Newsletter from Upper Assam
“Land is a mystery to fish, and by the time a fish discovers land, it is usually too late – the poor creature is already on a hook”.
The pitiable plight of the fish is often linked to world of troubles 'Hindu and Christian' young women ‘land’ themselves in after being promised the moon – the fruits of love !!
This happened in Kerala - probably for the first time and then it passed on to neighbouring Karnataka as they put it.
Uttar Pradesh also reported several cases over the years and the Yogi dispensation in Lucknow understandably did things effectively trying to 'resolve' the vice by anti-Romeo police squads !
The allegation is that the perpetrators of the crime are "Muslim ‘conspirators" and the smarty youths do so with the tacit support of some radical Islamic organisations and some individuals associated with Madrasas and so on !!
But the Muslim organisations and even 'sickular' media and political organisations slam the right-wing Hindutva organisations saying only falsehood is spread around these issues.
‘Love jihad’ as a term was first used in the northern districts of Kerala reportedly in a section of vernacular media in the southern state.
Jihad is Arabic word for ‘revolution’ and is today known the world over as the ‘Muslim evangelism’ with the violence cult against the non-believers.
In Upper Assam, local police say a few cases have surfaced. A few cases are also referred to by various pro-Hindutva organisations including Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
Such cases figured in the Digboi region near Tinsukia - a very dynamic, money-spinning and historic commercial hub in the region.
Digboi perhaps needless to add is the famous oil hub.
However, these days a stranger on arrival will be told about the Love Jihad menace. Local residents say two cases have been reported in the last two months.
However, a Tinsukia-based Muslim trader denies the claims of Hindu organisations.
“There is nothing worthwhile to discuss on this issue. The charges are mostly false and if an 18-year plus girl runs away ... How an entire Muslim community is to be blamed," says Sahil Khan.
His refrain of course sounds quite logical. Police also say --"If an adult couple has run away ... law or we cops also cannot do much".
But administrative authorities and even others plainly admit in Margherita-Digboi-Dibrugarh belt in Upper Assam that there have been a few instances of ‘conversion’ to Islam.
But what has 'vitiated' the atmosphere is the vulnerability of different communities.
“In some small hamlets where Christians account for 20 per cent and Muslims 12 and Hindus also 40 per cent, the community elders do everything to keep youngsters of different faiths apart and thus the malady persists,” says a social worker in Dibrugarh.
But many dismiss such an argument.
“Most of the victims of Love-Jihad among Hindus are from semi rural areas where there is sizeable Muslim population," says a retired banker in Dibrugarh.
Moreover, the young girls from Hindu families in poverty and low education levels are also vulnerable.
But overall, many pockets have reported Love Jihad from time to time. One resident in Tinsukia said - in Majuli river island "the conversion of Hindus is
largest towards Christianity".
This is another area of concern for the Hindus, they say.
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| A local school, Digboi |
In Digboi, local VHP Prakhand secretary Rajiv Kumar Gupta says,
"It is a fact today people consider the impact of Love-Jihad as a reality and thus a challenge.
As part of multi-pronged precautionary measures, VHP and Bajrang Dal along with local civic organisations including Andhra Association are now starting multiple programmes wherein community leaders visit the parents and family members of these victim girls".
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| VHP man: Gupta |
"We may also start programmes in schools and colleges," he says.
But there are also complaints in certain places, schools and other educational institutions are discouraging Hindu organisations make entry or organise any campaign against Love Jihad.
Gupta also hastened to add that in Digboi-Tinsukia region a 'mass wedding (Samhuyik Vivah) for Hindus' will be organised soon.
"To start with we have set a target of 251 couples for such mass wedding and Ghar Wapsi at the historic Shiv Dham in Tinsukia," he says.
However, in some pockets the Muslims charge is against "religious polarization" trigered by few Hindu organisations.
“Our Margherita-Digboi stretch was more about economy about coal and oil....This belt was also a cosmopolitan and a vibrant region with a large number of educational institutions but the Hindu radicals are soon making it a hot-spot of vigilante," says trader Altafbhai Hussain.
The Christian community elders in upper Assam also cite economic reason for the so called upheaval of Islamic hyper actions.
"Joblessness is a major issue... But the political class is more busy with Hindu-Muslim or Hindu-Christian divide," says one Christian leader in Makum hamlet that falls between Digboi and Tinsukia.
One Hindu priest in Margherita said, the issue of ‘young girls trafficking’ further help abet the menace even as the moneyed Muslim youths with their wallets open have various ways to go scot-free.
Amid all these, the Congress leaders, however, say the Double Engine Govt has failed and hence Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his party colleagues are trying to play up emotive issues such as the Love Jihad.
ends
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| Blogger at Tinsukia |
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