Whether in Moradabad or Hyderabad, a common refrain is heard; instability is not good for business. While the aftershocks of violence against Muslims is felt, most Muslim business owners say they have good relations with their mostly Hindu customers and suppliers. As a part of The Quint's multimedia immersive 'We the Minority', we spoke to Muslims across 16 cities and towns in India.
Even before one could realise, the accusation of the politics of appeasement (a euphemism for a perceived bias among certain parties for Muslims) gave way to “unka man bahut badh gaya hai” (they, meaning Muslims, have become very aggressive). Indifference towards a community, once considered economically backward, has given way to outright ridicule – often bordering on hatred. Recent cases of mob lynching in the name of cow protection or otherwise are manifestations of this changing attitude toward Muslims.
