It’s a known fact that extremist and terrorist groups live and thrive on hatred for other groups and communities. In case of Indo-Pak politics, religious extremist groups across both sides of the border complement each other by spreading hatred against minorities and disadvantaged communities in their respective countries. We have seen phenomenal increase in hatred in recent times; perhaps that’s the only way out for their survival. On one side of the border, BJP and its mentor outfits — RSS, Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal — threaten all those opposing enforcement of Hinduvta to better migrate to Pakistan.
However, Indian voters have shown these groups the writing on the wall by routing them out in the recently held elections in Bihar. But they are still ruling a number of states which are being controlled by BJP in Delhi. On the other side of border, their counterparts in Pakistan are doing exactly the same. JI’s Ameer has advised all those who are struggling for a liberal Pakistan shall migrate to India. He didn’t stop the entertainment there, but went on to claim that had Qaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal been alive today, they would have joined IJT (JI’s student wing). IJT is the same outfit which attacked girl students for playing cricket in Karachi University just last week.
In Pakistan these parties may not enjoy vote bank but carry a lot of nuisance value. Citizens, especially Muslims of both countries, are wondering what to do, where to go — they are being pushed out by extremist forces in both countries. Not a promising outcome of allowing these groups to work as political force.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
