Indore, once celebrated for its cleanliness and affection, has now become a focal point of religious polarization, with the rise of Hindutva forces systematically targeting interfaith relationships. The city is increasingly becoming a hotspot for the controversial and baseless ‘love jihad’ narrative, which has been weaponized against the Muslim community, particularly Muslim men involved in relationships with Hindu women.
At the forefront of this operation is Tannu Sharma, head of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) “social harmony department,” who leads a campaign to monitor and confront Muslim men seen with Hindu women in public spaces. Sharma, supported by a network of 5,000 active workers and numerous covert informants, conducts surveillance targeting interfaith couples, particularly Muslim-Hindu relationships, with the explicit goal of disrupting them.
When a Muslim-Hindu couple is identified, Sharma’s team doesn’t hesitate to confront them, often resorting to physical assaults on the men. They also facilitate the filing of police complaints against Muslim men, accusing them of serious crimes such as rape and forced religious conversion. These actions are not isolated; they are carried out with the direct backing of local police forces and the Madhya Pradesh government, as evidenced by statements from law enforcement officials.
In interviews with Newslaundry, local police officers openly admitted to providing 100 percent support to Hindutva groups in cases labeled as “love jihad.” One officer remarked, “There’s a BJP government. Why wouldn’t the case be registered?” This response highlights the deeply politicized environment in Indore, where Muslims are systematically denied justice, and interfaith relationships are vilified under the banner of religious purity.
The report further uncovers the legal infrastructure enabling these discriminatory actions. Anil Naidu, the head of the VHP’s legal cell, plays a central role in coordinating with police to file FIRs against Muslim men, with 90 such cases registered in the last five years alone. Naidu admits to personally confronting accused Muslim men in courtrooms, perpetuating a climate of fear and intimidation.
Sharma’s views are rooted in absurd claims, such as the idea that Muslim men use “compulsion spells” hidden in hair clips or clothing to manipulate Hindu women. His bizarre “counterspells” include making victims drink pig blood, further dehumanizing and demonizing the Muslim community.
In stark contrast, Hindu-Muslim relationships that align with the Hindutva agenda, particularly those facilitating ‘ghar wapsi’ (homecoming), are encouraged. This reflects the double standards at play in a society that actively discriminates against Muslim men in interfaith relationships.
Zaid Pathan, a human rights activist, describes Indore as a “laboratory” for religious segregation, with Muslims being silently boycotted from housing, commerce, and public spaces. This systematic exclusion and targeting of the Muslim community transforms Indore from a city once known for affection to a city rife with religious intolerance and discrimination.
