The term ‘fascism’ gained currency mainly after the WW-I, but historically Pharaoh was perhaps the first fascist ruler in the history of mankind who practiced all the elements of fascism including authoritarianism, radicalization, intimidation and violence in suppressing the minority community of the descendants of Israel.

At the international level, the US, North Korea and the like deserve to be bracketed with that notorious group.

In India, Hindutva represents the same ideology of radicalization, authoritarianism, a dubious concept of nationalism and intimidation.

Communal violence is a much bigger threat than terrorism and Hindutva terrorism is lurking as a greater danger. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed anti-Muslim riots that have been taking place at regular intervals.

Some 80 percent of the dead in those riots belonged to the minority community. Though the official figures indicate a death toll of around 15,000 in the communal riots in the last 50 years, the toll might well go up to around 100,000 if unofficial estimates are taken into account.

In terror-related deaths that amount to nearly 35,000, the share of Hindu terrorism is much higher, which is against a general perception of Muslim terrorism. Hindu Naxalites have killed more than 11,000 in the last 30 years and Ulfa have killed over 18,000 in the last two decades. The Muslim-related such acts have killed about 1,500. Though all acts of terrorism must be condemned and those perpetrating such crimes need to be censured socially, the radical Hindus have the audacity to say, “all terrorists are Muslims.”

Let us cite the example of the Dadri incident where Akhlaq was killed on allegation that he was eating beef. Even if the family ate beef, the mob cannot be allowed to take law into its own hands. It is a clear example of how rumors are deliberately spread to incite violence against a particular community.

I think that Muslim intellectuals and organizations need to stop being apologetic and defensive. They must position themselves to be assertive, ever ready to pose questions to them; they should produce all the relevant statistics on communal violence. In any case we must not allow communalism to become the central issue in Indian politics. This will be like playing into the hands of communal forces.