Authorities asked to sack all non-Hindu workers at Maa Sharda Devi Temple ropeway; Muslims fear for their livelihoods, calling it open religious discrimination and economic harassment
NEW DELHI – In a disturbing turn of events, Hindu right-wing groups have openly demanded the removal of all Muslim employees at the revered Maa Sharda Devi Temple in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and its affiliate, Bajrang Dal, have issued a written ultimatum to the district administration, insisting that all non-Hindu employees, particularly Muslims, be removed from their jobs at the ropeway service operating at the temple.
On Monday, members of both organisations gathered in large numbers and submitted a memorandum to Additional Collector Shailendra Singh. They claimed that the presence of Muslims at a Hindu religious site “hurts sentiments” and “violates norms.” The groups also threatened strong protests if their demand is not met within seven days.
“Non-Hindus working at such a sacred site is unacceptable,” said Ravi Trivedi, a Bajrang Dal activist. “They neither understand our religious traditions nor follow our way of worship. We had warned the authorities earlier. This time we will not sit quietly.”
This is not the first incident of Muslims being stopped from working at religious places under the pretext of faith. In April this year, a Muslim welder was barred from repairing a temple gate in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, simply because of his religious identity.
“It feels like we are not even allowed to earn an honest living anymore,” said 45-year-old Rafiq Ahmed, a technician who has been working on the ropeway for the past eight years. “I never felt unwelcome before, but now I’m scared. We are being punished for being Muslims.”
Maihar’s Sharda Devi Temple ropeway is one of the busiest in central India. Thousands of pilgrims, regardless of religion, take the ropeway daily to reach the hilltop shrine. Several of its staff members are Muslims, working in technical and operational roles, many of whom have been part of the service since it was launched.
“This ropeway does not belong to any one religion,” said Imran Khan, another staff member. “We serve everyone with honesty—Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians. But now our religion is being made an excuse to remove us. This is wrong.”
In the memorandum submitted to the administration, the VHP and Bajrang Dal accused Muslim employees of “violating religious norms” and alleged instances of misbehaviour with passengers. However, the letter provided no documented proof of these allegations.
“They are inventing reasons to justify their hate,” said a resident who preferred to remain anonymous due to fear of reprisal. “If someone misbehaves or does something wrong, action should be taken against that individual, irrespective of religion. But here, the aim is to remove all Muslims.”
In a shocking revelation, VHP members also claimed that the Religious Affairs Department had already issued an order in 2023 to remove non-Hindu staff from such sites, but it was never implemented. Activists now blame the administration for ignoring that order.
“We submitted the same demand last year,” said Suresh Pandey, a VHP district coordinator. “But no action was taken. This time we are ready to protest. If the administration fails again, the responsibility for the consequences will be on them.”
The local administration has so far remained non-committal. Additional Collector Shailendra Singh acknowledged receiving the memorandum but refrained from giving a clear stance.
“We have received the complaint and will look into the matter,” Singh told reporters. “Any decision will be taken according to rules and regulations.”
This statement, however, brings little comfort to Muslim workers who now fear losing their jobs not for poor performance or misconduct, but simply for being born in a particular faith.
“Should I change my name to survive?” asked 29-year-old Azeem Khan, who works in ropeway maintenance. “My work has always spoken for itself. Nobody ever had a problem with me until now. Why are they punishing us all?”
Human rights activists and secular voices have slammed the VHP and Bajrang Dal’s actions, calling them blatant religious discrimination.
“This is a clear case of economic boycott against Muslims,” said Faizan Shaikh, a social worker based in Jabalpur. “It’s part of a wider plan to push Muslims out of public and religious spaces. What message does this send to our youth? That your religion decides whether you can earn or not?”
Even members of the Hindu community have expressed disappointment at the demand. “This temple belongs to all devotees, not just to VHP and Bajrang Dal,” said Harish Tiwari, a priest from a nearby village. “If someone is doing his job honestly, his religion should not matter.”
The tension in Maihar is palpable. Muslim workers who have been part of the ropeway system for over a decade now fear they might lose everything overnight.
“This is not just about a job,” said Noor Mohammad, a father of three. “This is about my children’s school fees, my family’s food, and my parents’ medicine. If they remove me, what will I do?”
What has made matters worse is the silence of political leaders. Not a single mainstream politician has condemned the Hindu groups’ demand or extended support to the Muslim workers.
“The ruling party is silent because they benefit from this hate,” said Abdul Qayyum, a retired teacher. “And the opposition fears being labelled anti-Hindu if they speak up. Who will speak for us then?”
The district administration has just a few days before the VHP-Bajrang Dal deadline ends. With rising pressure and polarisation, the question remains: will the government protect the rights of all citizens or give in to mob pressure?
For now, the future of many Muslim families in Maihar hangs in the balance.
“We don’t want to fight anyone,” said Rafiq Ahmed. “We just want to work with dignity and feed our families. Is that too much to ask?”
