STATELESSNESS IN INDIA
Subramanian Swamy, boldly announced that “Muslims do not fall into the equal category”,
and as a repeat offender of anti-Muslim hate speech was called out by UN USG, Adama
Dieng.83 Political messaging is often divisive with a “us” versus “them” narrative.84 There
is also constant dehumanization of Muslims with labels such as rapists,85 prostitutes,86
and terrorists.87 Political leaders have directly invoked violence in public rallies, for
instance BJP MLA Anurag Thakur led a slogan at a rally to “shoot the traitors” referring
to anti-CAA protestors, who are assumed to be Muslim.88
There is an incremental, systematic, and planned legitimizing of hate, xenophobia, and
bigotry. The normalization of this dehumanising prejudice is celebrated as a marker of a
strong and aggressive Hindu nationalist identity.89 Not surprisingly, the terms
“Bangladeshi,” “Bongal,” and “Miya” racist and Islamophobic slurs attached with social
stigma and mob harassment90 have made a comfortable comeback. Genocide Watch and
Holocaust Memorial have both warned of India’s march to widespread and systematic
persecution of Muslims.91
83
Kairvy Grewal, The Print, UN official raises concerns over hate speech in India, cites Subramanian
Swamy’s comments, May 20, 2020.
84
BBC, Yogi Adityanath: 'Muslims did no favour to India by staying here', 5 February 2020. See also,
Financial Express, ‘No votes, no jobs’: Maneka Gandhi sets off big controversy with blunt message to
Muslims, April 12, 2019.
85
Hannah Ellis-Peterson, The Guardian, ‘Feed them Bullets not Biryani’, BJP uses Delhi Election to stoke
religious hatred, February 6, 2020.
86
Hansa Malhotra, Bloomberg Quint, ‘Prostitute’ and 7 Other Disturbing Remarks by BJP Leaders, July 21,
2016.
87
Amarnath Tewary, The Hindu, Giriraj Singh makes yet another controversial comment, February 21,
2020. See also, Sabrang Covid-19: Assam FT members donate to relief efforts, but stipulate funds not be
used for ‘jehadis’, April 11, 2020.
88
Suhit K Sen, Firstpost, Anurag Thakur leading 'golimaaro' chant tests limits of political speech, speaks to
malaise of hate in Indian polity, January 28, 2020.
89
Suchitra Vijayan, Scroll.in, Amit Shah’s ‘migrant termites’ speech echoes leaders around the world who
orchestrated mass violence, October 2, 2018.
90
Manash Firaq Bhattacharjee, Al Jazeera, We foreigners: What it means to be Bengali in India's Assam,
February 26 2020, See also, Aletta Andre & Abhimanyu Kumar, Al Jazeera, Protest poetry: Assam's
Bengali Muslims take a stand, December 23, 2016; Anupam Bordoloi, Outlook India, In North-East India
Why The Word 'Bangladeshi' Is Just Plain Evil, December 30, 2019; Gaurav Das, the Wire, Fear of
Coronavirus: Migrant Labourers in Assam Narrowly Escape Mob Lynching, April 4, 2020; The Hindu, Mob
makes four undergo ‘Bangladeshi test’ in Assam, September 18, 2019.
91
Genocide Watch, Genocide Alerts. See also, Common Good Foundation, Stateless in Assam: Precursors
to Genocide and Crimes against Humanity?, July 15, 2018; See also: Rachel Manteuffel, The Washington
Post, ‘The Holocaust Museum’s Director on Warning Signs of Fascism’, January 7, 2020.
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