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Bakrid is approaching. How do we know that? It is not the word of the local maulvi, but the statements of Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, ministers and chief ministers of the BJP-led governments – all filled with warnings and threats directed at Muslims – that indicate another Muslim festival is close.

It seems that Eid and Bakrid are awaited with greater eagerness by Hindutva forces than by Muslims themselves. Their excitement visibly rises as Muslim festivals draw closer. One only has to listen to Hindutva leaders or read their statements to understand how thrilled they are at the prospect of yet another opportunity to humiliate and harass Muslims. Needless to say, these statements carry no message of greeting or goodwill.

In West Bengal, minister Dilip Ghosh issued a warning in Hindi that everything must happen “according to the law” and that nobody would be allowed to violate it. But in what context – and to whom – was he saying this? Was he referring to those who are stopping auto-rickshaws on the road, assaulting drivers and forcing them to chant Jai Shri Ram? Or to those officials who, immediately after the BJP’s electoral victories, started bulldozing the houses and shops of the poor and of Muslims? Or was he indicting himself and other BJP leaders who openly declare that, since Muslims did not vote for them, they will not receive the benefits of government schemes? Was he condemning those who announced, in open violation of the constitution, that the government would now work only for those who support it?

Everyone knows these warnings were aimed at Muslims ahead of Bakrid. Even earlier, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had threatened that nobody would be allowed to offer namaz on the streets. Orders were issued against cow sacrifice. Mosques would not be allowed to make the azan call for prayers. And just before Bakrid, it was announced that the customary........

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