The Issue Of Grooming Gangs In The Bharatiya Context
09 Jul 2025 12:19:14
This news of Grooming Gangs scandal and Suella Braverman's statements reminded many of the movie "Kerala Stories".
In many cases, which belong to the category of Love Jihad ( Muslim boys marrying preferably Hindu or the girls from non-Muslim faith, as observed in Kerala), later many videos were uploaded by the victim girls, rather circulated again, narrating their experience of sufferings. The social outrage, too, is selective; the silence cannot be understood, but at least the point became the topic of discussions at all levels.
Readers opined that even many of our people hesitate to accept the existence of such facts. One of the intentions may be to sound politically relevant, or to avoid being labelled as Islamophobic or Racist.
Of course there are no officially conducted surveys, no commission awarded for the fact-finding, nor any independent inquiries conducted. So, it is a tough task to present rational or balanced observations.
On the contrary, according to the data from the 2021 census of the UK, the percentage of the Muslim population is 6.5 ( this seems to include British Pakistanis also ). Suella Braverman had stated that the ethnicity and nationality Data of the perpetrators ( which is 1/3 of the total cases ) that was available to her as the home secretary, predominantly or disproportionately showed that British Pakistani men were responsible. ( She stated it repeatedly, and has not changed her position on the topic ) She observed that most of them have been left mostly unchallenged within their community. She was criticised and politically attacked too for her statements.
Probably, it is expected that the number needs to be in tune with the percentage of the population. This might have been the reason for the emphasis on the identification of social drives of the Grooming Gangs.
Similarly, in the Bharatiya context too, the number of Love Jihad cases noted by the concerned people is disproportionate to the percentage of the Muslim population. ( It is acknowledged to be between 14 and 15 % )
The most significant point of being left unchallenged by the community also raises many concerns. No doubt, many issues are raised by progressive muslims ( Their number seems to be too small to note ). Unfortunately, there are many efforts at a cover-up by the community.
Communities or societies develop some thinking that is, in a way, unethical or dehumanising in nature over time.
Mostly, in every community, there is some mechanism for course correction.
The Sanatan Dharm has a legacy of great Saints in every quarter of the country who never minced words in criticising such customs and traditions. Social change is a very slow process, no doubt, but the system of change exists, and it slowly operates. One finds innumerable examples of the process of change.
Accepting the existence of such traditions and condemning them unambiguously is the first step in this process. If people of a community hesitate to acknowledge the unpleasant or displeasing facts, it is a matter of utmost concern. Leaving it unchallenged is even more dangerous; it is a double-edged sword. The leaders and intelligentsia have to do their duty and help eradicate unethical or dehumanising thinking. In the Bharatiya context Muslim community has to work on this and identify the social drivers, if any. Instead of simply condemning such opinions or observations, the matter is to be looked into seriously.
We have to live together, misleading or misreading the facts is no solution. Our well-being, our progress and our fortune rest in the coexistence, where trust deficit has no place.
The second point raised in Baroness Louise Casey's report is about creating safeguards for teenagers' consensual relationships.The
Supreme court directed the secretary of the women and child development to form a committee to deal with the suggestions and submit the report by the 26th of July. The government is supposed to have a comprehensive policy on sexual and reproductive health education.
In such cases, it seems, keep appearing in the court, and the points related to the issue are discussed.
Should we not try to understand how teachers and parents perceive this? A questionnaire is to be prepared, the survey is to be conducted, and the analysis is to be done to sense the public opinion. The situation is very tricky.
On the contrary Casey's report suggested to treat sex before 16 as a serious crime of rape, even if the girl states that she is in love with the man. We too need to think about it seriously before amending the law related to it. Are we going to decriminalise the teens' relationship? Would it solve the problems or complicate them? Our teachers, parents need to give it a serious thought.
At least the Grooming Gangs Scandal in the UK doesn't support the idea of decriminalising teenagers' relationships.
The society ought to build some safeguards to avoid the exploitation of children.
In many cases, which belong to the category of Love Jihad ( Muslim boys marrying preferably Hindu or the girls from non-Muslim faith, as observed in Kerala), later many videos were uploaded by the victim girls, rather circulated again, narrating their experience of sufferings. The social outrage, too, is selective; the silence cannot be understood, but at least the point became the topic of discussions at all levels.
Readers opined that even many of our people hesitate to accept the existence of such facts. One of the intentions may be to sound politically relevant, or to avoid being labelled as Islamophobic or Racist.
Of course there are no officially conducted surveys, no commission awarded for the fact-finding, nor any independent inquiries conducted. So, it is a tough task to present rational or balanced observations.
On the contrary, according to the data from the 2021 census of the UK, the percentage of the Muslim population is 6.5 ( this seems to include British Pakistanis also ). Suella Braverman had stated that the ethnicity and nationality Data of the perpetrators ( which is 1/3 of the total cases ) that was available to her as the home secretary, predominantly or disproportionately showed that British Pakistani men were responsible. ( She stated it repeatedly, and has not changed her position on the topic ) She observed that most of them have been left mostly unchallenged within their community. She was criticised and politically attacked too for her statements.
Probably, it is expected that the number needs to be in tune with the percentage of the population. This might have been the reason for the emphasis on the identification of social drives of the Grooming Gangs.
Similarly, in the Bharatiya context too, the number of Love Jihad cases noted by the concerned people is disproportionate to the percentage of the Muslim population. ( It is acknowledged to be between 14 and 15 % )
The most significant point of being left unchallenged by the community also raises many concerns. No doubt, many issues are raised by progressive muslims ( Their number seems to be too small to note ). Unfortunately, there are many efforts at a cover-up by the community.
Communities or societies develop some thinking that is, in a way, unethical or dehumanising in nature over time.
Mostly, in every community, there is some mechanism for course correction.
The Sanatan Dharm has a legacy of great Saints in every quarter of the country who never minced words in criticising such customs and traditions. Social change is a very slow process, no doubt, but the system of change exists, and it slowly operates. One finds innumerable examples of the process of change.
Accepting the existence of such traditions and condemning them unambiguously is the first step in this process. If people of a community hesitate to acknowledge the unpleasant or displeasing facts, it is a matter of utmost concern. Leaving it unchallenged is even more dangerous; it is a double-edged sword. The leaders and intelligentsia have to do their duty and help eradicate unethical or dehumanising thinking. In the Bharatiya context Muslim community has to work on this and identify the social drivers, if any. Instead of simply condemning such opinions or observations, the matter is to be looked into seriously.
We have to live together, misleading or misreading the facts is no solution. Our well-being, our progress and our fortune rest in the coexistence, where trust deficit has no place.
The second point raised in Baroness Louise Casey's report is about creating safeguards for teenagers' consensual relationships.The
Supreme court directed the secretary of the women and child development to form a committee to deal with the suggestions and submit the report by the 26th of July. The government is supposed to have a comprehensive policy on sexual and reproductive health education.
In such cases, it seems, keep appearing in the court, and the points related to the issue are discussed.
Should we not try to understand how teachers and parents perceive this? A questionnaire is to be prepared, the survey is to be conducted, and the analysis is to be done to sense the public opinion. The situation is very tricky.
On the contrary Casey's report suggested to treat sex before 16 as a serious crime of rape, even if the girl states that she is in love with the man. We too need to think about it seriously before amending the law related to it. Are we going to decriminalise the teens' relationship? Would it solve the problems or complicate them? Our teachers, parents need to give it a serious thought.
At least the Grooming Gangs Scandal in the UK doesn't support the idea of decriminalising teenagers' relationships.
The society ought to build some safeguards to avoid the exploitation of children.