New Delhi: In a scathing critique of the Indian media’s role in fueling communal polarization, speakers at a panel discussion titled “Surging Islamophobia and the Responsibility of Media” called out the growing normalization of anti-Muslim narratives in mainstream discourse. The event, organized by Muslim Mirror in collaboration with the Minorities Media Council of India (MMCI), was held at the Press Club of India and brought together prominent journalists, editors, and rights activists.
The central theme: Indian media has strayed from its democratic duty of informing the public, transforming instead into a tool for political propaganda and societal division.
Media Complicity and Democratic Decline
Gautam Lahiri, President of the Press Club of India, set the tone with a stark warning. “Our duty as journalists is to critique, analyze, and suggest reforms. But today, media is polarizing society in service of a political party.” He lamented India’s declining press freedom, stating that “we lag behind even Pakistan and Bangladesh in terms of media independence.”
Lahiri also spoke of an initiative to introduce legislation for independent media regulation, urging journalists to unite in reclaiming their professional integrity. He warned that inaction would lead to further silencing of dissenting voices: “Journalists are losing jobs without protest. If we remain silent now, more will suffer.”
Islamophobia: Political and Institutional
Ashutosh, senior journalist and founder of Satya Hindi, invoked India’s first Deputy Prime Minister, Sardar Patel, who warned in 1949 of the dangers of a Hindu Rashtra. “Islamophobia is not new,” he said. “It’s deeply rooted in the ideology of Hindutva, which seeks to redefine Indian nationalism in exclusionary terms.”
John Dayal, veteran journalist and human rights defender, challenged educated Indians to reflect on their susceptibility to hate. “Why do we believe myths like Muslims spitting on vegetables or abducting Hindu girls? It’s because we’ve failed to see ourselves as citizens first.”
Media: From Watchdog to Weapon
Bhasha Singh, seasoned journalist, described how Islamophobia has been institutionalized since 2014. “Hate has become a governing principle. Media is no longer an informer it’s a perception-making machine,” she said, pointing to the portrayal of Muslims as ‘jihadis’ and Christians as ‘converters’ purely for TRPs. “This isn’t journalism. It’s a hate industry,” she asserted.
She also condemned the Waqf Amendment Act, calling it a targeted assault on Muslim rights. “Islamophobia is not just anti-Muslim it’s anti-democratic and unconstitutional,” she said, urging secular voices to stand united in defense of Articles 25 to 29 of the Constitution.
Global Hypocrisy and Selective Outrage
Ashok Kumar Pandey, author and commentator, exposed the global double standards. “When anti-Semitism occurs, world leaders react instantly. But when Islam is insulted, there’s silence. Some of the worst Islamophobes today are aligned with powerful global regimes.”
Pandey also criticized media bias in India. “If a Muslim is accused of a crime, his name and faith are headlined. If it’s a non-Muslim, their identity is hidden. This is not accidental it’s deliberate.”
Unmasking the Hindutva Narrative
Syed Zubair Ahmad, founding editor of Muslim Mirror, unpacked the ideological roots of Islamophobia. “The Hindutva movement thrives on fear of Muslims. Even RSS leaders say Hinduism needs Muslims for contrast.” He dismissed the “Love Jihad” narrative as a myth, citing Kerala Police, NIA reports, and even a BJP minister’s statement in Parliament denying any legal basis.
He challenged the narrative around beef consumption and population growth, stating: “Hindus are the largest beef exporters, and most Indians are not vegetarians. Muslim fertility rates are declining. These falsehoods are spread to target Muslims.”
Ahmad emphasized historical distortions: “They talk about Akhand Bharat, but it was the Mughals who laid the foundation for a united India stretching from Bengal to Afghanistan.”
A Battle for the Nation’s Soul
Dr. Ram Puniyani, academic and activist, concluded the session by quoting Nehru: “Majority communalism will pose as nationalism, while minority communalism will be demonized as separatism. That’s our reality today.”
He asserted that Islamophobia is a political strategy aimed at consolidating majoritarian power. “It violates not just the Constitution but the very soul of India,” he said.
Dr. Puniyani also raised concern over how RSS-affiliated groups are reshaping subaltern identities, promoting caste hierarchy and anti-Muslim rhetoric among marginalized communities. “Young, underprivileged men are being turned into foot soldiers dancing with swords in front of mosques. This is engineered hate,” he warned.
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