Muslim traders protest against BJP MLA’s son in Indore:Merchants oppose threat to remove community employees

Muslim traders organized a protest march to oppose threats allegedly made by the son of BJP MLA Malini Gaud, who reportedly demanded that Muslim employees be removed from shops in Indore on Wednesday. Traders marched from Bajaj Khana Chowk to Rajbada, holding placards and expressing solidarity. The protesters stated: We are Indians and have been conducting business here for years. This is not about politics; this is about our identity as Muslims. Visuals from protest Alleged warning by MLA’s son The controversy arose when Eklavya Singh Gaud, son of Malini Gaud, reportedly warned traders in Sheetla Mata Bazaar to remove Muslim employees from their shops. Shopkeeper Mohammed Gulzar said: We want business to be treated as business, not a political issue. We have spent 30-35 years here conducting our trade peacefully. We have no complaints, but now we are being forced out simply because we are Muslims. Political reactions The Congress party has condemned the incident. The party recently submitted a memorandum demanding a FIR against Eklavya Gaud and strict action. City Congress president Chintu Chouksey said:
“This is an attempt to disturb the harmony in Indore.” Earlier, Congress councillor Rubina Iqbal Khan released a video criticizing Eklavya Gaud, saying: Eklavya, you are like my son. What kind of politics is this? Your mother was a mayor, and I have worked with her, but she never discriminated in fund allocation. Meeting with traders On August 18, Eklavya Gaud reportedly met with traders of the Shri Sheetla Mata Bazaar Traders Association, including Hema Panjwani, Babul Sharma, Rupesh Rathore, and Atul Nema. During the meeting, he allegedly stated: Love Jihad is the biggest conspiracy to increase the Islamic population. It has become a challenge to Sanatan Dharma. We need to protect this market from people with a jihadi mentality. He reportedly instructed traders: Remove tenants, employees, or agents with jihadi mentality within a month. After a month, Hindu protection organizations will take direct action. Providing a safe environment for women is our priority. Traders demand fair treatment Traders emphasized that their businesses have operated peacefully for decades and that they are being unfairly targeted due to their religion. The protest reflects rising tensions in Indore’s marketplaces after the statements made by the MLA’s son, and local authorities are being urged to ensure security and neutrality for all traders. ​