SEVENTY years have passed since partition and this Independence Day is an auspicious moment for India and Pakistan. It is indeed a matter of sadness that the fruits of independence could not be savoured by India and Pakistan.

The partition caused the disintegration of families, breakdown of relations between friends and relatives and to this day we have not found a way to make peace between ourselves.

Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was spot on when he predicted that secularism in India could not thrive for long. Now India’s distressed minorities are beginning to feel the heat. The minorities, particularly the Muslims, have no option except to cower in a corner and hope all is not lost.

Democracy has failed India’s minorities as the majority elects extremists, fanatics and fundamentalists as law makers. The Muslims of India are accused of being Pakistani agents. Respected journalists like Barkha Dutt and Rana Ayyub who speak the truth and expose excesses committed against Muslims or the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir are trolled by Hindu extremists. Muslims are threatened and told to leave India. I pray a day will come when the majority will give up branding people according to their creed and religion.

I really appreciate Pakistan for making their nation a haven for the minorities while this Indian government is doing everything in its power to make things difficult for the minorities.

Pakistan has struggled through all odds to progress and the way India has treated its smaller neighbour is an injustice. I want to tell Pakistan that the ordinary Indian harbours great admiration for Pakistan. It is the hatred of a few that is being represented as mass hatred but the reality is the opposite.

A music group in India has made a warm gesture to strengthen cross-border friendship by singing the Pakistani national anthem Pak Sarzamin and I hope Pakistan will accept it as a gift on this Independence Day because this day is as important for Pakistan as it is for India. And Pakistan should know that we Indians love you.

An Indian

New Delhi, India

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2017