In Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, Muslim barbers running unisex salons have become the latest target of Hindutva groups, who accuse them of luring Hindu women under the false claim of “love jihad.”
On Thursday, a new salon on Tilak Road was forced to shut down before its official opening after Hindu organisations gathered outside, raised slogans, and pressured the owner to leave. Protestors called unisex salons “dens of immoral activities” and demanded their closure.
Raghvendra Bhatanagar, state president of Hindu Shakti Sangathan, alleged: “Boys from one particular community take the phone numbers of Hindu customers of these salons. They brainwash them, trap them with jihadi talk, and run away with them. This is a danger to our daughters and daughters-in-law.”
He also claimed that most workers in these salons were Muslim men while Hindu girls were employed as assistants. “Why don’t they employ women from their own families? Why are only our daughters being dragged into this?” he asked, warning of a “massive movement on the streets” if the salons continued.
Sudhir Roy of Swabhiman Morcha echoed similar views, saying: “Muslims should not be allowed to run such businesses in the state. This work involves our women. Verification of outsiders must be done. If they come with bad intentions, they should not be allowed in. The government, filled with Sanatani people, must act.”
The campaign has left Muslim barbers fearful. Many told Clarion India that they are being targeted only for their faith. “We are being punished just for earning our livelihood. We are not criminals. Cutting hair is our job. Now they are saying it is ‘love jihad’. Tomorrow they may say even selling tea is jihad,” said one young barber who requested anonymity.
Surprisingly, even the local barber association sided with the protestors. Its president, Vinod Kumar Chandel, declared unisex salons should not be allowed in the city and said he would shut his own salon as well, though he did not clarify if the decision was his own or under pressure.
A Muslim rights activist in Dehradun described the situation as part of a larger design: “This is a well-planned attack on Muslim existence. They want to choke every means of survival for Muslims, so that we either leave or live like slaves. The government is silently watching, if not actively encouraging this hate.”
For Muslim barbers in Rishikesh, the fear is overwhelming. As one worker put it: “We are scared to open our shops. We only want to earn for our families, but they are turning even hair cutting into a crime. How much more will we suffer?”
