Ex-Indian navy chief Admiral Ramdas.

India’s former navy chief Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee to “stem the rot” of attacks on minorities and Dalits (lower castes) and restore people’s faith in democracy.

“The Hinduism I knew and experienced was gentle, inclusive, and filled with extraordinary diversity,” Ramdas said in an open letter.

Ramdas, who won the Magsaysay award for peace, also emphasized how certain communities are being “singled out for special attention.”

“Today, a Muslim has to prove his or her loyalty, and they are being repeatedly put in a situation where their places of worship are under attack, as indeed their eating habits, and other basic freedoms,” the letter reads.

Ramdas joined navy at the age of 15 and headed it between 1990 and 1993. “Today, as a veteran in my eighties, I am forced to hang my head in shame as I witness a series of incidents and assaults on our fellow citizens, especially minorities and Dalits.”

The letter, dated Oct. 22, to which Ramdas pointedly added “Vijaya Dashami,” was released to the media on Saturday.

“So why are we bearing witness to increasing attacks on minorities across the country, ever since the present government came to power in May 2014? It appears that certain communities are being singled out for special attention — for instance Muslims. Today a Muslim has to prove his or her loyalty, and they are being repeatedly put in a situation where their places of worship are under attack, as indeed their eating habits, and other basic freedoms. The instances of completely unacceptable and unilateral mob behavior leading to many deaths as well as direct insinuations being made by senior leaders, are too numerous and well known to be repeated.”

He said: “There seems to be a systematic and well orchestrated attempt to impose a majoritarian single point agenda of creating a Hindu Rashtra in India — led by the RSS and their network of groups, which is disturbing to say the least. This in turn has resulted in a dangerous pattern of mob behavior including intimidating and lynching people merely on the basis of rumors — in total disregard for the established rule of law. In many cases those responsible for implementing the law, have themselves displayed blatant partisan tendencies and behavior.”

He said: “Most shocking of all is the fact there has been no unambiguous condemnation of such actions and behavior by those at the helm of affairs in the country. Sadly, time and time again, the response of the government seems to indicate an almost studied, but certainly not benign, indifference. The co-ordinated response of those in government seems to be to downplay the serious and vicious nature of these allegations and attacks — by terming them ‘sad’ and ‘unfortunate’ — whereas there should be outrage and a demonstrated will to ensure that this society will not tolerate such behavior. That there are MPs, Cabinet ministers and elected chief ministers who are in the forefront of these comments and actions, leads one to believe that the ruling party and its satellite organizations are working to a plan.”

He warned: “I do not need to point out to the top leadership today, that this is playing with fire in a nation where minorities — especially Muslims and Christians, as also Dalits and adivasis, are already feeling discriminated and marginalized. Instead of treating this amazing diversity as our strength, today we are being seen by the international community as increasingly insular, parochial, intolerant, racist and even fascist. The violence visited upon vulnerable sections reinforces the image of India as an imperfect democracy where all forms of dissent are discouraged and human rights trampled upon with impunity.”

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