By Team Clarion
BHOPAL — In the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, tensions in Bhopal have escalated, with extremist voices gaining prominence and fuelling growing Islamophobia. Chandrashekhar Tiwari, president of the Sanskriti Bachao Manch, has issued a controversial statement urging Hindu traders to remove Muslim employees from their shops.
Addressing traders, Tiwari said, “Just like Hindus were selectively shot in Pahalgam after asking their names, we will also have to boycott them.” He further accused Muslim workers of involvement in “love jihad,” claiming that Hindu girls working in shops alongside Muslim employees are being trapped.
He added that the bandh to protest the Pahalgam attack won’t have any effect. “Some traders will shut down, some will not, and it will fail. Do the right thing and remove Muslim employees from your shops. Only then will they understand the consequences of shooting Hindus,” he said.
The bandh call was given by the Bhopal Chamber of Commerce and Industries. It urged all traders and business organisations to cooperate by keeping markets and establishments closed in solidarity.
The statement by Tiwari has sparked widespread anger among citizens and community leaders, who fear such divisive rhetoric will deepen communal tensions. A resident, Anil Sharma, said, “Statements like these only spread hatred and fear. We need peace, not further division.”
Similarly, Fatima Khan, a social activist, condemned the call, stating, “Blaming an entire community for the acts of terrorists is wrong and dangerous. We must come together, not be torn apart by hate.”
The impact of the inflammatory remarks remains to be seen, with many calling for calm and restraint in these troubled times.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net.