ON Oct 9, Zahid was severely burnt after his truck carrying coal was attacked by a mob with petrol bomb in Udhampur over rumours of cow slaughter. Mohammad Noman Akhtar (21) was lynched in Himachal Pradesh over charges of smuggling cattle.
Saharanpur bore the brunt of HinduMuslim violence and widespread tension mostly owing to alleged cow slaughter and beef sale. It may be noted that India is the world`s top beef exporter and fifth biggest consumer, while cow meat is being exported as buffalo meat.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently stated that the Indian Muslims can continue to live in the country, but they will have to give up eating beef.
Although Hindus and Muslims had been living together for centuries in South Asia, there had never been any signs of merger of Hindu and Muslims societies.
The two have always remained two distinct social systems, two separate cultures and two different civilisations. The condition of Indian Muslims after 68 years reveals the truth of the so-called Indian secularism.
The rif t between Hindus and Muslims was part of Britain`s divide and rule policy.
Regretfully, today`s politicians in India are still thriving on this evil practice and playing dirty politics by creating HinduMuslim riots on sensitive issues.
Mumtaz Hussain Karachi (2) THE ongoing physical violence and religious and racial extremism in India have greatly affected non-Hindus, especially Muslims. The Modi government has given complete support to the extremist Shiv Sena. But what is more alarming is the mysterious silence of the world community.
The extremist attack on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) office should not be taken lightly. These events are leading India toward disaster.
I request the Pakistan Cricket Board to urge the ICC not to be cowed by Shiv Sena.
Moreover, if India is not serious about playing bilateral series, Pakistan should stop urging it. The PCB should also force the ICC to establish a foolproof security system for the upcoming World Twenty-20 to be held in India or change the venue.
Kamran Ullah Khattak Islamabad (3) BERTRAND Russell said `Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are notregarded as members of the herd.
The recent rage and unmanliness displayed by an extremist herd of people in India speak volumes of their attitude and feelings about Pakistan. It is not the first time that Pakistan delegates have been attacked and Pakistani artistes ridiculed by a handful of extremists.
Proper security could have avoided this untoward incident but the administration and extremists were hand in glove. The International Cricket Council (ICC) must show some spine and ban international cricket in India. Alternatively, cricketplaying countries should refuse to play cricket in India.
Sports loving countries should make it clear that chauvinism will not be tolerated at any cost and sports must be free of all sorts of prejudices.
