Indian Media Probes Arrest of Muslim Scholar for Operation Sindoor Comments

The detention of Professor Ali Khan, a Muslim scholar in India, over remarks regarding “Operation Sindoor” has sparked significant controversy. This outcry comes not only from civil rights organizations but also from various Indian media outlets, which have begun to question the legitimacy of the sedition charges against him.

In a social media post dated May 8, Professor Khan expressed his appreciation for the right-wing commentators praising Colonel Sofia Qureshi. He suggested that perhaps they could also speak up for those impacted by mob lynchings, home demolitions, and the hate politics championed by the BJP—urging that these individuals deserve protection as fellow Indians.

This statement led to a First Information Report (FIR) being filed against him, citing “anti-national” comments and alleged disrespect toward “daughters of India.”

However, in an interview, Renu Bhatia, Chair of the Haryana State Women Commission, found herself at a loss to identify any specific phrase from the professor’s post that could be deemed offensive or seditious, despite her initial complaint.

The anchor reiterated the full text of Khan’s message and pressed Bhatia to clarify which exact words were disrespectful toward Indian military women and constituted sedition.

Bhatia struggled to provide a coherent response. Although she asserted that criticizing military women amounted to an affront to their dignity, she could not cite any concrete language in Professor Khan’s remarks to support her claim.

“How could anyone say such things?” she questioned, resorting to vague explanations rather than offering a direct answer.

When pressed further—particularly on how Khan’s comments could be construed as insulting to Colonel Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh—Bhatia again failed to produce a specific quote. The interview, which gained significant traction online, revealed her attempting to evade direct questions, prompting the anchor to remark: “The nation wants to know — what exactly did he say?”

A satirical cartoon that went viral illustrated the absurdity of the situation: “Find something offensive in Professor Ali Khan’s post,” says the state. Upon checking his religion, the government concludes: “Arrest him.”