Shafaqna India: Suhel Mansuri, marked by the scars of Hindu-Muslim clashes that claimed numerous lives in his area of India’s capital in 2020, expressed that his vote in the national elections on Saturday was a choice for “harmony and unity” amidst escalating religious divisions.
During the riots in Delhi’s densely populated district, Mansuri and his brother were surrounded by a mob and subjected to brutal beatings with iron rods and bricks, resulting in multiple bone fractures.
Saturday’s election marks the first since the riots, where at least 53 individuals, predominantly Muslims, lost their lives and over 500 were injured during days of street violence involving swords, firearms, and arson attacks on buildings.
“I never want anyone to experience such suffering again,” stated Mansuri, 29, a Muslim who operates a small clothing business in the Mustafabad area.
“People tend to forget our shared humanity when they are swayed by divisive speeches.”
Much of India’s extensive seven-phase voting process leading up to June 1 has been overshadowed by rhetoric centered on religion and social disparities, with accusations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for targeting minority Muslim communities in their campaign.
The Northeast Delhi constituency had elected a BJP representative in the previous two national elections, in 2014 and 2019.
Modi, expected to potentially secure his third consecutive term as India’s prime minister, made references to Muslims as “infiltrators” and insinuated that they have “more children” in a recent speech.
Although he later refuted claims of targeting the group, which comprises approximately 200 million of India’s predominantly Hindu population of 1.4 billion.
“I aim to vote for peace and fraternity. It seems unlikely that the BJP will gain much support here,” remarked Mansuri, a sentiment echoed by voters in Mustafabad, including some Hindus.
Mithilesh, a 42-year-old Hindu woman who provided only her first name, recounted her fear during the riots when two youths were fatally stabbed on her street while she and her daughter-in-law remained locked inside their home.
“We could hear their cries and feared for our safety. Our Member of Parliament at the time belonged to the BJP, who seeks votes again, but we will not support him.”
Sabir Ali, a 42-year-old Muslim tailor, dismissed Modi’s speeches as mere political rhetoric.
“But if he assumes that Muslims will still vote for him despite these speeches, then he is mistaken.”
In the neighboring Jaffarabad area, 36-year-old Muslim grocery store owner Wasim Raja expressed inflation as his primary concern, as his business suffered setbacks.
“The Hindu-Muslim issue has always been there, and we are all supporting Congress this time, but despite that, the BJP will likely emerge victorious,” he stated.
Support for the BJP, anticipated to reclaim power, remained strong in Hindu-majority neighborhoods, with voters citing national pride and praising India’s economic progress.
“Hindus have become more aware now because of Modi, and this enthusiasm will not diminish,” asserted 48-year-old Akash Kumar Kashyap, who operates a transport business in the Bhajanpura area.
