Banarasi | बनारसी

Imagine a country with one of the world’s largest Muslim populations, where Muslims have lived for centuries, yet the state treats their second biggest festival like something alien. As Eid Ul Azha approaches, my timeline is flooded with communal targeting of Muslims by both state and non state actors. What should be a time of celebration is being turned into a spectacle of fear and humiliation for 200 million Indians.

How are we going to deal with this community? Meet Ibrahim. He is a delivery agent who does online deliveries for Amazon. He admits on camera that he leaks the mobile numbers of Hindu women to one Mohammad Shahjad and gets incentives in return. A few days back, a Hindu influencer who visited a social restaurant in Pune's Ferguson Road received a message from a Muslim employee after she merely ordered food using the QR code. What kind of operation is active in Bharat? What are these Islamists up to?

Nine years on from the Manchester Arena terror attack, my thoughts are with those who lost their lives, the survivors, and their loved ones. Last year I was proud to deliver on my promise to Figen Murray to introduce Martyn’s Law, in memory of her son Martyn Hett. Martyn’s Law will help save lives by making sure venues and event spots have clear plans in place and are ready to act if the worst happens.