Kazuya Mishima
The last few days have been unnerving after what happened in Kashmir, with even the society WhatsApp groups being full of Islamophobic hate.
Not sure what is the future of this country until the BJP dominates most communication and media platforms. The blood-hungry nature of some of the seemingly civilised people did come as a surprise.
Sharing some of the messages I’ve come across
“पूरी धरती पर क्या ऐसी कौम को जीने का हक है ..... ?”
“Bilkul nahi but ...hamare country mein hume hi darey rehna hai ... inka yahi agenda hai ...har Hindu ko Muslim banana ..aaj har painter Muslim hai har maid ...sab jagah ye hai ..everywhere ..coz we r secular ..”
Also, shoutout to Shardool , my fellow Tekken aficionado.
I owe you a pint my friend ...haha!
Anonymous
The problem with India in general is that an “anti-hate” party just doesn’t exist. It does appear that everyone has realised that the way to win votes is by dividing, and hence they keep their traps shut when the BJP and its minions go on a rampage online and in the media against Muslims or any minority.
The time we are in right now, where being a Muslim at this moment is horribly scary, no Rahul Gandhi (maybe he's on his holiday), or Arvind Kejriwal, or a Mamta Bannerjee, or anyone else have not even remotely tried to lower the temperature in the country.
I honestly feel bad for the Muslim population in our country when I see the level of hate that’s becoming mainstream and the helplessness of people who know there is nobody who’ll come to help them if they raise their voices against it
Advy
Hi, hope you are all well!
Huge fan of your work and the incredible journalism you all do. I was wondering if you were planning to invite Pakistani journalists/thinkers/academics to discuss the attack in Pahalgam, the Pakistani perspective/reaction etc., as well as Kashmiri academics/voices?
Abhijeet
I was in Himachal when Pahalgam happened. The sentiment there was that of sympathy for the locals.
“Season kharab ho gaya unka,” they said. This sympathy I find missing from all public discussions. The immediate and catastrophic impact it would bring to Kashmir’s economy isn’t highlighted by the media or acknowledged by the people in power.
We must remember that there are people whose livelihoods depend on this season and who have invested in this. Zero tourism would mean small businesses going bankrupt, job losses, migration and people pushed below the poverty line. They would need support.
I hope once our boiling blood calms down, we are able to spare a thought for them. Of course, only after we have annihilated Pakistan. For now, as with all discussions on Kashmir, the plight of the Kashmiri is missing.
Shreejata Dey
Dear NL Team,
My partner introduced me to Newslaundry and the world of independent journalism – a much-needed breath of fresh air when mainstream media often misrepresents ground realities. Life feels a lot more informed since!
A small suggestion: consider adding a citizen journalist page where users can upload and share verified stories or images (moderator-approved). It could drive more engagement and allow people to be a part of the change, however small.
You all are doing a fantastic job! I absolutely love Hafta and TV Newsance – never miss an episode. Thank you for staying true to your mission and continuing to empower the public with honest journalism.
Dipankar Khasnabish
Hello,
The discussion about Bengal is interesting, adding some nuances.
Bengal has a diverse population, with 25 percent Muslims, 25 percent SC/ST, 13 percent of non-Bengali origin, and a couple of percent Nepalis.
The Muslims are with the TMC, and the 13 percent with non-Bengal origin (from the Hindi heartland, and Rajasthan) go with the BJP.
The SC/ST is a neglected segment (the Bengal caste system is socially inclusive but economically exclusive). The BJP worked hard to sway them (Matuas, who need citizenship, and Rajbanshi of neglected North Bengal). And the Nepali vote is for the BJP to help statehood.
The forward caste vote among Bengali Hindus is still significant with the TMC, as the BJP's policies are seen as a culture war. This excludes a few who see Mamata as a usurper, but they gravitate to the Left or Congress. The BJP wants to break by taking over Vivekananda, Aurobindo, Bose, and others.
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