N Ravikumar
Credit: DH Photo
The reprehensible comments by Karnataka BJP MLC N Ravikumar, insinuating that Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Tarannum might be “from Pakistan”, are not just disgraceful – they are dangerous. Such attacks are not an aberration but part of a troubling pattern where BJP leaders target Muslims with insinuations of disloyalty, reinforcing their marginalisation.
Expelled BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal once outrageously labelled Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao “half-Pakistani” for marrying a Muslim. Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah referred to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi as “sister of the same community as those in Pakistan”. These instances reflect a larger narrative that seeks to cast suspicion on Muslims, regardless of their service, sacrifice, or constitutional role.
Fouzia Tarannum is an IAS officer and to question her loyalty based on her religion is not just a personal slur, but an affront to civil services and the secular foundations of India’s bureaucracy. The IAS Officers Association has rightly condemned Ravikumar’s remarks but such expressions of concern are not enough.
Stern punitive action must follow. When public servants are targeted and slandered because of their faith, it sends a chilling message to all minorities in government that no rank or duty protects them from the pervasive prejudice of communal attacks. The BJP’s consistent refusal to act against leaders like Ravikumar and Shah effectively signals a tacit approval, allowing such diatribe to proliferate under the guise of political speech. When offenders escape with hollow justifications like “slip of the tongue”, it only emboldens others. The BJP must initiate disciplinary action against these hatemongers or admit that this venom is part of its politics.
The ruling Congress is equally culpable as it routinely fails to pursue these cases with the seriousness and determination they demand. Merely filing FIRs without genuine intent to prosecute sends a clear message to the offenders that there will be no real consequences.
This permissiveness erodes trust in the rule of law and empowers hate speech to flourish. India’s strength lies in its pluralism and commitment to an inclusive society.
When an IAS officer’s integrity is questioned because of her faith, when an Army colonel is smeared for her religion, the damage extends far beyond the individuals concerned – it strikes at the very heart of the idea of India. If political leaders, civil society, and the judiciary do not take a firm, collective stand against such divisive behaviour, the foundation of our democracy will continue to erode. It is time to call out this communal narrative for what it is – and end the silence that enables it.