Muslims have taken to the streets across India in recent weeks to protest the anti-Islamic comments of two members of the ruling Hindu nationalist party Bharatiya Janata (BJP). Some in India’s Muslim minority see the comments as the latest case of pressure and humiliation under the BJP rule on issues ranging from freedom of worship to the use of hijab headscarves. The BJP suspended its spokesman, Nupur Sharma, and expelled another leader, Naveen Kumar Jindal, for the comments, which also sparked diplomatic controversy with many Muslim countries. Police have filed charges against the two and the government has said the comments do not reflect its views. Muslim groups have called for their arrest, and some hardline Hindu groups have called them brave and nationalist politicians. Over the weekend, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered officials to demolish any illegal buildings and homes of people accused of involvement in riots there last week, a BJP spokesman said. The home of a suspected rioter whose daughter is a Muslim Muslim rights activist was demolished amid heavy police presence Sunday. The property of two more people accused of throwing stones after Friday prayers was also demolished in the state. Mrityunjay Kumar, Adityanath’s media consultant, posted a photo on Twitter of a bulldozer demolishing a building, saying: “Remember the unruly elements, every Friday is followed by a Saturday.” Opposition leaders said the Adityanath government was pursuing unconstitutional tactics to silence protesters. Subscribe to the First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am On Sunday, Jidal said his family was under constant threat and some of his followers said a slow bomb had been defused near his New Delhi home. The Prime Minister, Narendra Monti, has not yet commented on the community unrest.
