Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, known for his communal hate towards the Muslim community and for being more vociferous in attacking Muslim institutions than focusing on the welfare of his state, once again targeted Muslims by claiming that Hindus were not safe in Muslim-majority areas amid an alarming rise in attacks on Muslims in Uttar Pradesh.
It is in Uttar Pradesh that Muslims have been attacked the most in the Hindi belt in the form of mob lynching, mob attacks, and the authorities ordering the demolition of Muslim residences and institutions, often defying Supreme Court orders and often in the name of cow slaughter, while attackers and culprits are spared, and the victims are left to bear the clutches of the law, often facing sedition charges.
His statements, which implied that Hindus might not be safe in Muslim-majority areas, have drawn sharp criticism, with many viewing them as an extension of his longstanding Islamophobic rhetoric. The chief minister’s remarks were made in an interview with Smita Prakash for Asian News International (ANI), The Siasat Daily reported.
Adityanath has a history of making inflammatory comments about the Muslim community, and his latest assertions align with his broader pattern of positioning Hindus as victims of demographic shifts and historical grievances.
While his supporters argue that he is highlighting concerns over religious demographics, critics contend that such statements exacerbate existing communal discord and embolden elements that engage in hate crimes.
Under Adityanath’s leadership, Uttar Pradesh has seen policies and governance strategies that many believe have fostered an environment hostile to Muslims, with incidents of hate speech and targeted violence becoming more frequent.
His administration has been accused of using religious rhetoric to consolidate support among Hindu voters, and his past comments on issues like religious conversions and demographic shifts have only added to the growing anxieties within the Muslim community.
The controversial stance he has taken on religious festivals and public processions, particularly his remarks equating Hindu and Muslim observances, has been perceived as an attempt to assert a particular vision of cultural dominance.
Despite claims that communal riots have been curbed under his tenure, official crime data indicates a rise in hate speech cases in Uttar Pradesh, which recorded the highest number of such incidents in the country. The National Crime Records Bureau’s 2022 report revealed a sharp increase in cases, pointing to a concerning trend in communal tensions.
Observers argue that the chief minister’s rhetoric, combined with policies that often appear exclusionary, has contributed to an atmosphere where religious minorities feel increasingly marginalised.