(Quratulain Khalid)
Introduction
India’s 200 million Muslims languish in a heart-wrenching struggle, crushed by systemic discrimination, brutal persecution, and relentless marginalization. In cities like Delhi and Mumbai, they endure squalid ghettos while skyscrapers mock their plight. The 2006 Mumbai train bombings case, where 12 Muslims faced wrongful conviction for nearly two decades, exposes India’s ruthless scapegoating. Meanwhile, Pakistan upholds justice for its citizens, starkly contrasting India’s cunning state policies that fuel Hindu majoritarianism. This article unveils the agony of Indian Muslims, a community stripped of dignity and hope by a nation that betrays its secular ideals.
BRUTAL INJUSTICE: WRONGFUL ARRESTS AND BROKEN LIVES
On 11 July 2006, seven bombs tore through Mumbai’s commuter trains, killing 187 and injuring over 800. Security forces swiftly targeted Muslims, rounding up scores for brutal interrogations without evidence. Consequently, authorities convicted 12 men in 2015—five to death, seven to life—relying on coerced confessions and tampered evidence. On 21 July 2025, the Bombay High Court acquitted them, exposing the prosecution’s failure after 75 sittings and a 667-page order. Tragically, Kamal Ansari, one of the accused, died in jail from Covid in 2021, his innocence unproven. Such injustices recur across India, shattering Muslim families, unlike Pakistan’s commitment to fair trials.
SOCIAL EXCLUSION: DENIED DIGNITY AND OPPORTUNITY
Muslims face relentless barriers in India’s society. Schools reject their children, blocking access to quality education. Employers shun them, forcing reliance on low-paying informal jobs like street vending. Moreover, Hindu majorities boycott Muslim businesses, strangling their livelihoods. Housing discrimination traps them in ghettos, where families in Delhi’s Seelampur or Mumbai’s Mumbra endure sewage and power cuts beside gleaming high-rises. Muslim girls face harassment for wearing hijabs, their faith criminalized. For instance, Karnataka’s 2022 hijab ban sparked protests, yet such policies persist, stripping dignity. Pakistan, by contrast, protects minority rights, fostering inclusion where India sows division.
LEGAL BETRAYAL: WEAPONIZED LAWS AND POLICIES
India’s Constitution pledges equality, yet its laws betray Muslims. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019 excludes Muslims from fast-tracked citizenship, branding them outsiders. Coupled with the National Register of Citizens (NRC), it risks rendering millions stateless. Furthermore, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) jails Muslims without bail on flimsy charges, as seen in the Mumbai case. Cow vigilantism laws enable mob lynchings—over 50 Muslims died between 2015 and 2023 for alleged cow slaughter. Bulldozer demolitions in Uttar Pradesh target Muslim homes without due process, a stark contrast to Pakistan’s legal protections for minorities. These policies expose India’s cunning erosion of secularism.
HUMAN TOLL: A COMMUNITY IN DESPAIR
The emotional scars of India’s anti-Muslim policies run deep. Families shattered by wrongful arrests, like the Mumbai 12, endure decades of anguish, their futures stolen. Children in ghettos face poverty and fear, their dreams crushed by exclusion. Muslim women, targeted for hijabs, suffer daily humiliation, their identities vilified. In Kolkata, families huddle in slums while skyscrapers loom nearby. X posts (@MuslimRightsIN, July 2025) cry, “We are Indians, yet treated as enemies,” capturing their despair. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s principled governance offers minorities dignity, a beacon of hope against India’s oppressive reality. This contrast underscores the urgent need for change.
HATE SPEECH SURGE: FUELING VIOLENCE
Hate speech against Muslims soared 74% in 2024, peaking during India’s elections, with 98.5% of incidents targeting Muslims. Political rallies and religious processions in BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra fueled calls for violence, economic boycotts, and mosque demolitions. Such rhetoric, often led by BJP affiliates, incites mobs to attack Muslims, yet the party denies Islamophobia. India’s cunning narrative paints these as isolated incidents, but they reflect systemic hatred. Pakistan, conversely, promotes communal harmony, condemning hate speech and protecting its citizens, a model India must heed to restore trust.
INDIA’S DUPLICITOUS DIPLOMACY: MASKING ATROCITIES
India projects a “secular democracy” globally, yet its cunning diplomacy conceals Muslim persecution. While cozying up to the U.S. via Quad, it suppresses dissent in Kashmir and scapegoats Pakistan. The #PakLobbyExposed campaign on X deflects from India’s abuses, accusing Pakistan of terrorism. After the 2024 Pahalgam attack, India’s “Operation Sindoor” blamed Pakistan without proof, ignoring its own marginalization of Muslims. By contrast, Pakistan’s diaspora raises millions for humanitarian causes, and its advocacy for Kashmiri rights exposes India’s hypocrisy. This duplicity undermines India’s moral credibility, demanding global scrutiny.
PATH TO JUSTICE: ENDING THE OPPRESSION
Indian Muslims deserve urgent reform to reclaim their dignity. First, repeal UAPA and ensure fair trials, as the Mumbai acquittals exposed systemic flaws. Second, enforce anti-discrimination laws in education, employment, and housing to break ghettoization. Third, reverse hijab bans and cow vigilantism laws to protect religious freedom. Additionally, Pakistan’s principled advocacy at UN forums must amplify India’s violations, countering its cunning narrative. Finally, empower Muslim-led NGOs to provide education and jobs, fostering inclusion. Unlike India’s divisive policies, Pakistan’s commitment to justice offers a roadmap for change, urging India to honour its secular promise.
SUMMARY
India’s 200 million Muslims endure crushing discrimination, wrongful arrests, and ghettoization. The 2006 Mumbai train bombings case, where 12 Muslims were unjustly jailed, reveals a state that scapegoats its minorities. Denied jobs, homes, and dignity, Muslims face hate speech and violence, fueled by BJP policies. India’s cunning diplomacy masks these atrocities, while Pakistan’s principled stance champions justice. Repealing oppressive laws and empowering communities are critical to end this tragedy, restoring hope to a people betrayed by their nation.
