India: Ruling party leader under fire over anti-muslim comments

A political figure linked to India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come under mounting criticism after a video circulated online appeared to show her delivering inflammatory remarks targeting Muslims.

The footage reportedly features Udita Tyagi, associated with the BJP’s women’s wing, addressing a public gathering in northern India, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

In the clip, she is heard using derogatory language about Muslims and making claims linking the community to violence. She also calls on Hindu families to marry early and have at least four children, framing the appeal in demographic terms.

The video has been widely shared across social media platforms, prompting outrage and renewed scrutiny over the use of divisive rhetoric in Indian politics. Critics argue that such language contributes to social tensions and risks fostering hostility towards minority communities.

There has been no immediate public response from Tyagi or the BJP regarding the video’s content or its authenticity.

Political analysts say the remarks reflect a broader trend in which sections of political discourse portray Muslims as both a demographic and security concern. They warn that repeated use of dehumanising language could normalise prejudice and increase the risk of communal unrest.

Tyagi has previously been linked to controversial speeches and assertive campaigning in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, a region frequently at the centre of debates over minority rights and religious tensions.

By Aghakazim Guliyev