Indian leader’s video abusing Muslim airline staff draws flak
Islamophobic remarks at Mumbai airport trigger outrage, raising concerns over religious profiling and political intimidation in workplaces
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A political figure linked to India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing mounting backlash after posting a video in which she is seen verbally abusing airline staff at a major international airport, with her remarks widely condemned as Islamophobic and intimidating.
The video, shared publicly on social media by Nazia Elahi Khan, shows her confronting ground staff of IndiGo at Mumbai International Airport, one of India’s busiest aviation hubs. Khan claimed she was mistreated during her travel, but viewers and rights advocates say the footage instead captures her berating employees performing routine operational duties.
Khan, who has become widely known for anti-Muslim and communal rhetoric on social media, has previously drawn criticism from rights groups for posts and speeches that frame Muslim identity as a security threat.
Observers say the airport episode fits a broader pattern in which political figures linked to India’s ruling party publicly single out Muslims using inflammatory language.
In the clip, Khan is heard making a communal remark referencing Muslim names, saying the country is “troubled by Abdul and Abdullah,” language that commentators and rights advocates described as demeaning and discriminatory. The remark appears to target the religious identity of the staff rather than any specific professional misconduct.
Khan is also seen publicly naming individual employees — all of them Muslim — and linking their presence to vague claims of national concern. Civil liberties advocates say publicly identifying workers and associating their religion with security insinuations amounts to intimidation, particularly in a high-security environment where employees have limited ability to respond.
The fact that the video was uploaded by Khan herself has intensified criticism, with many questioning why a public figure would broadcast footage that appears to show harassment rather than wrongdoing by airline staff. Opposition leaders and media watchdogs said the episode reflects how Islamophobic rhetoric has become normalized in public discourse.
The incident has triggered calls for airlines and airport authorities to ensure protection for staff subjected to communal abuse and political pressure while on duty. Advocates argue that workplaces — especially those involving public safety and transportation — must remain insulated from religious targeting and partisan intimidation.
As of now, IndiGo has not issued a public statement clarifying whether an internal review has been initiated, and airport authorities have not confirmed whether any formal complaint was lodged by the affected employees.
Analysts say the controversy highlights a wider concern: that Islamophobic language by political actors, particularly those associated with the ruling establishment, increasingly spills into everyday civilian spaces, reinforcing fear and vulnerability among Muslim workers whose professional roles offer little protection from public humiliation.
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