Hallmark of a Civilised Society

India is a highly diverse and pluralistic society. To progress we must respect all religions and communities.

But news often come of atrocities, humiliation and discrimination against the minority Muslim community in India.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/10/07/india-surge-summary-punishments-muslims

Lynching of some Muslims and cow vigilante violence have been widely reported

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cow_vigilante_violence_in_India#:~:text=Two%20Muslim%20men%20were%20lynched,them%20died%20of%20their%20injuries.&text=At%20least%20nine%20people%20were,traders%2C%20in%20four%20different%20incidents.

Also, many Muslims were beaten up, and a few even killed, for not chanting Jai Shri Ram.

https://maktoobmedia.com/features/list-of-muslims-killed-or-assaulted-after-refused-to-chant-jai-shri-ram/#:~:text=Rajab%20Alam%2C%20an%20eleven%20years,admitted%20to%20a%20nearby%20hospital.

Recently it is reported that a Hindu supremacist mob, shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ brutally beat up a Muslim man and his pregnant sister in Telengana, India, due to which the woman lost her baby

https://twitter.com/ashoswai/status/1661612961683718145?s=46&t=BRduuSw4RbEwrH7_uYHtOQ

A Muslim woman was stoned on the occasion of the Holi festival

https://twitter.com/mkatju/status/1634737434578546688

Is this the way to play Holi ?

I have often condemned atrocities and discrimination against minorities, in my judgements when I was a Judge, and in my speeches and writings

https://www.dailyo.in/politics/silver-lining-the-one-way-indian-muslims-have-benefitted-under-right-wing-rule-28370

https://mattersindia.com/2019/09/dark-days-are-ahead-for-india/

https://english.varthabharati.in/india/if-ram-was-king-today-he-would-take-care-of-people-of-all-faiths-not-just-hindus-justice-katju

https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/10/06/opinion-putting-out-the-eyes-of-the-indian-people.html

Also, I have often criticised the Indian media for demonising Muslims and branding them as terrorists and fanatics, by their irresponsible yellow sensationalist journalism, aimed at getting TRP ratings or other benefits.

https://www.hindujagruti.org/news/16033_katju-says-media-demonising-muslims.html

https://southasianrights.org/2011/10/20/india-police-falsely-implicate-muslims-for-bomb-blasts-justice-katju/

It is a hallmark of a civilised society that minorities therein can live with dignity and honour. If we wish to be regarded as civilised in the eyes of the world, we must strongly condemn atrocities and discrimination against our minorities, and bring the perpetrators of such outrages to justice.