture, and it serves as an incentive for millions of individuals to flourish in life. This book cannot be changed”, noted the SP leader before threatening those who attempt to do so with severe consequences. Meanwhile, Mahamandaleswar Yatindra Nand Giri of the Juna Akhara responded by saying that people like Barq can only issue controversial statements.

“India is already fundamentally a Hindu Rashtra. There is no need to emphasize this viewpoint, even though many may share it. We adhere to and use the constitution as a guide”, Delhi BJP leader Manoj Tiwari said.

In January, Janata Dal-United (JDU) MLC (Member of Legislative Council) Gulam Rasool Balyavi threatened to wage war and turn every city into ‘Karbala’ if any remarks were passed about Muhammad. “We are in Karbala ground…if you disrespect our Prophet, we will turn cities into Karbala”, he said alluding to remarks made by Nupur Sharma while addressing a gathering in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh.

Reports also stated that Balyavi asked his supporters to block Ranchi’s highways and demonstrate to authorities that Muslims may be buried beneath the ashes but they are not extinguished. When he faced backlash for threatening Hindus with violence, the MLC defended his statement saying Karbala means ‘sacrificing everything for the sake of humanity and brotherhood’. He also demanded ‘The Muslim Safety Act’ on the lines of the 1989 Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Of course, the SP and JDU leaders are not alone in making such ridiculous claims. Many Islamists have made problematic statements in the recent past. Recently, senior Jamiat leader Arshad Madani equated Om with Allah and Manu with Adam at Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind’s convention in Delhi making leaders of other religions walk off the stage. Similarly, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Mahmood Asad Madani declared Bharat as the primary homeland of Muslims.

Bihar Education Minister Chandrashekhar Yadav opined that Islam was the only religion giving the message of love and honesty. Yadav belongs to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) which is known for its Hinduphobia and its appeasement policy. Earlier, he had bared his anti-Hindu fangs by saying Goswami Tulsidasji’s Ramcharitmanas should be burnt along with Manusmriti, and Bunch of Thoughts by Madhav Sadashivrao Golwalkar as they ‘promoted hatred’ for lower castes.

It is futile to expect SP chief Akhilesh Yadav to act or even react to Barq’s statements in view of the fact that Yadav believes in minority appeasement and actively encourages his Hinduphobic party members. It is Yadav’s backing that led SP leader Swami Prasad Maurya to openly call for the burning of Sri Ramcharitmanas.

However, politicians like Barq, Yadav, Balyavi, and Maurya are apt reminders to Hindu society that a democracy promoting minority appeasement only creates a Hinduphobic environment and Hindus have to unitedly push the system to make their voices heard.

(Featured Image Source: SFX News)