As the whole world is in a state of crises and the deadly coronavirus continues to claim lives, in this part of the world many see it an opportunity to demonize a particular community while accusing them of spreading the disease. The pandemic in India is causing an increase in incidents of discrimination against the country�s minority Muslims.

Hindu extremists and even the national media notorious for spreading hatred has been busy blaming the spread of the disease on a Muslim gathering, which took place in March in New Delhi. Activists say the move is nothing more than scapegoating. Many reports suggest Muslim vendors and Muslim-owned businesses are being attacked and intimidated across the country.

Critics say it�s a deliberate attempt to shift the blame and portray the pandemic as a part of communal conflict in order to deviate the masses from the abject failure of the administration to deal with the crises and to bring political gains in the future.

As the largest minority group in India, Muslims have long faced social, political, and economic marginalization and the drift has further increased since the emergence of Hindu nationalist government of BJP in 2014.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his latest statement has urged people to unite, saying this virus does not see race, religion, color, caste, creed, language or border before striking. Experts, however, doubt if this would prevent the propaganda and violence against the Muslims in the country.

SOURCE: PRESS TV