Veteran Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has expressed concern over what he described as the growing normalization of discrimination against Muslims in India. Sharing an opinion article on social media, Tharoor said a recent incident involving a Muslim BJP leader allegedly being denied accommodation in Maharashtra reflects a “deeper moral decline” in society.
In the article published on NDTV, Tharoor referred to a report about Sajjad Yusuf Shah, the BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir media co-in-charge, who claimed he was asked to leave a hotel in Aurangabad shortly after checking in.
According to Shah, he was allegedly told to leave because of his Muslim and Kashmiri identity. Tharoor said the incident stood out as more than just an isolated event.
“Sometimes one incident cuts through the noise of daily politics and exposes the depth of our moral decay,” Tharoor wrote, referring to the reported hotel episode.
‘A Civilization Is Judged by How It Treats Minorities’
Tharoor said India’s greatness cannot be measured only by economic growth or infrastructure development.
“A great civilization is not measured only by GDP growth, highways, or defence systems,” he wrote. “Its real greatness lies in how it treats its weakest people, how safely minorities can sleep at night, and whether strangers can feel at home.”
The Congress MP argued that social harmony weakens when citizens feel excluded or unsafe. He warned that no amount of surveillance or state power can maintain stability if communities feel alienated.
“No society can function peacefully when a section of citizens feels they have no stake in the country or social order,” Tharoor said.
BJP Should Reflect on Incident, Says Tharoor
Tharoor said the ruling BJP should seriously reflect on the alleged treatment of one of its own party functionaries.
“The sad irony is that even a person working within the ruling party’s ecosystem was not protected from identity-based prejudice,” he wrote.
He added that discrimination, once normalized, eventually targets identity rather than political loyalty.
“When discrimination becomes institutionalized, it does not care about political affiliation. It directly targets identity,” Tharoor said.
Without directly accusing the BJP, Tharoor suggested that years of political polarization may have contributed to growing mistrust toward minorities.
“When polarization becomes a tool for electoral gain, it creates a monster that eventually goes beyond anyone’s control,” he wrote.
‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ and India’s Shared Culture Must Return
Tharoor also spoke about India’s long tradition of inclusiveness and coexistence. Referring to the country’s cultural values, he said ideas such as Atithi Devo Bhava (guest is like God) and the Ganga-Jamuni culture once represented India’s identity.
“For centuries, India took pride in welcoming guests with dignity and respect,” he wrote. “We must rebuild a society where every citizen, regardless of religion or name, can travel anywhere in the country and feel safe.”
He described the denial of a hotel room as not just a business dispute but a sign of wider discrimination faced by Muslims in housing, workplaces, restaurants, and public spaces.
Tharoor Warns Against Social Isolation of Muslims
The Congress leader also cited examples of Muslim Indians who have contributed significantly to the nation, including former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and legendary shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan.
He argued that India had long stood out globally because its Muslim population largely stayed away from extremist ideologies despite global tensions.
Calling the situation a “collective moral failure,” Tharoor said forcing future generations to feel unwanted in their own country damages the nation’s social fabric.
“It is heartbreaking when children begin to feel excluded because of their identity,” he wrote. “This silent alienation weakens human dignity and destroys the joy of shared citizenship.”
