Upholding Religious Freedom; State-Sanctioned Injustice:The Plight of Hindus in Karnataka

 

The recent developments in Bengaluru following the attack on a shopkeeper for playing the Hanuman Chalisa allegedly “around the Azan time” not only demonstrate the inability of Hindus to otherwise showcase their religiosity but also demonstrate the danger of the government-sanctioned violence against the peaceful protesters. Despite the horrific nature of the incident, it was the police’s action that ensued the crime, reportedly executed through government channels, that raised major questions on the status of fundamental rights and the rule of law in the state.

 

The attack of the shopkeeper named Mukesh G Singh in Nagarthpet, central Bengaluru is a clear manifestation of the selective restriction of religious practice and a lack of respect for coexistence and compassion. The shopkeeper's ordeal, as he faced threats and physical violence for simply practicing his faith, is emblematic of the growing intolerance towards Hindus in Bengaluru. It is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by religious extremism and the urgent need to safeguard the rights of the citizens to practice their religion. The accused are also known to extort money from the shopkeepers and threaten the local business community, which probably were known by the police, say the residents.

 

Nevertheless, the scenario that was getting worse day by day, when the protestors, rightfully expressing their resentment against the attack, faced police repression, was unacceptable. It becomes evident that the police took tough action, resorted to lathi charges, arrested the protestors, and used other force to disperse the crowd, presumably acting as indicated by the state government orders. Such dramatic approaches, that not only suppress dissent but also have the consequence of undermining the democratic principles of liberty of required peaceful assemblies and freedom of expression.

 

 

 

Political leadership, essentially the elected government leaders, must maintain the rule of law and safeguard the rights of each citizen, unbounded by the implementer’s religion. Through its supposed authorization of the application of force against a non-violent crowd, the government has broken down the social contract that guarantees the safety of the citizens. Contrary to encouraging dialogue for unification, these deeds only escalate the already existing social injustices and deepen the rifts.

 

The involvement of the Bengaluru Police agencies, specifically the case in the matter can also be described as very disturbing. Although maintaining order is their responsibility, they must be bound by the law as well as respect for human freedom. The excessive force employed against the protestors becomes one of the major obstacles to the people's trust in the police and the law enforcement institutions' validity.

 

Civil society thus ought to keep to its pledge of fighting for accountability by the authorities as well as respecting the values of justice and equality. These large-scale protests and demonstrations like the ones seen in Bengaluru are of fundamental importance for two fundamental reasons that are to punish the authorities if they do not perform their duties and to grant access to justice to those who are facing violence and discrimination.

 

To conclude, the recent events in Bengaluru show how the truth of religious freedom and the law is biased and weak in the states run by the government surviving on appeasement politics. The attack on the shopkeeper and decapitation of the protestors were a stark reminder that the elected government and law uphold rights urgently needed to respect fundamental rights, the rule of law, to provide an atmosphere in which religious freedom is essential and people can live without fear of persecution and discrimination.