FPJ Analysis: Bigotry Beneath The Surface

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remark at a public rally at Hisar in Haryana, suggesting that Muslims are relegated to fixing punctures due to mismanagement of Waqf properties, is not merely a slip of the tongue—it is a deliberate, avoidable political message. At a time when elections loom in Bihar and the Mumbai municipal corporation and pressing economic issues demand attention, such comments serve as calculated distractions, using communal stereotypes to stoke division. The statement was not an affirmation of the dignity of labour. It was a backhanded comment that reinforced a derogatory stereotype: that Muslims, by default, are under-skilled, economically backward, and suited only for menial jobs. Such narratives not only diminish the identity of a vibrant and diverse community but also violate the spirit of equality enshrined in the Constitution.

India has long celebrated its pluralism and the contributions of its many communities, including Muslims, to all walks of life—from science and technology to arts, sports, business, and public service. To reduce a community of over 200 million people to a single profession is to erase history, ignore present realities, and stifle aspiration. To put it differently, it is outright bigotry that does not behove a person who holds the highest political post in the country. By the way, there is nothing dishonourable about repairing punctures or performing any form of manual labour. In fact, such work forms the backbone of the economy. What is troubling is the suggestion that such labour is a mark of failure or backwardness. This reflects a deeply hierarchical worldview, one that valorises certain forms of employment while demeaning others based on who performs them.

What also deserves scrutiny is the use of Waqf properties as a political tool. While Modi’s remarks imply that reforms to Waqf law will uplift Muslim communities, little has been said about the actual mechanisms or outcomes. Grand claims without corresponding legal or administrative clarity are no substitute for inclusive development. Even more telling is the selective portrayal of minority communities in public discourse. Over the years, political narratives have oscillated between branding minorities as pampered beneficiaries or as suspect outsiders.

This latest comment is another iteration of a troubling pattern, using language to stigmatise rather than uplift. Leadership demands responsibility. When those in the highest offices speak, their words do not remain mere rhetoric, they shape public perception and policy. Reducing any community to a caricature legitimises exclusion and can fuel real-world discrimination. India’s strength lies in its diversity, its promise in its inclusivity. What the nation needs is not the reinforcement of social hierarchies but a reaffirmation of dignity, equality, and justice for all citizens, regardless of faith, class, or profession.