**The Plight of Sunali Khatun: A Reflection of India's Majoritarian Project**
Sunali Khatun, a 26-year-old migrant woman, has been at the center of a heated debate in India, highlighting the country's majoritarian project to erase, segregate, or dehumanize Muslims.¹ Khatun's story began in June when she was picked up from Delhi's streets, along with her husband and son, and forced into Bangladesh. This incident is not an isolated one, but rather a symptom of a larger issue that has been ongoing for years.
**A History of Persecution**
The partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 led to one of the largest mass migrations in history, with millions of people crossing the border in both directions.² However, this migration was not without its challenges, and many people were left stateless or forced to flee their homes due to violence and persecution. The 1971 Bangladesh genocide, in which between 300,000 to 3,000,000 Bengalis were killed and 200,000 to 400,000 women were raped, is a stark reminder of the violence and brutality that many people faced during this time.
**The Current Situation**
Today, Muslims in India continue to face persecution and marginalization. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) have been criticized for being discriminatory towards Muslims, and many have been left off the list of citizens, leaving them stateless.³ The police have also been accused of targeting Muslims, with many being arrested and detained without charge.⁴ Sunali Khatun's story is a prime example of this, as she was picked up from the streets and forced into Bangladesh without any evidence of wrongdoing.
**The Role of the Government**
The Indian government has been criticized for its handling of the situation, with many accusing it of being complicit in the persecution of Muslims. The government has denied these allegations, stating that it is committed to protecting the rights of all citizens, regardless of their religion.
Sunali Khatun, a 26-year-old migrant woman, has been at the center of a heated debate in India, highlighting the country's majoritarian project to erase, segregate, or dehumanize Muslims.¹ Khatun's story began in June when she was picked up from Delhi's streets, along with her husband and son, and forced into Bangladesh. This incident is not an isolated one, but rather a symptom of a larger issue that has been ongoing for years.
**A History of Persecution**
The partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 led to one of the largest mass migrations in history, with millions of people crossing the border in both directions.² However, this migration was not without its challenges, and many people were left stateless or forced to flee their homes due to violence and persecution. The 1971 Bangladesh genocide, in which between 300,000 to 3,000,000 Bengalis were killed and 200,000 to 400,000 women were raped, is a stark reminder of the violence and brutality that many people faced during this time.
**The Current Situation**
Today, Muslims in India continue to face persecution and marginalization. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) have been criticized for being discriminatory towards Muslims, and many have been left off the list of citizens, leaving them stateless.³ The police have also been accused of targeting Muslims, with many being arrested and detained without charge.⁴ Sunali Khatun's story is a prime example of this, as she was picked up from the streets and forced into Bangladesh without any evidence of wrongdoing.
**The Role of the Government**
The Indian government has been criticized for its handling of the situation, with many accusing it of being complicit in the persecution of Muslims. The government has denied these allegations, stating that it is committed to protecting the rights of all citizens, regardless of their religion.