His house was demolished because he is Muslim, he says
“In the blink of an eye, my home was demolished,” said the 45-year-old fruit seller, whose kitchen, fruit cart, and cattle shed have all been destroyed. “While I stood there watching… (the police) just walked away.” Scraps of wood, rusty metal and garbage line the sandy pavement outside his home, where his four young children play.”The demolished shops had stood there for over 70 years and we never received a single (government) notice,” he said. “Indeed my shops were demolished because I am a Muslim who refused to bend before BJP leaders. The way the district administration is targeting Muslims after the violence in Khargone, it’s evident that they hate a particular community.”CNN contacted the secretary for Madhya Pradesh’s Home Minister, Secretary Home Minister, Khargone’s District Collector and the police, but did not receive a response.Support for the Hindu rightTensions between Indian Hindus and Muslims have been flashpoints for decades — even before India gained its independence from the British. But when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP swept to power in 2014, promising economic reform and development, experts feared his rise could signal an ideological shift away from the nation’s secular norms toward those of a Hindu-nationalist state. The BJP has its roots in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindu group that counts Modi among its members and adheres to Hindutva ideology — which seeks to make India the land of the Hindus. Analysts and activists feared Modi’s election would leave India’s Muslims — about 14% of the country’s population — The most controversial new laws are in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, ruled by Hindu monk-turned-politician Yogi Adityanath. The state has introduced laws to protect cows, an animal considered sacred to Hindus, from slaughter, and made it increasingly difficult to transport cattle. It has also introduced an anti-conversion bill, which makes it harder for interfaith couples to marry or for people to convert to Islam or Christianity. Most recently, the BJP-ruled southern state of Karnataka banned Muslim girls from wearing religious headscarves in classrooms, prompting several to challenge the decision in the state’s top court — a battle they ultimately lost. According to Muslim author and journalist Rana Ayyub, Muslims are “made to feel like victims in their own country.” “From what I see in India right now, I feel for my Muslims,” she said. “I feel for my brother each time he goes for Namaz (prayers) wearing a skullcap during the month of (Ramadan).”And the demolition of Muslim-owned properties during Ramadan, according to Ayyub is “demonizing and demoralizing.””It’s like (state authorities) are doing it purposefully,” she said. “They’re trying to tell us that (during) a month that is sacrosanct for Muslims, ‘we are going to humiliate your beliefs and your system’.”The futureBaig continues to live in a small room in his home — the only one spared demolition — with his wife, children and ailing father. They have no running water or electricity. Food is running out, he says, and with his livelihood destroyed Baig does not know how he can afford to feed his family.”With temperatures touching 42 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit), we are struggling to soothe our crying children,” his wife Parveen said.Meanwhile, Khargone district officials have posted numerous photos and videos to their official social media, showing police patrolling the streets and bulldozing more properties. “Do not let harmony become divided,” read a tweet from Tuesday. “Create an atmosphere of peace and harmony.” But Baig believes that the very institutions in place to protect him and his family betrayed him by destroying their home.”I want to ask the government, how can a man who struggles to make ends meet, but feeds his family by working hard each day, have the means to indulge in (violent) activities?” Baig asked.
