Once again, The Wire & S.N. Sahu has done what it does best—peddle half-truths wrapped in the garb of concern for minorities, while conveniently ignoring facts, legal precedents, and the very spirit of the Indian Constitution . Their latest article titled “This Eid, BJP Has Perfected the Use of the State Apparatus to Restrict Muslims” is not journalism—it’s a communal provocation masquerading as analysis. Let’s tear it apart with facts and expose this agenda-driven piece for what it really is: a politically motivated hit job designed to vilify the BJP and spread paranoia among Indian Muslims.
The Bogey of Namaz Bans: Administrative Order, Not Communal Conspiracy
The central argument of The Wire’s piece is that the BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh government is “targeting” Muslims by curbing public namaz, especially during Eid. The reality is starkly different. The UP administration issued a clear and uniform directive: no religious congregation—be it Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, or Christian—should block public roads or disrupt civic life.
This is not a “ban” on prayer. This is a rule of law issue.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s message was unambiguous: roads are for traffic, not for religious occupation. And he didn’t just say it—he backed it up with examples. The Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj hosted over 66 crore devotees without any disruption to the public. If an event of such massive scale can maintain discipline, why not Eid prayers?
What’s truly communal is The Wire’s selective outrage. When Hindu festivals are regulated—be it the number of pandals during Durga Puja or the immersion processions during Ganesh Chaturthi—not a word is said. But if the same law is applied to namaz on roads, it suddenly becomes “Islamophobia”? This is hypocrisy, not journalism.
What About Article 25?
The article throws around constitutional jargon, conveniently forgetting the most important part of Article 25—the right to freely practice religion is subject to public order, morality, and health.
This is not optional. It is a constitutional mandate. The right to religion cannot and should not override the right of others to walk on the road, run businesses, reach hospitals, or attend school.
Even the Supreme Court of India has ruled that public roads cannot be indefinitely blocked for religious or political gatherings. The Wire seems to believe that constitutional freedoms apply selectively and only when they fit their narrative.
No One is Above the Law—That is Secularism
Let’s be clear: if any administration were selectively targeting Muslims while allowing other religious groups to hold public events with impunity, that would indeed be discrimination.
But that’s not the case here. In fact, UP Police have even denied permission for Hindu processions that violated safety norms. Permissions were granted for Eid prayers at over 33,000 sites across the state—mostly in designated grounds, Eidgahs, and mosques. The government deployed over 3 lakh personnel to ensure safety and peaceful observance.
If this is persecution, what does protection look like?
The Wire’s Real Game: Political Mischief
The Wire doesn’t care about Muslim rights. It cares about painting the BJP as a villain—especially in an election year. The goal is simple: create fear, polarize opinion, and poison the narrative.
This kind of writing doesn’t empower the Muslim community. It infantilizes them—suggesting they are so fragile that being asked to follow the same rules as everyone else is tantamount to oppression.
True secularism means equality before the law, not entitlement to violate it.
Facts First, Fearmongering Later
The Wire’s article is not a defense of civil liberties—it’s a political pamphlet that insults the intelligence of its readers. It ignores ground realities, suppresses legal context, and amplifies an “us vs. them” binary that India has long struggled to overcome.
The BJP isn’t “perfecting the use of the state apparatus against Muslims.” It’s enforcing public order for all. And in a country as diverse and densely populated as India, public order is not optional—it is essential.
This Eid, India celebrated in peace. The only ones disturbed were the professional outrage machines, upset that they couldn’t manufacture a riot.
Author : Sandeep Gandotra, is a serial entrepreneur, startup founder, social media influencer and political analyst with 25 years of overall experience. Tweets at Sandeep Gandotra
