India has become a Muslim-hating country, says former IAS officer
New Delhi: Former senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Avay Shukla has said that India is heading toward an existential crisis due to the growing Islamophobia, fueled by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to Kashmir Media Service, in an interview with a local news broadcaster, Shukla criticized the BJP’s divisive policies that have normalized hate and discrimination against Muslims.
Shukla stated that nearly 40% of India’s population harbors anti-Muslim sentiments and lamented the failure of key institutions including the media, judiciary, and government to challenge or counter this growing wave of intolerance.
He condemned the BJP’s election strategies, particularly in states like Maharashtra and Jharkhand, where Muslim communities were targeted in campaign rhetoric.
Shukla described the inflammatory slogans of BJP leaders as ‘commands to incite violence’ and criticized the party’s controversial election ad in Jharkhand, which depicted Muslims attacking Hindu homes. He also denounced the Election Commission for failing to take strong action against the advertisement.
Shukla said that Indian media is responsible for failing to challenge dangerous narratives, such as those promoted by Home Minister Amit Shah, who referred Muslims as infiltrators. He said that the media’s silence has allowed the government’s divisive rhetoric to go unchallenged.
In his closing remarks, Shukla warned that the increasing marginalization of Muslims could eventually push the country down a dangerous path. He emphasized that India’s future depends on a change in political leadership but expressed skepticism about the likelihood of such a shift in the near future.
