India’s New Drive to Erase Muslim Identity in Uttar Pradesh’s Border Districts

A State Campaign That Targets Muslim Life

The Indian government has started a harsh new campaign against Muslim identity in the border districts of Uttar Pradesh. This move uses the false claim of fighting “anti-India elements” and “foreign funding from Nepal” to justify action against Muslim institutions. The operation exposes how the Modi government continues to use force and fear to attack Muslim communities without evidence.
♦ False Security Claims: The government has not presented any proof that Muslim institutions receive foreign support from Nepal.
♦ A New Level of Hostility: Entire communities are framed as suspects only because they are Muslim.
♦ No Real Investigation: The order was issued without facts and reflects a political aim rather than any security need.

Bulldozers Used as Tools of Punishment

The Indian Home Ministry has ordered the demolition of mosques, madrasas, Eidgahs and even cemeteries by calling them “illegal”. These orders repeat the same pattern seen under BJP rule where Muslim spaces are removed first and reasons are created later. The policy shows how demolition has become a weapon used against one community alone.
♦ No Legal Basis: The state declared these structures illegal without giving land records or legal notices.
♦ A Known BJP Method: Bulldozers have become a mark of punishment against Muslims across India.
♦ Denial of Due Process: The demolitions were approved without hearings or any right of defence.

Scale of Operation Shows Deep Bias

The demolition list shows a shocking number of Muslim institutions marked for destruction. A total of 183 madaris, 27 masajid, 11 Eidgahs and 9 cemeteries across 7 districts have been targeted. This scale makes it clear that the aim is to erase Muslim presence in the region.
♦ District of Saswati: 95 madrasas and 2 mosques are marked for demolition.
♦ Mahraj Ganj and Balram: Mahraj Ganj has 21 madrasas, 10 mosques and 7 Eidgahs, while Balram has 31 madrasas and 9 cemeteries.
♦ Other Districts: Sadharth Nagar has 19 madrasas and 1 mosque, Behraich has 13 madrasas, 9 mosques and 3 Eidgahs, Lekhem Pur has 3 madrasas and 3 mosques, and Pelibhet has 1 madrasa, 2 mosques and 1 Eidgah.

Targeting the Dead Shows Extreme Hatred

The inclusion of cemeteries shows the extreme level of hostility behind this campaign. Cemeteries are sacred resting places for families, yet they are now being treated as illegal structures. This action reveals a political desire to erase not only Muslim life but also the memory of past generations.
♦ Assault on Heritage: Destroying cemeteries removes history and breaks the cultural chain of Muslim families.
♦ No Respect for the Dead: Even graves are labelled threats under the Modi government’s agenda.
♦ Fear and Intimidation: Attacking burial grounds sends a message that nothing linked to Muslims will be allowed to remain.

A Repeat of the BJP-RSS Pattern

This campaign follows a known pattern used by BJP and RSS in many parts of India. First, Muslim institutions are framed as illegal or dangerous, and then the state uses that claim to justify their removal. The same method has been used earlier in Delhi, Assam, Haryana and other states controlled by BJP.
♦ Targeting as a Habit: The BJP government repeatedly chooses Muslim religious and educational spaces as its first targets.
♦ Narratives of Hate: Claims of “threats” are created to justify the destruction of Muslim structures.
♦ Selective Enforcement: Hindu structures with clear violations face no action.

Border Districts Used for Political Messaging

The targeted districts lie close to the Nepal border, a region the Modi government often labels as sensitive. By claiming that Muslim institutions receive support from across the border, the BJP creates a false story for political gain. This allows the government to show Muslims as outsiders even when they have lived there for generations.
♦ Geography Turned into a Tool: Border regions are used to build fear around Muslim presence.
♦ False Stories of Funding: The claim of money from Nepal has no official record or proof.
♦ Political Use of Fear: The narrative is meant to build support for the Hindutva agenda, not to address any real threat.

Erasing Religious, Educational and Cultural Roots

This demolition move is part of a broader plan to remove Muslim identity and silence Muslim communities. Mosques, madrasas, Eidgahs and cemeteries are central to social, cultural and religious life. Their destruction breaks community networks and weakens the ability of Muslims to protect their basic rights.
♦ Attack on Learning: Removing madrasas destroys an important source of education for young Muslims.
♦ Attack on Worship: Mosques and Eidgahs provide the main space for prayer and community bonds.
♦ Attack on Community Life: Cemeteries and religious institutions form the base of cultural identity and shared memory.

Conclusion: A Planned Erasure of Muslim Presence

The demolition orders in Uttar Pradesh’s border districts show a direct and aggressive attempt to remove Muslim identity under the Modi government. By treating madrasas, mosques, Eidgahs and cemeteries as threats, the state has turned its power against an entire community. This campaign, carried out through fear, propaganda and bulldozer politics, exposes India’s deep bias and growing hostility towards its own Muslim citizens. The border districts now reflect a clear truth: under Modi, no Muslim home, institution or cemetery is safe from the expanding Hindutva project of erasure. India’s claim of secular democracy collapses completely when a government uses its authority to uproot both the living and the dead.