Indian Police Service officer Bushara Bano was transferred by the West Bengal government on Monday, two days after Hindutva groups criticised her for using Islamic greetings in an online video.
In the video, uploaded on Sunday, Bano discussed how the Residential Coaching Academy at Aligarh Muslim University in Uttar Pradesh had supported her preparation for the Union Public Service Commission examination.
Several social media accounts, including The Jaipur Dialogue and the Hindu Legal Fund, criticised the Muslim IPS officer for using the phrases “assalamualaikum” (meaning “peace be upon you”), “inshallah” (meaning “God willing”), and “jazakallah” (meaning “may God reward you”).
They alleged that she did not say “Vande Mataram” or “Jai Hind.”
The Hindu Legal Fund stated that a serving officer representing the Indian state must remain neutral and employ nationally appropriate expressions in public communications.
The organisation stated that it had lodged a complaint with the West Bengal home secretary and requested action.
Bano, an officer from the 2021 batch, previously served as the additional superintendent of police in Kharagpur, in the Paschim Medinipur district. On Monday, Bano was appointed deputy commanding officer of the 4th battalion of the State Armed Police.
Two additional officers were reassigned under the same directive. The Opposition condemned the government’s move.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra said that while one Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre was “showing off secular credentials” at the BRICS summit in Delhi “by creating ‘prayer room’”, another at the state level “sidelines Muslim woman IPS officer...simply for saying ‘assalamalaikum’ and ‘jazakallah’”.
The state government was “furthering hate spread by godimedia TV”, of lapdog media, Moitra said.
Congress member Pawan Khera also criticised the government response to IPS officer's transfer.
"Some social media accounts, including The Jaipur Dialogues and the Hindu Legal Fund, criticised the Muslim IPS officer for saying “Assalamualaikum” — “peace be unto you” — “Inshallah” — “God willing” — and “Jazakallah” — “may God reward you”,
And now she has been punitively transferred. What exactly is offensive about her words? They are blessings and prayers, spoken from a place of affection, faith and care. She did not explicitly glorify the nation. But she prayed for her fellow citizens. That, too, is an expression of patriotism - rooted in compassion, faith and goodwill - one that the bhakts will never understand, he posted on X.
Ashish Joshi a retired bureaucrat who frequently writes on X shared his concern on religious row over IPS officer video.
He wrote on X, "India's true strength lies in its unity amidst diversity. Mashallah! To Bushra Bano IPS, an officer who cleared the UPSC twice, left a comfortable job in Saudi Arabia, and is now serving the nation with complete dedication. Her choice of words reflects her personal faith, not a denial of the country she safeguards. In a vast and diverse nation like India, this coexistence is not a weakness, but our pride. Thank you for your service, Bushra! Jazakallah Khair!.
