Jiziya imposed on Sikhs by Pakistani Taliban

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=5f3598b0-86cc-47cc-845e-c4f0d2dfa283&Headline=Sikhs+in+Pakistan+pay+Rs+20+mn+to+Taliban

Pakistan’s Sikh community in Orakzai Agency has been forced to pay Rs. 20 millions as Jiziya (religious poll tax on non-Muslims) by the Pakistani Taliban. They have been threatened that, unless they pay Jiziya, their lives and property will be forfeit and no security shall be provided to them.

This is exactly what Islam is. I had thought that such practices have been destroyed by the advent of the 21st century. Unfortunately, these Islamic mullahs seem to have never come out of the medieval ages. Reforms in religion are very important. Religion must be moulded to suit the society’s needs. The Muslim leaders do not believe so and whenever any one of them becomes ‘progressive’, the radicals bring him/her down and re-impose the Shariat.
The Sikh community in Pakistan has faced the reality of an ‘Islamic’ nation. While it is true that many Islamic nations have anti-minority policies, this is the first time that Jiziya has been imposed in a country claiming to be a democratic nation. The current Government of Pakistan has not raised its voice against this extremism which shows that they are partners in the crime or they simply do not care about the non-Muslims.

This episode is a warning bell to the entire world. If we do not heed to it, we may be forced to see a rule similar to that of Aurangzeb where jiziya on non-Muslims and destruction of temples will be the rule of the land.

May India wake up to this reality and protect herself so that such things do not occur in India’s Muslim majority areas. After all, similar incidents are already taking place in India. 

There is a municipality in Tamil Nadu called Melvishaaram and it is a Muslim majority locality. The municipality has a division called Raasathipuram which is populated by the Hindus. This ‘Hindu area’ is not provided with basic amenities like road, water etc by the municipality. The Muslims have openly stated that those people should convert to Islam if they wish to have access to basic amenities. A legal case has been filed by the Hindus of the area to demand the partition of the municipality so that the Hindu area becomes a separate Panchayat unit. Political parties in Tamil Nadu do not even speak about this issue for the ‘fear’ of losing ‘minority votes’.

Such situations will occur again and again until we, Hindus, wake up to the reality and stop such atrocious activities. We are being victimised in our own nation. When will we wake up?
May Goddess Bharati lead us to a peaceful future where we may live in pride and without fear.