A shocking incident of religious intolerance unfolded on a Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus as a woman passenger compelled a Muslim bus conductor to remove his skull cap. The incident, captured in a viral video, has sparked outrage.
The video, widely circulated on social media, shows the woman demanding the bus conductor to remove his skull cap.The one-and-a-half-minute clip shot by the unidentified woman shows her asking the conductor whether he can wear a skullcap when in uniform as a conductor. The bus conductor calmly explains that he has worn the skull cap for many years without objection.
ವಾಟ್ಸಾಪಲ್ಲಿ ನೋಡ್ದೆ. ಆ ಮಹಿಳೆಯ ಹೃದಯದಲ್ಲಿ ತುಂಬಿದ ಕೋಮು ವಿಷದ ತೀವ್ರತೆಯನ್ನು ಅಳೆಯುವ ಯಂತ್ರವೊಂದಿದ್ರೆ ಅದರ ಮುಳ್ಳುಗಳೇ ಒಡೆದುಹೋಗುತ್ತಿದ್ವೆನೋ?. ಕುಂಕುಮ, ಮಾಲೆಗಳನ್ನು ಧರಿಸುವಂತೆ ಟೋಪಿಗೂ ಅವಕಾಶವಿದೆಎಂದಾಗಿದೆ ನನ್ನ ಭಾವನೆ. ಏನಿದ್ದರೂ ವಿಷ ಕಾರುತ್ತಿರುವ ಮಹಿಳೆಯ ಮುಂದೆಯೂ ಸೌಮ್ಯವಾಗಿ ನಡೆದುಕೊಂಡ ನಿರ್ವಾಹಕರಿಗೆ ನನ್ನದೊಂದು ಸಲಾಂ pic.twitter.com/RFaIXGuq3M— Mohamed Haneef (@Mohamed47623244) July 11, 2023
In a disturbing display of religious intolerance, the woman persists, insisting that the conductor practice his religion at home or in a mosque rather than publicly displaying his faith.
Under the mounting pressure, the bus conductor reluctantly complies with the woman’s demands, removing his green skull cap.
The video has sparked widespread condemnation, with citizens and activists denouncing the incident as a flagrant act of religious intolerance.
The incident prompted netizens to highlight a controversial episode involving Ayudha Pooja celebrations held at a police station, where police personnel were seen wearing saffron scarves. The stark contrast between the treatment of religious attire in different contexts fuelled allegations of double standards and called into question the woman’s motivations in singling out the Muslim bus conductor.
