Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh issue “economic apartheid” orders

The Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh state governments have issued an order mandating that food establishments display the names and addresses of their operators, proprietors, and managers, in a move that some have described as economic apartheid.

Though the order claims to be aimed at ensuring “cleanliness”, it comes barely two months after a government directive elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh ordered businesses along a Hindu pilgrimage route to show their religious identity by displaying their names in front of their establishments. However, the Supreme Court stayed the order after human rights experts slammed the directives as discriminatory tools for anti-Muslim violence.

Muslim man publicly harassed, assaulted in Maharashtra

In Maharashtra’s Thane, Hindu extremists harassed and assaulted a Muslim man in front of a crowd. They also falsely accused him of anti-Muslim conspiracy theories like “love jihad” and “urine jihad.”

Recently, Hindu militant leaders in Thane have been promoting the conspiracy theory of “love jihad” and urging Hindus to pick up weapons against Muslims.

Government raids across Tamil Nadu spark concerns among Muslims

India’s federal probe agency raided more than ten locations across Tamil Nadu state, allegedly linked to suspects of the banned organization Hizb ut-Tahrir.

The raids have sparked concern among Muslim community members, with critics saying that the actions serve as a means to target and intimidate the Muslim community. Naeem, a social activist, expressed his discontent, stating, “No such organization exists in India…This type of behavior towards Muslims should stop.”

The NIA has detained five people in connection with the case, who are currently undergoing interrogation.