A sub-inspector in Madhya Pradesh, India, has been removed from active duty and reassigned to police lines after a video surfaced showing him instructing a gym owner to prohibit Muslim individuals from using the facility. The incident occurred in Bhopal's Ayodhya Nagar area following a visit by members of the Bajrang Dal, a Hindu nationalist group, who raised objections to the presence of Muslim trainers at the gym.
In the widely circulated video, Sub-Inspector Dinesh Sharma can be heard telling the gym owner, "Let me tell you clearly, no Muslim will come here (to the gym), neither for imparting training nor getting trained." The video prompted immediate condemnation and triggered an internal inquiry by the Bhopal police. Additional DCP Mahavir Singh confirmed the investigation and the sub-inspector's reassignment pending the outcome. The incident reportedly took place on May 28, 2025.
The controversy has further escalated with comments from Alok Sharma, a BJP MP and former mayor of Bhopal, who defended the sub-inspector's remarks. He announced plans to compile a list of gyms employing Muslim trainers, stating that this list would be handed over to the police. He also suggested that female clients should only be trained by female instructors. Sharma asserted that the government would not allow "Love Jihad" or "Land Jihad" to occur in Madhya Pradesh, using terms frequently employed by Hindu nationalist groups to allege conspiracies involving Muslim men targeting Hindu women for conversion and Muslims acquiring land to alter the demographic composition.
These remarks have drawn strong criticism from opposition leaders. Congress MLA Arif Masood argued that "Opening a gym or providing training is not a crime. If someone is trained, they will provide training." He emphasized that providing training is a legitimate profession and should not be targeted based on religious identity.
The incident has raised serious concerns about discrimination and the potential for communal profiling. Rights groups and legal analysts have cautioned against generalizing suspicion based on religious identity, arguing that such actions violate constitutional rights and could exacerbate societal divisions. They emphasize that while individual cases of wrongdoing should be addressed through due process, collective punishment or discriminatory practices are unacceptable.
The situation is unfolding against a backdrop of rising communal tensions in certain parts of India. Observers are calling for calm and urging authorities to ensure justice is served in individual cases without resorting to discriminatory measures. They stress the importance of upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation. The internal police inquiry is ongoing, and the incident's long-term consequences remain to be seen.
