Delhi voters in India, wounded by the Hindu-Muslim clashes, desire peace
As harsh religious language intensifies, Suhel Mansuri, who still bears the scars from the Hindu-Muslim riots that killed dozens in his region of the capital of India in 2020, says he voted for “peace and brotherhood” on Saturday in the national elections.
During the riots in the most populous district of Delhi, Mansuri and his brother were attacked with iron rods and bricks, breaking many bones. They were surrounded by a crowd.
The election on Saturday is the first since the riots that left over 500 people injured and at least 53 dead—mostly Muslims—as mobs ran the streets for days, attacking one another with firearms and swords and setting buildings on fire.
Mansuri, 29, a Muslim, owns a modest clothes store in the Mustafabad neighborhood. “I don’t want anyone to suffer like this ever again,” he added. When hate speech incites people, they lose sight of the fact that everyone is the same.
Much of India’s mammoth seven-phase voting, which ends on June 1, has been dominated by rhetoric over inequality and religion as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) comes under fire for allegedly targeting minority Muslims in its campaign.
In the last two national elections, in 2014 and 2019, the Northeast Delhi seat elected a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
In a speech given last month, Modi, who is expected to become just the second person in history to win three terms in a row as prime leader of India, called Muslims “infiltrators” and those with “more children.” Later, he denied that he was specifically targeting the 200 million or more members of the 1.4 billion people who live in majority-Hindu India.
“I wish to support brotherhood and peace with my vote. It’s unlikely that the BJP will receive any votes in this area, “Mansuri said, expressing an opinion that many Mustafabad voters, including some Hindus, shared.
A 42-year-old Hindu woman named Mithilesh, who only revealed her first name, claimed she was afraid for her life during the riots since two young people were fatally stabbed by a mob on her street while she and her daughter-in-law were stuck inside their home.
“We were afraid for our safety after hearing their cries. We would not support our then-member-of-parliament from the BJP, who is seeking votes once more.”
Muslim tailor Sabir Ali, 42, claimed that Modi’s remarks are nothing more than political bluster. “But if he thinks Muslims will vote for him despite these speeches, then he is mistaken.”
Wasim Raja, a 36-year-old Muslim who owns a food store in the nearby Jaffarabad area, expressed his concerns about excessive inflation, saying it was hurting his business.
“The Hindu-Muslim issue has always been there, and we are all voting for Congress this time, but despite that, the BJP will likely win,” he stated.
In neighborhoods with a large Hindu population, support for the BJP, which is expected to win back power, was strong. Voters expressed pride in their country and lauded India’s economic progress.
“Because of Modi, Hindus have woken up, and this fire will not go out,” stated 48-year-old Akash Kumar Kashyap, who operates a transport company in the Bhajanpura region.
“The infrastructure and economy have both improved under Modi. We like him because he has elevated India’s profile internationally, according to 35-year-old Mahesh Chand Barthwal, a lawyer.
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.
