The Islamophobic Narendra Modi Government is mired in a huge diplomatic row with Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and many African countries after a violent mob of Hindu extremists attacked foreign Muslim students engaged in Ramadan Tarawih prayers peacefully on the terrace of the Gujarat University in Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah’s home state of Gujarat.
More than five foreign Muslim students have been injured after the Hindu extremist mob allegedly stormed a university hostel to instill fear and hatred and cause bloodshed with violent attacks with sticks, iron rods, and knives.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday lip-serviced to take “strict actions against the perpetrators,” as the Gujarat police in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi said an investigation was underway in connection with the attack at the Gujarat University. Only two extremists have been apprehended out of a mob of about 250 extremists.
Photo Courtesy: X (@IAMCouncil)
The traumatized students told the media that a small group had gathered on Saturday night inside the boys’ hostel premises for the Ramadan Tarawih prayer as there is no mosque on the university campus based in Ahmedabad. Soon after, a violent mob armed with sticks and knives stormed the hostel, attacked them, and vandalized their rooms. They lamented.
“A group of 15 students were offering prayers when three people came and started shouting the militant slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’. They objected to us praying here,” narrated a student injured in the attack. “After some time, about 250 people came and shouted ‘Jai Shri Ram’. They pelted stones and vandalized hostel properties,” he added.
A student from Afghanistan disclosed to NDTV: “They attacked us inside the rooms too. They broke laptops, phones, and damaged bikes.” The AC and sound systems were destroyed as well. Videos posted on social media site X showed ransacked student dorms and the violent Hindu extremists’ mob destroying the students’ motorbikes with long tools.
“We cannot survive like this,” one terrorized African student deplored in his video filmed from the hostel. In the background, loud shouting and sounds of items being demolished, broken, and smashed by the mob are heard. “We came to India to study, and now we’re being attacked just because it’s time for Ramadan and Muslims are praying. Now they’re breaking down the bikes; everything is being demolished downstairs,” he narrated with anguish.
“Yesterday, at around 10:30 p.m., a group of students were praying. Around 20–25 people came and asked them why they were praying here and should instead go to the mosque,” Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik told the media at a briefing on Sunday. “An argument broke out between them; stones were pelted, and their rooms were vandalized by the ‘people’ who came from outside.” Malik used the word ‘people’ for the perpetrators of violence since they were Hindus. Had Muslims been involved, he would have used the word ‘terrorists.’ This clearly shows the bias of the Gujarat Police, where there is hardly any representation of Muslims, especially in the top ranks. Malik added that a complaint has been received against 20–25 people, and one of the accused has been identified. Nine teams have been formed to investigate the incident, he said.
The Indian External Affairs Ministry said on X that the state government is “taking strict action against the perpetrators.” But the action was not specified. “Two foreign students were injured in the clash. One of them has been discharged from the hospital after receiving medical attention,” spokesman Randhit Jaiswal said. The videos of the attack clearly show how many foreign Muslim students were injured. Where was the need for Jaiswal to downplay the number of people injured?
Asaduddin Owaisi, a Member of Parliament from Hyderabad, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to “intervene to send a strong message.”
“What a shame. When your devotion and religious slogans only come out when Muslims peacefully practice their religion,” he posted on X.
“Domestic anti-Muslim hatred is destroying India’s goodwill,” he reminded, tagging S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister.
The anti-Muslim Gujarat University Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Neerja A. Gupta, told the media that international students need to be trained in “cultural sensitivity.” “These are foreign students, and when you go abroad, you must learn cultural sensitivity. These students need an orientation. We will sit with them, provide cultural orientation, and discuss how to strengthen their security,” according to NDTV.
What cultural sensitivity is Neerja talking about? Instead of feeling ashamed about the violent attack and resigning as the Vice-Chancellor after condemning violence, Neerja seems to be supporting the mob of extremists by invoking cultural sensitivity! Is the cultural sensitivity of foreign students not hurt when attacked while they were praying peacefully? Neerja should be sacked immediately for such insensitive behavior and remarks.
The hateful and violent attack on the peaceful foreign Muslim students comes in the aftermath of the United Nations’ resolution on Islamophobia, where the Indian Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, boycotted or abstained from the resolution reportedly on the instructions of the Islamophobic Narendra Modi government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should understand that India’s goodwill and reputation are at stake with such a cowardly attack on peacefully praying foreign Muslim students. Narendra Modi and the BJP may win the Parliament elections by trying to spread hate and violence against Muslims, but India will lose its face!
Let India be known as Mahatma Gandhi’s India and not the Hindu extremist Nathuram Godse’s India.
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
