A BHARATIYA Janata Party (BJP) member of Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly has propounded a new genetic theory. He says that there is a relationship of direct proportionality between Muslim population growth and heinous crimes such as harassment, rapes and murders.

His panacea for reduction in crime is arresting the rise of the Muslim population. He made no bones in claiming that to forestall the creation of another Pakistan within India, legislation to control unbridled Muslim population was necessary.

This genetic theory is the latest edition to the BJP’s other theories like: (a) followers of all religions, including Islam, should be prohibited from eating beef. (b) It is a sin for a non-Muslim to touch a cow. (c) The cow is called a holy cow as Jesus Christ was born in a cow shed. (d) A cow both inhales and exhales oxygen. (e) Cow urine (gau mootr) and dung (gau gober) have medicinal properties. (f) A cow has equal rights as any other Indian citizen. (g) If beef eating is shunned, crime including lynching would stop.

We should expect more of such high jinks theories as a prelude to Indian parliamentary elections next year.

James Arnold

Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2018