I have stopped reading the comments following any article in any of the Indian news sites. I feel insulted. No matter what the news is about, the discussions will always boil down to Muslim bashing. These comments are copy-paste by similar usernames/handles, always abusive and always questioning the loyalty of Muslims towards India. They generalise all Muslims as Pakistani supporters who fly the Pak flag whenever there is an Indo-Pak game. Lately, all Indian Muslims are portrayed dying to get hold of ISIS flags or tees by this group of internet commentators. Twitter is notorious for these so-called "Nationalists" with a HDL in the handle. All they do is spew venom against Muslims, brand people as 'sickulars' who dare to confront them and they all support a common leader and the idea of Hindutva. They often have a picture of a Hindu diety or the tricolor as their profile picture. And they are always anonymous.
There are always fringe elements in all communities. This is true for the Indian Muslim community too. I too do not understand why they raise the Pakistani flag or wear ISIS tee-shirts. I would be the first one to support the Indian Government if they decide to revoke their Indian citizenship and put them in jail or charge them for sedition. But am sure these numbers can be counted at the finger tips and very miniscule. They do not represent the huge population of Muslims in India.
However what these abusive Nationalists do not see are the lakhs of Indian Muslims who proudly wave the Indian tricolor in the stadiums, cheer the Indian team in any sport, fight against the enemies in the borders representing the Indian Armed Forces or stand up and sing the National Anthem whenever it is played.
They cannot see because this majority of Indian Muslims do not wear a skull cap or a beard when they are flying the Indian tricolor or singing the Indian National Anthem. This majority cannot be distinguished from an Indian Hindu because they do not wear their religion on their sleeves.
So why label an entire community as traitors for a minuscule few? This propaganda must stop if you really consider yourself to be a Nationalist. As a Nationalist, you are supposed to build the nation. Not break it apart.
I am an Indian Muslim. I love India. I do not need to prove my loyalty by waving the Indian flag while wearing a skull cap and sporting a beard. I am loyal to India in my heart. You just failed to recognize me for I do not fit the stereotype. And I am not the only one.
Disclaimer: I am not a writer. I can't use flowery language and bombastic words to enliven the article. I am just an average Indian who is trying to express how he feels.
