Hyderabad: BJP leader and Minister for Textiles Giriraj Singh has sparked significant controversy with his statement that allowing Muslims to remain in India after partition was the country’s “biggest mistake.” This comment has ignited accusations of promoting anti-Muslim sentiment and has intensified concerns over the treatment of religious minorities in India.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Singh made these remarks in an article published by the RSS-affiliated magazine Panchjanya. He questioned the logic of allowing Muslims to stay in India post-partition, suggesting that their absence would have fundamentally altered the nation’s socio-political landscape. “If the country was partitioned on religious lines, why were Muslims allowed to remain here?” Singh posed, implying that the historical decision has led to current national tensions.

The reaction to Singh’s comments has been swift and severe, with many condemning them as divisive and representative of a broader pattern of hostility towards Muslims by some BJP leaders. Songwriter Darab Farooqui responded defiantly, emphasizing his Indian identity despite the minister’s provocative statements. Journalist Rohini Singh critiqued the remarks by pointing out the political implications and the inherent contradictions in the BJP’s narrative.

These statements by a sitting cabinet minister have added to the ongoing debate about the BJP’s policies towards Muslims, raising alarms about the potential for increased marginalization and communal tension in India.