Politics of hate? Conversion, love jihad being 'whipped up' with eye on assembly polls

By A Representative 
The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has called religious conversion and love jihad are “non-issues” that are being raised because of their "potential to polarize the society on communal and religious lines" in view of the forthcoming elections to five State assemblies, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Goa and Manipur, which are just a few months away.
Without naming BJP, talking with media, senior JIH office bearers vice president Prof Mohammad Salim Enginner and secretary Mohammed Ahmed said, some political parties feel they can’t go to the people to seek votes again as they have failed on all fronts and hence, they are raising emotional issues for political gains. They are simply trying to divert attention from the real issues facing the nation
Expressing concern over the incidents of hate crimes in the country, Prof Engineer said, the frequency of hate crimes, cow vigilantism and mob lynching has "increased" of late because of failure to taken against the culprits involved in such crimes, adding, atrocities against Dalits and minorities have increased a sense of insecurity among the marginalized sections of the society.
“Those engaging in these nefarious activities to create communal strife feel emboldened as no action is taken against them and they become confident to carry out further crimes knowing that they can continue to spread hatred and commit acts of violence without attracting any punishment by the law enforcement machinery”, he said.
Replying to a question about a request for ‘President’s police medal for gallantry’ made by police officer Ved Prakash Surya, who was photographed in a video with BJP leader Kapil Mishra when the latter made a provocative speech at a pro-CAA rally in Northeast Delhi last year, JIH secretary Ahmed said, “it is very disturbing. Earlier, too, PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) personnel were found conniving in the communal forces but they had never demanded medals for it."
“But it is very disappointing that policemen who failed in curbing riots are demanding medals. Northeast Delhi was burning for three days, resulting into death of 53 innocent persons, injuries to hundreds of others and destruction of properties worth hundreds of crores of rupees. Policemen having failed in carrying out their duty be punished”, he added.
Pointing out that Home Minister Amit shah had admitted in Parliament that North-East Delhi riots were planned and executed by outsiders, Ahmed demanded, “The government must identify and punish the real perpetrators of the violence. But I don’t hope the government would accept our demand.”