India's opposition parties demand end to growing mob violence

NEW DELHI - India's opposition parties have issued a joint call against growing mob violence and hate speech against Muslims in the country.

"We strongly condemn the recent outburst of communal violence witnessed across several states in the country. We are deeply concerned, as reports indicate that there is a sinister pattern in the areas where these incidents have occurred," read a joint statement issued on Saturday by 13 political parties.

Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi are among the states that have seen attacks against Muslims and their properties by Hindu nationalist groups.

"We are extremely anguished at the manner in which issues related to food, dress, faith, festivals and language are being deliberately used by sections of the ruling establishment to polarise our society. We are extremely concerned with the growing incidents of hate speech in the country by people, who appear to have official patronage and against whom no meaningful and strong action is being taken," the joint statement said.

Its signatories included Congress party president Sonia Gandhi, Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K.Stalin, Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav.

The opposition leaders said they were "shocked at the silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the communal violence by "private armed mobs". - BERNAMA