Ilhan Omar’s big allegation on India: Country in ‘8th stage of Genocide’? Know the whole controversy

These days, political and social polarization is increasing in America and many parts of the world. Meanwhile, the debate regarding immigrants is also heated. Amidst this environment, US Parliament Member (MP) Ilhan Omar has once again given a very controversial statement regarding India. Speaking at an event organized by the ‘Indian American Muslim Council’ (IAMC) in June, Omar alleged that India has currently reached the ‘eighth stage of genocide’. Although this program took place on June 7, but recently when the video of this speech went viral on social media, a new debate has started on it. Let us tell you that both Ilhan Omar, who is from the American Democratic Party, and IAMC have strongly criticized India’s policies many times in the past.

What is Ilhan Omar’s ‘8th step’ claim?

In her speech, Ilhan Omar cited a theory by Gregory H. Stanton, an expert on genocide cases and founder of ‘Genocide Watch’. Stanton has created a 10-stage framework to explain how genocide spreads in any society. According to this model, the eighth stage is ‘oppression’. According to Stanton, in this stage minority communities are systematically targeted by the government or large sections of society. This includes violation of their human rights, arrests or killings without legal process, snatching of land and property, forcing them to live in isolated settlements or depriving them of basic things like food, water and medical treatment. Omar alleged that all this is happening on a large scale in India. He also said, ‘We have to keep warning about this. The situation in India is not limited only to the Modi government, but it is now becoming a part of the society and system there.

What do the statistics and history say?

In contrast to these serious allegations by Ilhan Omar, India’s figures and ground reality tell a different story. Critics and experts say that such false agendas are often run to defame India. Since independence till today, the population of Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and other minority communities in India has continuously increased. This is proof that they have got equal opportunities to flourish. In both the history and present of India, minorities have graced the highest positions of the country. In India, the President, Vice President, Prime Minister (like Dr. Manmohan Singh), Chief Justice and Army Chief are from minority communities. Apart from this, the participation of minorities in India’s elections and political system is as strong as that of any other citizen.

Position of neighboring countries vs India

India’s Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had given a big statement on this entire controversy in May. He had clearly said that India is one of the safest and inclusive countries in the world for minorities. Comparing it with the rest of the countries of the Indian subcontinent, he said, ‘When we look at India’s neighbours, the minorities living there (like Hindus, Sikhs and Christians) have to struggle a lot to save their lives and religion. Due to religious persecution in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, the number of minorities there has continuously decreased. In such a situation, the persecuted people of these countries have always found refuge, security and respect only by coming to India.