Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The sudden transfer of a Muslim IPS officer has triggered a political furore in Bengal. Bushra Bano, a 2021-batch IPS officer, was shunted on Monday, a day after a right-wing group objected to Islamic greetings she used in a YouTube video encouraging students to pursue the civil services. Under fire, the government has described the move as a routine transfer, while the opposition asserted that it reeked of hate and bigotry.
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Bano, who was serving as Additional Superintendent of Police in Kharagpur, has now been posted as Deputy Commandant of the State Armed Police 4th Battalion. The controversy started after Bano posted a seemingly innocuous video on her YouTube channel about her IPS journey after leaving a teaching job in Saudi Arabia. While the video is no longer visible on her channel, it has emerged on social media.
WHY HAS BUSHRA BANO BEEN TARGETED?
In the video, the IPS officer starts with ‘Assalamu Alaikum (peace be upon you)’ before narrating how she prepared for the civil services after completing her PhD and returning from the Gulf. Born in Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj, Bano completed her studies at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
She also credited the Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) at AMU for helping her prepare for UPSC. “I am sharing this with you all so that other people benefit from it,” the IPS officer says in the video.
However, a right-wing outfit, the Hindu Legal Fund, took umbrage at the use of Islamic greetings by the IPS officer. In its complaint to the Bengal home secretary, it said Bano should have used phrases like “Vande Mataram” or “Jai Hind” instead of beginning her video with ‘Assalamu Alaikum’.
She also received backlash from several right-wing social media accounts, which accused her of “UPSC jihad”.
“She began with Assalamu Alaikum, used Inshallah (God willing), ended with Jazakallah (may God reward you) – and did not use Vande Mataram or Jai Hind. A serving officer representing the Indian state should maintain neutrality and use national expressions in public communication. Seeking appropriate review and action,” the outfit said in a post on X.
Bano was transferred days after the complaint, drawing massive criticism from opposition leaders.
TRANSFER SPARKS OPPOSITION BACKLASH
Leading the charge, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra slammed the Suvendu Adhikari-led governance for religious bias.
“For a country whose Prime Minister inaugurated the new Parliament with a sengol and bare-chested sadhus, transferring a Muslim IPS officer for saying Assalamu Alaikum and Inshallah is ridiculous. We are a nation gone mad, poisoned with hate and bigotry. God Save India,” Moitra tweeted.
In another post, she pointed out how the same BJP government set up separate prayer spaces inside the Bharat Mandapam during the BRICS Summit. “We are with you, Bushara,” Moitra said.
Notably, weeks ago, Moitra alleged that Muslim officers in West Bengal were being excluded from official events attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi urged the IPS Association to take note of the matter. “Instead of standing by her, the state government transferred her the very next day. What kind of India are you building, Modi ji?” he tweeted.
Telangana minister and former cricketer Md Azharuddin called it a “deeply concerning” development.
“When greetings become grounds for targeting a public servant, we must ask – what kind of message are we sending to minorities?” he tweeted.
Several social media users and journalists have also compared the incident with that of Uttar Pradesh police officer Anuj Chaudhary. In 2025, Chaudhary, then posted as Circle Officer in Sambhal, was promoted to Firozabad ASP days after he was spotted participating in a yatra in uniform and carrying a mace.
Chaudhary had gone viral for his communal remarks in 2025, when Holi coincided with Friday prayers. “Holi comes once a year, while Jumma comes 52 times. Those who avoid Holi should stay at home,” he had said, inviting criticism from the opposition.
The timing of Bano’s transfer, coming days after the complaint over her video, has fuelled questions over whether the two events were connected. While the BJP government has maintained that her transfer was a routine decision, the opposition has cried foul.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
