The Fog Of Wordplay

Hijab, azaan, jihadi, anti-national, terrorist, mullah, miya-the meaning of these terms are blurred on purpose by many political leaders and Right-wing groups. They use it as a strategy to serve their own agendas, target religious minorities and stoke communal passions

- Sharmita Kar

1. Azaan and Noise Pollution

Azaan, or Adhan, the religious call given by mosques to remind devotees of prayer time, has been a subject of debate and even sparked communal tensions in parts of India. It has been criminalised for being too loud because it is often made using loudspeakers. Several petitions have been filed for the removal of loudspeakers from mosques, calling it an ‘illegal’ practice.

2. Hijab Controversy

Hijab, the headscarf worn by Muslim women, became a heated point of discussion and led to communal tensions in Karnataka in 2022. Hijab in Islam was introduced as a symbol of modesty. In India, hijab has increasingly gained significance as a way to create a Hindu-Muslim divide. When Muslim women in Karnataka protested against the state government’s hijab ban last year, groups of Hindu students staged a counter-protest wearing saffron scarves. Muslim girls have been denied entry to schools and colleges in many parts of the country for wearing the veil.

3. Gau Raksha or Cow Vigilantism

Cow slaughter is banned in most parts of India. The cow being a sacred symbol in Hinduism, the majority religion in the country, the non-Hindu (and non-believer) population is disallowed from consuming beef. The sale and transportation of cows are met with harsh punishment. Traditionally, beef is consumed by Muslims and Christians. So, banning the consumption of beef in a secular nation is a case of discrimination. There is a growing army of