By Syed Sujeel Ahmed
BENGALURU—In a recent interview with journalist Sohit Mishra on his YouTube channel, SM Official, Mumbai-based journalist and activist Raju Parulekar issued a stark warning about the rising discrimination and hostility faced by Muslims in India. “Over the past decade, a disturbing pattern has emerged, one that targets the Muslim community with increasing violence and prejudice,” Parulekar said, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. His words highlighted the urgent need for action to prevent the nation from descending into further social turmoil.
The interview was set against the backdrop of a recent incident in which an elderly Muslim man was verbally abused, thrashed and accused of carrying beef while travelling on a train from Chalisgaon Junction to Kalyan, in Maharashtra State. Parulekar noted that this attack was not an isolated case. “This is not an anomaly, but part of a larger, more insidious trend of systemic discrimination and targeted violence against Muslims,” he stated. He also pointed out that this ideology traces back to M. S. Golwalkar and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, the influential patriarchs of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Ideological roots of the growing hostility towards Muslims
Parulekar was candid in pointing out the source of the hatred, placing blame at the feet of the country’s political leadership. “From the highest echelons of power to local communities, Muslims are increasingly being demonized,” he said. According to Parulekar, this demonization is not based on facts but on a constructed narrative that paints Muslims as criminals and outsiders. He drew a direct line to the 2002 Gujarat riots, describing them as a “laboratory” where these dangerous prejudices were tested and solidified. Parulekar referenced theories like that of Justice Nanavati and others, which now suggest that the fire in the Godhra train tragedy may have been ignited from within, further fuelling Islamophobia in India.
In the interview with Sohit Mishra, Raju Parulekar delves deep into the ideological roots of the growing hostility towards Muslims in India, drawing connections to the philosophies of Golwalkar and Savarkar.
According to Parulekar, both Golwalkar and Savarkar viewed Muslims, Christians, and Communists as enemy number 1, 2 and 3. Parulekar emphasized that Muslims were projected as enemies only to bolster the political strength of those in power today. He questioned the selective acceptance of Muslims, asking, “What do you mean when you say A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the former President, was a ‘patriot Muslim’? “What does that imply, do we even know?”
Parulekar expressed concern over how rapists in the Bilkis Bano case were celebrated and garlanded upon their release, instead of being condemned and punished, drawing direct link to philosophies of Golwalkar and Savarkar.
BJP leaders’ hypocrisy in beef consumption and bulldozing Muslims’ houses
He argued that hatred has been sown in the minds of RSS cult, highlighting the hypocrisy, Parulekar pointed to states like Goa and in the Northeast, where BJP leaders openly support beef consumption while demonizing Muslims for it elsewhere. Islamophobia wasn’t a part of India ten years ago, but it has now taken root. Dangerous narratives like, ‘He is a Muslim, but he’s a nice person,’ are propagated without a second thought about what such statements truly imply.”
“The issue goes far beyond disputes over beef or terrorism accusations,” Parulekar argued. “It’s about a pervasive and growing hatred that has infiltrated both institutions and social attitudes, leading to widespread injustice and inequality.”
Parulekar criticized the government’s actions of bulldozing the homes and vehicles of Muslims under the pretext of legality, he questioned, “How did vehicles become illegal?” He asserted that the “RSS cult don’t even consider Muslims as human beings.”
Opposition failed to stand up for Muslims
The conversation also touched on the failure of political opposition in standing up for Muslims. Parulekar criticized the opposition’s reluctance to address the unique challenges Muslims face today, accusing them of diluting the issue by lumping Muslims together with other minority groups, such as Jains. “This reluctance to directly confront the discrimination against Muslims contributes to their marginalization,” he said, adding that it effectively erases Muslims from the broader narrative of Indian society.
Most Indian electronic media houses are like Radio Rwanda
In a chilling comparison, Parulekar drew parallels between the current climate of hatred against Muslims in India and the propaganda that fuelled the Rwandan genocide by radio Ruwanda. “This should serve as a grave reminder of the potential consequences if such hatred continues unchecked,” he warned.
Parulekar also called out the media for its role in exacerbating the problem, accusing mainstream channels like India Today and Zee of “poisoning the public mind against Muslims.” He compared their toxic rhetoric to the dangerous propaganda that led to mass violence in Rwanda. “This kind of irresponsible journalism poses a real threat to the nation’s social fabric,” he asserted.
Perhaps most troubling, Parulekar noted, is the fear many educated individuals feel about speaking out against the discrimination Muslims face. “This silence, whether born out of fear or apathy, only deepens the marginalization of the Muslim community,” he said.
Hindus, Muslims not adversaries
At the end, Parulekar issued a clarion call for immediate and decisive action. “Hindus and Muslims are not adversaries but fellow citizens who deserve equal rights and opportunities,” he emphasized. Warning that the nation is dangerously exacerbating divisions, Parulekar concluded with a sobering message: “If this hatred is not addressed urgently, India risks burning in the fire of communal hatred, with consequences that could be devastating for all.”
Raju Parulekar was also a member of the India Against Corruption movement and served as a blogger for Anna Hazare. The movement has gained widespread attention with its campaign against corruption, particularly with Anna Hazare’s hunger strike in April 2011, which called for the implementation of the Jan Lokpal Bill to establish a strong anti-corruption ombudsman.
