The Indian authorities have arrested a prominent academic of a social media post criticizing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) discriminatory policy against Muslims and raised questions about the recent orientations of India’s military operation against Pakistan.
The development follows a military confrontation between Pakistan and India over New Delhi’s accusations against Islamabad of a deadly attack in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK) Pahaldam.
Ali Khan Mahmudabad, associate professor at Haryanas Ashoka University, was detained on Sunday in New Delhi, according to local media. His arrest came more than a week after Pakistan and India, both nuclear armed nations, accepted a ceasefire.
Police said Mahmudabad, 42, was booked under sections of the Criminal Code that relate to actions that are harmful to maintaining common harmony, encouraging armed rebellion or undermining activities and insults on religious beliefs.
The case was registered after a complaint from Yogesh Jather, Secretary General of the Youth Wing in BJP in Haryana, as reported by Indian media.
In a social media post on May 8, Mahmudabad, the head of the university’s political science department, highlighted the apparent irony of right-wing Hindutva commentators praising Colonel Sofia Qureshi, who had addressed the media briefings.
He wrote: “Maybe they could also as loudly demand that the victims of mobby lanch, arbitrary bulldosing and others who are victims of BJP’s hate fighting are protected as Indian citizens.
“The optics of two female soldiers presenting their findings are important [sic] But optics have to translate into reality on earth, otherwise it’s just hypocrisy, ”Mahmudabad noted.
“The reality of grassroots that ordinary Muslims face is different from what the government was trying to show, but at the same time the press conference shows that an India, united in its diversity, is not completely dead as an idea,” he added.
The Haryana State Commission for Women had convened the professor of what it claimed was a condescending remark against female officers and an attempt to encourage joint disagreement.
When he defended his post on X, Mahmudabad said his comments were misunderstood and that his intention was to demand the protection of both soldiers and civilians. He rejected accusations of misogyny and called the accusations baseless.
In February last year, Amnesty International called on the Indian government to stop “unfairly targeting demolition of Muslim properties”.
“The illegal demolition of Muslim properties from the Indian authorities led to” Bulldozer-justice “by political leaders and media is cruel and appalling. Such a displacement and disposing is deeply unfair, illegal and discriminating.
“The authorities have repeatedly undermined the rule of law and destroyed home, businesses or worship sites through targeted campaigns with hatred, harassment, violence and weapons from JCB Bulldozers. These human rights offenses must be treated,” she said.
Separately, Vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, along with five others from Punjab and Haryana, was also arrested over alleged espionage for Pakistan, according to Indian media.
Hindus to the right in India were involved in lynching Muslims and tried to police interfaith relations. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken against the killing of cow -vigilante, but his government has done little to stop the activities in vigilant groups.
