Brutal killings in the name of religion, caste: Talibanistion, mobocracy seeking to replace our vibrant democracy

Counterview Desk
Recent incidents of lynching, mobbing and beef ban have raised a sense of insecurity and loss of trust towards the current government in power, believes Voluntary Action Network of India (VANI), an umbrella organisation of voluntary organizations. Text of the joint statement on behalf of civil society organizations (CSOs) in favour of #notinmyname protests issued by VANI:
The beauty of India has always been its diversity and co-existence. Various thinkers and preachers have always defined it is bouquet rather than single flower, because many faiths, cultures and sub-groups lived and flourished. We as a country had witnessed disturbances in the past but the threat to social fabric was never witnessed as it is today.

The fear and respect of law is being replaced by mobocracy. In recent times the country has witnessed brutal killings on the name of religion, caste or groupings. Dalits, Muslims or even government officials performing their duties are being targeted and has perpetuated a sense of fear and alienation among these groups. The response to the “Not in my Name” protests all over the country lead us to believe that a significant number of people are alarmed by this growing trend.

Is this not a Talibanistion of our most vibrant democracy which is house to billions of people? The rises of such incidents make it evident that they can no longer be regarded as isolated events, but as a result of political agenda of hate and divisiveness.

On one hand, such incidents are fueled by irresponsible statements and hate speeches from government spokespersons and fringe elements. On the other, lack of strong government action has further emboldened these targeted killings which are carried out sometimes in the name of beef, sometimes over the fear of unknown as in the case of killing of Kashmiri officer.

As civil society organizations working with the marginalized sections and towards the protection of human rights, we believe that these incidents will have far reaching implications on the social fabric of the nation. The failure of law enforcement to prevent these mob killings and public apathy is generating a feeling of helplessness amongst people. Thus we look up to government to enforce laws to prevent such hate crimes and ensure rehabilitation's of the victims and their families.

VANI and its members strongly condemn such actions. We also feel that deafening silence of government and society at large is going to harm everyone. We must remind ourselves that India is house to the oldest human civilisation, which has not only survived but also flourished for centuries. Government inaction, failure of law enforcement to prevent these mob killings and public apathy and fear is generating a feeling of helplessness amongst people.

We look to the Government of India to uphold the rule of law and take necessary action to prevent such hate crimes. The government should not only ensure punishment for the perpetrators and instigators, but also rehabilitation of victims and their families.
VANI would also like to appeal to each and every citizen of the country to come forward in what ever way they can to preserve the essence of India, Indian civilisation is melting pot of all cultures, religions and castes and one has to work towards it. The intellectuals, business, media and civil society should come forward and speak for it as keeping silent is not an excuse.
---
Contact email: infogwanindia.org, website:www.vanindia.org

Comments

The golden crop: How turmeric is transforming women's lives in tribal India

By Vikas Meshram* When the lush green fields of turmeric sway in the tribal belt of southern Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, it is not merely a spice crop — it is the golden glow of self-reliance. In villages where even basic spices once had to be bought from the market, the very soil today is yielding a prosperity that has transformed the lives of thousands of families. At the heart of this transformation is the initiative of Vaagdhara, which has linked turmeric with livelihoods, nutrition, and village self-governance — gram swaraj.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Authoritarian destruction of the public sphere in Ecuador: Trumpism in action?

By Pilar Troya Fernández The situation in Ecuador under Daniel Noboa's government is one of authoritarianism advancing on several fronts simultaneously to consolidate neoliberalism and total submission to the US international agenda. These are not isolated measures, but rather a coordinated strategy that combines job insecurity, the dismantling of the welfare state, unrestricted access to mining, the continuation of oil exploitation without environmental considerations, the centralization of power through the financial suffocation of local governments, and the systematic criminalization of all forms of opposition and popular organization.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Rajiv Shah Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Echoes of Vietnam and Chile: The devastating cost of the I-A Axis in Iran

By Ram Puniyani The recent joint military actions by Israel and the United States against Iran have been devastating. Like all wars, this conflict is brutal to its core, leaving a trail of human suffering in its wake. The stated pretext for this aggression—the brutality of the Ayatollah Khamenei regime and its nuclear ambitions—clashes sharply with the reality of the diplomatic landscape. Iran had expressed a willingness to remain at the negotiating table, signaling a readiness to concede points emerging from dialogue.

False claim? What Venezuela is witnessing is not surrender but a tactical retreat

By Manolo De Los Santos The early morning hours of January 3, 2026, marked an inflection point in Venezuela and Latin America’s centuries-long struggle for self-determination and independence. Operation Absolute Resolve, ordered by the Trump administration, constituted the most brutal and direct military assault on a sovereign state in the region in recent memory. In a shocking operation that left hundreds dead, President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores were illegally kidnapped from Venezuelan soil and transported to the United States, where they now face fabricated charges in a New York federal detention facility. In the two months since this act of war, a torrent of speculation has emerged from so-called experts and pundits across the political spectrum. This has followed three main lines: One . The operation’s success indicated treason at the highest levels of the Bolivarian Revolution. Two . Acting President Delcy Rodríguez and the remaining leadership have abandone...

The selective memory of a violent city: Uttam Nagar and the invisible victims of Delhi

By Sunil Kumar* Hundreds of murders take place in Delhi every year, yet only a few incidents become topics of nationwide discussion. The question is: why does this happen? Today, the incident in Uttam Nagar has become the centre of national debate. A 26-year-old man, Tarun Kumar, was killed following a dispute that reportedly began after a balloon hit a small child. In several colonies of Delhi, slogans such as “Jai Shri Ram” and “Vande Mataram” are being raised while demanding the death penalty for Tarun’s killers. As a result, nearly 50,000 residents of Hastsal JJ Colony are now living in what resembles a state of confinement.

The price of silence: Why Modi won’t follow Shastri, appeal for sacrifice

By Arundhati Dhuru, Sandeep Pandey* In 1965, as India grappled with war and a crippling food crisis, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri faced a United States that used wheat shipments under the PL-480 agreement as a lever to dictate Indian foreign policy. Shastri’s response remains legendary: he appealed to the nation to skip one meal a day. Millions of middle-class households complied, choosing temporary hunger over the sacrifice of national dignity. Today, India faces a modern equivalent in the energy sector, yet the leadership’s response stands in stark contrast to that era of self-reliance.

Love letters in a lifelong war: Babusha Kohli’s resistance in verse

By Ravi Ranjan* “War does not determine who is right—only who is left.” Bertrand Russell’s words echo hauntingly in our times, and few contemporary Hindi poets embody this truth as profoundly as Babusha Kohli. Emerging from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Kohli has carved a unique space in literature by weaving together tenderness, protest, and philosophy across poetry, prose, and cinema. Her work is not merely artistic expression—it is resistance, refuge, and a call for peace.

Search This Blog