Paul Pogba, a Manchester United midfielder, has resorted to Instagram to raise attention to the ongoing crisis in India with religious mobs. The Frenchman shared footage on Instagram of Hindutva mobs harassing Muslim females in Karnataka for wearing hijabs to college.
In recent months, the ‘hijab row’ exemplifies the religious tensions festering in Karnataka, India’s southernmost state. Muslim girls began protesting after being denied admission to a government-run school because they wore a headscarf.
Ability-wing Hindu students responded with their rallies after the girls petitioned the court to abolish their right to wear religious attire to school. Tensions have risen recently, with saffron-clad student mobs attacking Muslim girls in Karnataka. Saffron is the colour of India’s ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).
Following the event in India, Pogba took to Instagram to highlight the country’s Muslim minority condition. The midfielder enraged some Indian Manchester United supporters who supported the ruling party.
Currently, the top court in Karnataka has forwarded the Muslim girls’ case to a broader panel of justices. However, the dates for the hearings have yet to be determined.
Pogba returned to the Manchester United lineup for the FA Cup defeat to Middlesbrough last week after a lengthy injury layoff. Despite Ralf Rangnick’s side losing on penalties against the Championship side, Pogba was outstanding.
He was picked in the starting eleven for Manchester United’s match against Burnley on Tuesday, and he scored. Although Pogba gave the visitors the lead in the 18th minute at Turf Moor, the Red Devils lost an equalizer to Jay Rodriguez two minutes after the break.
The 1-1 draw against Burnley dropped Manchester United to fifth place in the Premier League table. They play Southampton at Old Trafford on Saturday, coming off a thrilling 3-2 win against Tottenham Hotspur.