In Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district, a large community of Ghoti-Nandora village boycotted ten Muslim families following hate speech against Muslims during a Hindu conference held in January. The boycott has led the Muslim families struggling for daily transactions, services and livelihood.
The conference was attended by a large part of Hindu audience where hate speech was delivered. The locals confirmed that during the speech, the Hindu community was urged to boycott the Muslims of the village by avoiding buying and selling of goods.
The boycott was enacted by the members of Hindu community leaving the Muslim families seriously impacted. The grocery shop owners refused to sell any goods, Muslim drivers were told not to drive for Hindu children. All services offered by Muslims were rejected and no service was offered to any Muslim.
A Bus driver named Asif Hussain said that he was told not to drive which forced him to face economic constraints as it was his only source of income. Similarly, electrician Sadiq was denied job leaving him unemployed for a week.
These Muslim families allege that the boycott aims to drive them out of the village. The families expressed fear and uncertainty highlighting that they have been living there peacefully for many years.
One of the residents, Khairun Nisha explained that the social boycott has terrorized the families. She said, “When I tried to speak about what happened at the conference , the situation became even more tense. We didn’t witness anything like this before.”
Reportedly, religious flags were displayed at many temples and key intersections casting it as a religious issue that further intensified the boycott.
Condemning the boycott, ex-MLA Kishore Samrite termed it a “grave violation of constitutional rights.” He said, “The matter should be immediately investigated by the Union Home Ministry. A police flag march and a thorough investigation is necessary to end the boycott and restore law and order in the village.”
Samrite took note that the village sarpanch and other prominent individuals in village supported the boycott and mentioned the flags that were displayed at various places. He also warned that if investigation is not conducted, the boycott could trigger communal tensions and threaten the social fabric.
The conference was attended by a large part of Hindu audience where hate speech was delivered. The locals confirmed that during the speech, the Hindu community was urged to boycott the Muslims of the village by avoiding buying and selling of goods.
The boycott was enacted by the members of Hindu community leaving the Muslim families seriously impacted. The grocery shop owners refused to sell any goods, Muslim drivers were told not to drive for Hindu children. All services offered by Muslims were rejected and no service was offered to any Muslim.
A Bus driver named Asif Hussain said that he was told not to drive which forced him to face economic constraints as it was his only source of income. Similarly, electrician Sadiq was denied job leaving him unemployed for a week.
These Muslim families allege that the boycott aims to drive them out of the village. The families expressed fear and uncertainty highlighting that they have been living there peacefully for many years.
One of the residents, Khairun Nisha explained that the social boycott has terrorized the families. She said, “When I tried to speak about what happened at the conference , the situation became even more tense. We didn’t witness anything like this before.”
Reportedly, religious flags were displayed at many temples and key intersections casting it as a religious issue that further intensified the boycott.
Condemning the boycott, ex-MLA Kishore Samrite termed it a “grave violation of constitutional rights.” He said, “The matter should be immediately investigated by the Union Home Ministry. A police flag march and a thorough investigation is necessary to end the boycott and restore law and order in the village.”
Samrite took note that the village sarpanch and other prominent individuals in village supported the boycott and mentioned the flags that were displayed at various places. He also warned that if investigation is not conducted, the boycott could trigger communal tensions and threaten the social fabric.