New Delhi: After the Modi government came to power for the third time, the minorities faced increasing incidents of intimidation, harassment and violence at the hands of the majority Hindu organizations.
Recently, anti-Muslim policies have been introduced in Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh under the guise of ensuring health and safety regulations.
This anti-Muslim discrimination policy requires restaurants to publicly disclose the names of all their employees.
This policy was first introduced by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a Hindutva advocate, which has since been implemented in Himachal Pradesh as well.
Local people and activists claim that the new laws are actually a conspiratorial attack on Muslim activists and institutions under the guise of bigotry and hatred.
Muslim business owners worry that the policy will open the door to targeted attacks or economic boycotts by hardline Hindu groups such as the Bajrang Dal, risking a severe downturn in their businesses.
India has seen an increase in incidents against Muslim shopkeepers in the last five years. A video of a state leader of Bajrang Dal surfaced last month.
In the video, the Bajrang Dal leader is asking attendees to take a pledge not to buy goods from any Muslim shopkeeper.
The newly implemented law is part of the BJP’s anti-Muslim agenda, which is trying to spread fear and divide the society.
Business owners in Uttar Pradesh said they have fired Muslim staff as a result of the new laws, fearing they will become easy targets for Hindutva supporters.
Other Muslim-controlled businesses revealed that they are being severely harassed by the brutal policy, and some are being forced to close their businesses.
Rafiq, a Muslim owner of a restaurant in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, said; “I had to fire my Muslim staff because I was very concerned for their safety after this order.”
Rafiq said, “This discriminatory policy is a dangerous conspiracy that is trying to cripple Muslims economically and divide them on the basis of hatred! “
Idris Ahmed, who worked as a cook in a Hindu restaurant for seven years, has been fired
“I used to do this job to support my family and I lost this job just because of my religion”,
Idris Ahmed said that how long will the Modi government continue to make Muslims victims of discriminatory policies?
