By Nirendra Dev
New Delhi, May 25 (UNI) A Pakistan-born intellectual and writer Mobarak Haider has said that the
"process of pampering the Muslims" has hurt Hindus and others in Europe and America and the phenomenon has also harmed the minority community.
This, he suggested must be looked upon in the context of the massive mandate given to the BJP in the recently held polls.
"The process of pampering the Muslims has brought pain to the majorities of India, Europe and America. But not only that. It has also brought great harm to Muslims who have wasted their energies and resources for the last hundred years running after a mirage," said Mr Haider.
Mr Haider, author of what is considered to be bold books such as 'Taliban: the Tip of a Holy Iceberg',
in his analysis on Indian elections said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's landslide victory has proved once more that 'Political Correctness' is not so correct after all. Those who believe in democracy should congratulate him with an open heart."
"However hard one may grudge it, the truth is that Liberal Left has little contact with reality. They fail to see that nations love to assert their identity through nationalism," he said.
Known for his candid observation, in July 2018 after Imran Khan's election as Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Haider has said - despite a hype created by Pakistani establishment that Imran Khan's electoral victory would herald a 'new Pakistan' - more important will be to bring about transition in "unchanging psyche".
"It is an unchanging psyche. You may change the Shah of Iran with an Imam, replace Nawaz Sharif with an Imran Khan; nothing will change for the better because dogma remains supreme," Haider had told UNI in an email interview.
In the changing dynamics after the 2019 general elections in India, Mr Haider has said -"We may call these nations fascists, racists, or Islamophobes, but they will not embrace our phony slogans of globalism".
He further said, "However hard the Muslims and Liberal Left may grudge it, revival of old religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity is a reality of this century".
To a question, he said, "But who kicked these religions out of their peaceful sleep? Causes are complex and tragic, but everywhere we see movements for the revival of Caliphate and Sharia provoking the believers of older religions. And then we see liberals of the West and of India supporting these wrong Muslim movements."
Meanwhile, another Pakistani intellectual and a former diplomat Touqir Hussain has said there should not be room for much optimism in improving Indo-Pak relations aftermath Mr Modi's re-election.
"Will the neighbours start talking again? Certainly. But will their dialogue amount to anything? I am afraid not," he wrote in an article in 'Dawn'.
"The shadow of history has darkened the two countries’ view of each other. The burden of the past continues to oppress the present making the relationship resistant to change. What makes change still harder are their foreign policies, resting on conflicting identities and national purposes and moving in colliding orbits," writes Hussain.
He also wrote - "Modi’s hard line on Pakistan is not exceptional" and hastened to point out that - Modi’s "negativity towards Pakistan is an asset in his relations with the US on which his foreign policy pivots".
"And at home (India) Modi has played up the militancy issue to harden the existing public attitudes towards Pakistan," he notes.
Prime Minister Modi on Thursday had responded positively to the 'peace' gestures from his Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan and said he has always given "primacy" to peace and development in the region.
"Thank you PM Imran Khan. I warmly express my gratitude for your good wishes. I have always given primacy to peace and development in our region," Mr Modi tweeted.
Earlier in the day, Mr Khan congratulated Mr Modi on the electoral victory of the BJP and its allies.
"Looking forward to work with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia," Mr Imran Khan tweeted shortly after it became clear that the BJP and its NDA constituents were heading for a landslide victory and return to power.
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