Bollywood star’s Diwali firecrackers comment blows up culture wars against Muslims in India
- Actor Aamir Khan was attacked online for ‘hurting Hindu sentiments’ in a TV ad, as minority Muslims feel increasingly targeted and marginalised in India
- Analysts say these culture wars always increase ahead of an election, as Narendra Modi’s BJP mobilises Hindu voters on religious lines
Khan was hired by tyre company Ceat for a social responsibility campaign ahead of the Hindu festival of Diwali on November 4. In the advertisement, he urges Indians not to light firecrackers on the streets, as is custom. “Roads are for cars, not crackers,” he says.
Hindu extremists immediately took issue with this, excoriating Khan for commenting on Hindu traditions while keeping silent about the ‘regressive’ practices of his own religious community.
Anantkumar Hegde, an MP of the ruling BJP, remarked that Khan should address the issue of Muslims blocking roads in some areas to say their prayers or creating noise from the call to prayer that is broadcast from mosque speakers.
Hegde wrote to the CEO of Ceat to complain. “These days, a group of ‘anti-Hindu actors’ always hurt Hindu sentiments whereas they never try to expose the wrongdoings of their community,” said the MP from Karnataka state.
The backlash against Khan has increased the feeling among India’s 200 million Muslims that they are being targeted by Hindu nationalists, either on social media or through vigilantism.