The conversation around blasphemy has begun, and that’s not good news for Islamists

Blasphemy is defined as an insult to a religion that shows contempt, disrespect, or lack of reverence concerning a deity, an object sacred, or something inviolable. Religious rigidity over the years in some communities has given rise to such ideas. The conflict-related to any abomination of the religion has sometimes resulted in violence and beheadings of people who are accused of blasphemy. Although Hinduism does not conflict with any interpretation or commentaries of its religion but Abrahamic religions do have some sort of reservations with any contempt for their religion. That’s why there has always been a trend to disrespect or insult every religious identity, deities, or ritual of Hindus and get away without any consequences. But the recent rise of debate to make a strong blasphemy law will only make the situation difficult for those who think it is their fundamental right to abuse Hindus and their religion.

VHP demands the law against blasphemy

The recent storm created after the alleged derogatory statement of BJP leader Nupur Sharma has given rise to debate on the law related to blasphemy. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders are now raising their voices to make strong laws against blasphemy.

VHP spokesperson, Vijay Shankar Tiwari demanding a law for blasphemy said that “In India, there is a great need for strict law on blasphemy now”. Raising the earlier stances of insults to Hindu deities he said “Hindu beliefs have been insulted in Kashi by calling Shivling a fountain in public, now it remains to be seen what action will be taken with them”.

Another VHP spokesperson, Vinod Bansal in a tweet exposing the anti-Hindu stance of the Qatar government said that “Love for MF Hussain, anti-Hindu anti-nation and rant on Nupur Sharma..!! Wow, Qatar government.. #Boycott Qatar Airways”.

Speaking against the roar over Nupur Sharma’s statement, He said “In a democratic country, what if not animals, cruelty and barbarism on the streets except the courts? Some people go out with the noose of the gallows and put them around the neck of the infidel found..!!”

Read More: Blasphemy: An open license to kill non-Muslims in Pakistan

Consequences of strict anti-blasphemy law

The substantive law on criminal offenses, the Indian Penal Code 1860 in chapter XV, Offenses relating to religion has almost tried to cover all the aspects of religious insult. Section 295 (Injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class), 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 296 (Disturbing religious assembly), 297(Trespassing on burial places, etc.) and 298 (Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings) of IPC have made proper arrangements for defining any religious insult and punishment for the offense.

The provisions till now have not been effectively used against any citizens due to the existence of proper checks in the form of fundamental rights. Article 19 (Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc) and Article 25 (Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion) has effectively made sure that people are not punished due to the expression of their ideas on religion.

Read More: ‘This is against Islam,’ Blasphemy case filed against Pakistan’s ex-foreign minister for saying ‘all religions are equal

But the Nupur Sharma episode has shown that Islamist intolerance behavior and street protests, beheading, and rape threats have given rise to counter-reaction from Hindu communities. Now Hindus have started to demand strong action against those who have previously insulted and maligned Hindu deities, rituals, and identities. Moreover, the religious discrimination and shaming Hindus face all over the world have not matched to others. If strict blasphemy laws are enacted and enforced in India, it will prove to be a nightmare for not only Islamists but the whole liberal, Islamist, and leftist lobby who continuously try to malign every identity of Hindus.

The sacredness or purity of a religious idea and its associated identities are subject to the interpretation of its commentators and their commentaries. With the evolution of time, religious ideas have also changed and reformed in that regressive ideas have made the modern and ancient ideas live in a compatible manner. But sustaining such religious intolerance of Islamists is an effort to bring back the medieval culture.

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