The “routine” switch of Muslim Indian Police Service officer Bushara Bano in West Bengal has triggered sharp reactions, with the Opposition alleging it to be linked to her current ‘Assalamalaikum & Inshallah’ greeting.
Bushara Bano, who was serving because the Extra Superintendent of Police in Kharagpur (Paschim Medinipur), was on Monday transferred and appointed because the Deputy Commandant of the State Armed Police 4th Battalion, HT earlier reported.
Switch sparks row
Bano’s switch got here a day after a Hindu rights group mentioned on X it filed a criticism in opposition to the 2021-batch IPS officer over her utilizing Islamic greetings as an alternative of claiming “Vande Mataram” or “Jai Hind” in a social media video.
Within the video, Bano was seen explaining how the Residential Teaching Academy (RCA) on the Aligarh Muslim College (AMU) in Uttar Pradesh helped her throughout her preparations for the civil service examination and the way UPSC aspirants may benefit from the academy.
The video in query confirmed Bano beginning her message with the Islamic greeting “Assalam Alaikum” (peace be upon you).
After submitting its criticism with the police, the Hindu Authorized Fund alleged that Bano “started with Assalamualaikum, used Inshallah, ended with Jazakallah — and didn’t use Vande Mataram or Jai Hind”.
“A serving officer representing the Indian state ought to keep neutrality and use nationwide expressions in public communication. In search of acceptable evaluate and motion,” it mentioned on X.
Amid claims that Bano was transferred over the Islamic greeting, a senior officer, looking for anonymity, mentioned the transfer was a “routine switch”, HT reported on Monday.
The notification was issued by the Police Service Cell beneath the Dwelling & Hill Affairs Division. Two West Bengal Police Service (WBPS) officers had been additionally given recent postings as a part of the minor administrative reshuffle.
“It was a routine switch,” the senior officer mentioned, looking for anonymity.
The switch sparked reactions from a number of opposition leaders, who linked the transfer with the “Assalamalaikum & Inshallah”.
“For a rustic whose Prime Minister inaugurated new Parliament with sengol & naked chested sadhus, transferring a Muslim IPS officer for saying Assalamalaikum & Inshallah is ridiculous. We’re a nation gone mad, poisoned with hate & bigotry. God Save India,” Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra wrote on X.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday mentioned on X, “Bushra Bano’s switch after saying “Assalamu Alaikum”, “InshaAllah” and “JazakAllah”, adopted by the West Bengal CM calling an election a “take a look at” of Muslim loyalty , a veiled menace to the group as an entire doesn’t shock us anymore.”
What’s relatively amusing, Mufti mentioned, is that “three easy phrases peace be upon you, God keen, and God be praised can apparently rattle a celebration so massive and highly effective.”
“First our meals, garments and marriages , now even our vocabulary and our votes are being policed,” ,Mufti mentioned, slamming the BJP as an “insecure” get together.
Insecurity, thy title is BJP, she wrote.