New Delhi: Between Uttar Pradesh and Bengal, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have had a busy week spewing statements which are blatantly communal, target Muslims and can be construed as hate speech.
The ball was set rolling by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath who came to the defence of a police officer in Sambhal who recently asked those who were uncomfortable with colours on Holi – meaning Muslims – to stay home on the day.
Holi coincides with the second Friday of the month of Ramzan, considered holy by Muslims – a fact that has offered the BJP endless fodder for communal statements.
But Holi is not the only reason why BJP leaders have targeted Muslims.
Raghuraj Singh
Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party leader Raghuraj Singh has said that Muslim men should wear hijabs made of tarpaulin to avoid any inconvenience during Holi celebrations on Friday (March 14).
Singh, reported PTI, is chairman of the high-power advisory committee of the labour and employment ministry of the state. His rank is similar to that of a junior minister.
“The administration is on alert in view of Holi celebrations and for the ‘Juma namaz’ (Friday prayers) but some people have their objections. To those people, I would request that like the women there (ostensibly referring to Muslim women) wear hijab, and mosques are covered using tarpaulin, they can make a hijab of tarpaulin for themselves, and can move (from one place to another). They will not face any inconvenience, and will be able to offer namaz easily,” he said.
He said during Holi, which “comes once a year”, one cannot be asked to throw colours within a specific range.
“Their (skull) caps will not get wet. The men can also wear the hijab of tarpaulin. The Hindus should not be inconvenienced,” he stated.
Suvendu Adhikari
On March 11, Bharatiya Janata Party’s Bengal leader of the opposition said that he would “physically throw Muslim MLAs out of the assembly” after the party “forms the next government” in the state.
Bengal is scheduled to go to polls in 2026.
Trinamool Congress, to which party Adhikari belonged until he jumped ship to the BJP in 2020, has called Adhikari’s remarks “hate speech.”
Adhikari was suspended from the assembly on February 17 till the end of budget session.
Last year in July, Adhikari had earned his BJP credo by saying to the party’s executive committee that he was keen to shed the “sabka saath, sabka vikas” tag for Muslims. The BJP slogan translates to ‘with everyone, development for all’.
“I used to talk about nationalist Muslims, you all spoke of sabka saath sabka vikas…Not any more. Now we will say, ‘Jo hamare saath, hum unka saath (we stand with those who support us)’.”
The audience, smarting after the BJP won just 12 seats out of 42 in the state in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections that had just concluded, had cheered loudly.
Ketaki Singh
On March 10, BJP MLA Ketki Singh demanded a separate wing for Muslims in the proposed medical college in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia “so that Hindus can feel safe.”
The Bansdih MLA is the wife of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former head of the wrestling federation who was accused of sexually harassing several wrestlers.
Singh was talking to reporters and was quoted by PTI as having made this request to chief minister Adityanath.
“Muslims should have a separate wing and building in the medical college so that Hindus remain safe. Who knows what they might spit into our food?” she said.
She then appeared to remark that if ‘they’ had a problem ‘staying with us’ – ostensibly Hindus – they could stay in the separate wing.
“Since so much money is being spent anyway, a separate building and wing should be constructed for them. If they have a problem staying with us, they can get treated there,” she said.
It is unclear why Singh referred to Muslims having a problem staying with Hindus, seeing that she was the one who cited reasons for demanding separate wing for Muslims.
Singh also backed Raghuraj Singh (mentioned above).
“Raghuraj ji is absolutely right. If they insist that girls must always wear hijabs and they have such a strong aversion to colours, then they can use hijabs to cover themselves on Holi as well. There is nothing wrong with that. They should stay indoors,” she said.
