The transfer of Muslim IPS officer Bushra Bano after she used Islamic greetings during an address has triggered criticism from opposition politicians and others, following a social media campaign targeting her.
The controversy centres on a video in which Bano opened her address with “Assalamu Alaikum”, used “InshaAllah” while speaking and ended with “JazakAllah”.
The video was subsequently circulated by social media accounts affiliated with Hindutva groups.
Some of the accounts criticised Bano for using Islamic greetings and phrases, alleging that she had not used slogans such as “Vande Mataram” or “Jai Hind”.
Sudarshan News also criticised the officer and described the issue as “UPSC Jihad”.
A website called Hindu Legal Fund reportedly submitted a complaint against Bano to the West Bengal home secretary. Bano was transferred the following day.
The development has drawn strong reactions from political leaders.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra criticised the decision, contrasting it with reports that a prayer room had been arranged during the BRICS summit.
“One BJP government shows off its secular credentials at the BRICS summit by setting up a ‘prayer room’, while another sidelines Muslim woman IPS officer Bushra Bano simply for saying ‘Assalamu Alaikum’ and ‘JazakAllah’—essentially catering to the hate spread by Godi media TV,” Moitra said.
“Bushra, we stand with you,” she added.
The incident comes around two weeks after Moitra alleged that Muslim officers in West Bengal were being excluded from official programmes attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. At the time, she questioned the IPS and IAS associations over what she described as “communal nonsense”.
Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi also called on the IPS Association to take note of matter.
He alleged that a “hate-mongering TV channel” had first highlighted the video and subsequently triggered online trolling of the officer.
Journalist Kavish Aziz also criticised the transfer, drawing a comparison with the case of IPS officer Anuj Chaudhary, whom he said had been promoted despite taking part in a religious procession while in uniform.
“Bushra Bano was transferred merely for offering a greeting, whereas Anuj Chaudhary was promoted despite participating in a religious procession in uniform,” Aziz said.
“And instead of standing by her, the state government transferred her the very next day,” he added, asking, “What kind of India are you building, Narendra Modi ji?”
Aziz further said, “In a vast and diverse country like India, this coexistence is not a weakness, it is our pride,” he said, before expressing support for Bano and concluding, “Jazakallahu Khairan!”
Bano, who previously worked in Saudi Arabia, cleared the Union Public Service Commission examination twice and is currently serving as an IPS officer.
