The “routine” transfer 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 recent ‘ Assalamalaikum & Inshallah ’ greeting.
“A serving officer representing the Indian state should maintain neutrality and use national expressions in public communication.
Bano’s transfer came a day after a Hindu rights group said on X it filed a complaint against the 2021-batch IPS officer over her using Islamic greetings instead of saying “Vande Mataram” or “Jai Hind” in a social media video. Seeking appropriate review and action,” it said on X. Amid claims that Bano was transferred over the Islamic greeting, a senior officer, seeking anonymity, said the move was a “routine transfer”, HT reported on Monday. “It was a routine transfer,” the senior officer said, seeking anonymity.
“For a country whose Prime Minister inaugurated new Parliament with sengol & bare chested sadhus, transferring a Muslim IPS officer for saying Assalamalaikum & Inshallah is ridiculous. We are 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 said on X, “Bushra Bano’s transfer after saying “Assalamu Alaikum”, “InshaAllah” and “JazakAllah”, followed by the West Bengal CM calling an election a “test” of Muslim loyalty , a veiled threat to the community as a whole doesn’t shock us anymore. What is rather amusing, Mufti said, is that “three simple words peace be upon you, God willing, and God be praised can apparently rattle a party so large and powerful. “First our food, clothes and marriages , now even our vocabulary and our votes are being policed,” ,Mufti said, slamming the BJP as an “insecure” party.
