The Prathamesh Shinde Incident:
On November 28th, Prathamesh Shinde, a Hindu student from Maharashtra, found himself at the center of a storm. A mob of frenzied Islamists accused him of blasphemy. The accusations stemmed from Shinde sharing a video on his Instagram story featuring Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of a Hamas terrorist. Most was criticizing Prophet Muhammad and Islam. Despite Shinde not making any derogatory remarks himself, he became the target of a violent Islamist campaign.
The Power of Islamist Street Veto:
The chants of ‘Sarr Tan se Juda (STSJ),’ ‘Allahu Akbar,’ and ‘Naara e Takbeer’ echoed through various institutes in Kashmir. Islamists took to the streets, demanding retribution. The mob coerced the state machinery. This led to Shinde’s expulsion from NIT Srinagar.
He faces legal action under Indian Penal Code sections related to religious sentiments and promoting enmity between groups. The police, too, succumbed to the pressure. This showcases the power of the Islamist street veto.
Historical Precedents:
The Prathamesh Shinde incident is not an isolated case. It reflects a historical pattern where Islamist mobs have successfully influenced legislative decisions and law enforcement. The key instances showcase it. They are the inclusion of Section 295A in the Indian Penal Code, the infamous ‘Shah Bano’ case, the ban on Salman Rushdie’s ‘The Satanic Verses,’ the enactment of the Places of Worship Act of 1991, the Calcutta Quran petition, and the Nehru-Liaquat Pact.
Lessons From History:
Each historical event outlined in the article illustrates how Islamists, adept at mobilizing large crowds in the name of religion. They have influenced laws and policies to their advantage. The State, often torn between maintaining law and order and succumbing to vote bank politics, has repeatedly given in to the Islamist street veto. It leaves individuals vulnerable to attacks from lynch mobs.
Ongoing Trends:
The article sheds light on recent cases, including the targeting of BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, where Islamist street protests led to threats and violence against individuals expressing their views. The tragic outcomes for individuals like Kanhaiya Lal and Umesh Kolhe, who faced violence for supporting Nupur Sharma, underscore the grave consequences of this trend.
The disturbing trend of the Islamist street veto poses a significant challenge to the principles of free speech, secularism, and individual rights in India. The Prathamesh Shinde incident serves as a stark reminder of the need to address this issue and find a balance between upholding the law and resisting the undue influence of violent mobs on the state apparatus. Failure to do so may result in further erosion of fundamental rights and the continued exploitation of the system by extremist elements.