NEW DELHI — In the last few months, dozens of jeans manufacturing units operating in West Delhi and Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh have been shut down abruptly by local authorities. These closures have upended the lives of hundreds of Muslim workers and their families, many of whom have depended on this trade for decades.
The reason cited for the crackdown is a combination of environmental pollution concerns and lack of official licences. However, a deeper look reveals that these actions have been largely driven by the spread of false rumours about so-called ‘jeans jihad’—a conspiracy theory alleging that Muslim-run jeans plants are attempting to change the local demographic and exert undue influence.
This controversial term has no basis and has caused significant damage by encouraging authorities to take harsh measures without proper investigation or community consultation. The fallout has been severe, leading to displacement, economic hardship, and growing mistrust between communities.
The phrase ‘jeans jihad’ first surfaced several years ago amid growing communal tensions in parts of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. It is said to have originated in social media posts and certain political circles, which claimed without evidence that Muslim-owned jeans washing and tailoring plants were part of a secret campaign to influence demographics and culture in predominantly Hindu neighbourhoods.
These claims, though repeatedly disproved by fact-checkers and experts, gained traction among some sections of the public and officials. The jeans tailoring business in Khayala village in West Delhi — a hub that employed thousands of Muslim artisans mostly from Uttar Pradesh — was suddenly accused of illegal operation and spreading ‘pollution’ that affected the local population.
Similar stories soon emerged in Sambhal, a city in Uttar Pradesh known for its Muslim artisan communities. Here, local administrations began investigations and conducted raids on jeans plants, alleging violation of environmental rules and lack of proper licences or No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.