Uttarakhand: Several Hindutva organisations have launched a campaign targeting Muslim barbers, accusing them of engaging in so-called “love jihad.” The groups are urging Hindu families to avoid Muslim-owned salons and barbershops, spreading pamphlets and posters warning people not to visit these establishments.
The campaign has spread across districts such as Haridwar and Dehradun. Some local leaders have openly backed the call for a boycott, further intensifying communal divisions. The accusations have no legal basis and are being used to justify discrimination against Muslim tradesmen.
Muslim barbers in these areas report sharp declines in customers. Many say they are struggling to pay rent or are being forced to shut down. Others fear for their safety as hostility grows in their neighborhoods. Shop owners describe the situation as a livelihood crisis caused by misinformation and hate campaigns.
Several activists and civil society groups have condemned the move as an attempt to marginalize Muslim workers and disrupt communal peace. They are demanding that local authorities step in to prevent further harassment and ensure equal rights to work for all citizens.
The campaign reflects a broader pattern of economic exclusion and intimidation faced by Muslims in parts of North India, where calls for boycotts and social ostracism have become increasingly common in recent years.
