Twenty-Five Years After 9/11: America, India and the Question of Inclusion

 Twenty five years after the Islamic terror group Al-Queda attack on America on 9/11, many shocking things have happened in America. There is no Islamophobia rather many terror apologists and extremists have won elections in US.

World was shocked to see the US had suffered the deadliest Islamist terrorist attack in the world history. More than 3, 000 people had been killed. However, the people of America remained calm and cool. Mosques and Madrasas were not threatened, Muslims were not attacked, and hate crimes did not soar. The voters of US have elected many Muslims at different positions.

Muslims became more vocal and polarized in the democracy of America. Keith Ellison became the first Muslim voted to Congress. Many more followed. Now they are four in the Congress. According to the Council on American Islamic relations, there are 255 five Muslims have been elected in 26 states- 46 legislators in states, 11 mayors, 18 elected judges, 98 council members and 63 education officers. Surprisingly, 43% of these elected people are women.

Could anyone expect such miracle in an Islamic nation or society where non-Muslims are given so much respects and space? The answer is big NO.

And then came the most shocking news from the Ground Zero. New York, the epicenter of 9/11 horror and deaths, voted a terror apologist Zohran Mamdani, as mayor. Mamdani fights for the rights of Palestinians and Muslims. He took the oath of office on the Koran. Means America and secularism have no meaning for him. This is a failure of American democracy and very callous of the part of the voters of Americs that who have forgotten their dead near and dear ones so soon.

It has become a fashion in America and other democratic countries to show the support to Palestine, Hamas, Hezbollah etc. Ironically, all the Muslims leaders in America are hardcore supporters of Palestine, Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah etc. America and interests of America are secondary to them. Now, Afghanistan is ruled by Taliban. Syria and Iraq are ruled by ex-terror groups. 

Now back home, turn to India. India was never free of communal hatred. In Gujarat in 2002 is a brutal reminder of the death of Hindu Karsewaks in Godhra train burning by Muslims. Even then, the political scene offered the best example of the inclusive, tolerant and liberal ideology of the Hindus. Vice President of America Dick Cheney astonished at this in 2006, mentioning that " the religious majority is Hindu, the largest political party is led by a Christian, the President is Muslim, and the Prime Minister is Sikh." He was referring to Sonia Gandhi, Aubdul Kalam and Manmohan Singh. This is the inclusiveness and liberalism of the Hindus.

However, Muslims don't believe in secularism and inclusive society. Their religious identities are stronger than national identity. They are not ready to sing national anthem or national geet "Vande Matram."  They don't stand for the rashtriya gana. They donate money very liberally to Iran or Palestinians but not for national disasters in India. No Hindu, has been elected the Chief Minister of Muslim majority, Jammu and Kashmir. 

Democracy is very strong and secular in India only due to the Hindu majority. Indian voters elect governments and defeats governments out very peacefully baring a few aberrations like Bengal and Kashmir. The representation of Muslims is satisfactory. Media or social media are almost free of Islamophobic hate. On the contrary Muslims are highly polarized against the ruling NDA. They don't elect or vote for any NDA candidate or the Hindu candidate in the Muslim dominated areas.

Worse, it is almost impossible for any Hindu religious yatra or procession to pass safely from the Muslim dominated areas be it Durga Visarjan, Ganpati Visarjan, Amarnath Yatra, Kanwar Yatra, Ram Barat, Holi colours, Diwali lights and firework. Police and security personals are deployed for the safety and security of the devotees. Every year armed forces are deployed for the safety of Amarnath Yatra due to the fear of attack by Muslim terrorists. Even Muslim clerics issued a fatwa against the participation of Muslim women in the festival of Onam in a fully literate state of Kerlam.  

Muslims in India has the wide spread tendency to encroach upon the government land. Most of the Muslim colonies, mosques, dargahas, madrasas etc are on the encroached public land. The authorities find it very difficult to get back the encroached land even after the favourable court ruling. They are expert in using the victim card and put the blame on others. There is no discrimination against the Muslims and they are the biggest beneficiaries of the welfare programmes of the government.

Democracy should be about majority rights as well as minority rights. That makes the contrast with America and other European countries so heartbreaking. India is much higher. Many Muslims have entered the Rashtrapati Bhavan. There were many Muslim ministers and Chief ministers in the Hindu dominated states. They can enjoy all type of political and bureaucratic powers. In the selections, they are helped in many ways.

Muslims and Muslim countries should learn something from India and the Hindus. America and India have defeated Islamophobia. Now it is the duty of the Muslims and Muslim countries to give same treatment to the non-Muslims.

Yet America, India, Christians, and Hindus provide an unexpected message in how political and social inclusion can grow even while other parties have prejudices. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and even Kashmir and Islamic countries give a warning how political and social inclusion can be wiped out even in this world.

World is waiting with awe when will the people of Kashmir elect a Hindu their chief minister or Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, their first non-Muslim prime minister.