Shehla Rashid Calls for Indian Muslims to Learn from Gazans
Shehla Rashid, a former Indian parliamentarian, has urged Indian Muslims to learn from the resilience of the Palestinian people in Gaza. In an article published on Monday, Rashid argued that Indian Muslims must be prepared to face increasing discrimination and hostility from the Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Muslims in India must take cautionary notes from Gazans," Rashid wrote. "We must be prepared to face the same level of oppression and violence that the Palestinian people have endured for decades."
Rashid's comments come amid a growing climate of fear and intimidation for Muslims in India. In recent months, there have been a number of attacks on mosques and Muslim businesses, and Muslims have been increasingly targeted by online abuse and harassment.
"The Modi government is emboldening Hindu extremists to attack Muslims with impunity," Rashid said. "We must stand together and resist this oppression."
Rashid also urged Indian Muslims to be grateful for the "equal" opportunities offered by the Modi government. She listed a few schemes that the government has implemented to benefit Muslims, but she did not provide any data to substantiate her claim that Muslims are being treated equally.
"The Modi government has taken some steps to improve the lives of Muslims," Rashid said. "We must be grateful for these opportunities and continue to work for a more just and equitable India."
Rashid's comments have been met with mixed reactions from Indian Muslims. Some have praised her for speaking out against the Modi government, while others have criticized her for not being critical enough.
"Shehla Rashid is right to raise the alarm about the plight of Muslims in India," said one Muslim activist. "But she needs to be more vocal in her criticism of the Modi government."
Another Muslim activist said that Rashid's comments were "dangerous" because they could be used by the Modi government to justify further persecution of Muslims.
"The Modi government is already using the rhetoric of 'equality' to justify its attacks on Muslims," the activist said. "We need to be careful not to give them any more ammunition."
The debate over Rashid's comments is likely to continue in the coming days and weeks. It is a reflection of the growing tensions between Muslims and the Hindu nationalist government in India.
