Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – October 15, 2025
A video circulating widely on social media platforms has reignited claims of communal discord in Kerala, with users alleging that Muslim women passengers are barring Hindu women from boarding public buses unless they wear a burqa. The footage, shared with captions like "This is in Kerala yesterday" and warnings that "Hindus have to cover their head and then only can travel by public transport," has garnered thousands of views and shares, particularly on X (formerly Twitter). However, fact-checkers have swiftly debunked the narrative, confirming the clip originates from a 2023 student protest unrelated to religion or attire mandates.
The video, which runs for about 50 seconds, shows a group of women in burqas arguing heatedly with an older woman in a saree aboard a crowded bus. The women in burqas appear agitated, gesturing emphatically, while the saree-clad passenger responds assertively. Accompanying text in recent shares amplifies the drama, portraying it as evidence of "Sharia patrols" enforcing dress codes on non-Muslim women in the southern Indian state.
Posts on X, including one from user @bombaynanda on October 15, 2025, explicitly state: "Muslim women passengers say they will not allow HINDU women in bus without burqa." Similar shares from accounts like @RonyR45537 and @HinduTriNetra, dated as recent as October 11, 2025, echo the sentiment, questioning Hindu safety in India and tagging political figures for attention. One post even laments the lack of mainstream media coverage, suggesting a cover-up.
Despite the fervor, investigations reveal the video dates back to October 28, 2023, from Kasaragod district in northern Kerala. It captures a group of female college students protesting against private bus operators for refusing to halt at a stop near their institution, the Jamia Sallafiya Pharmacy College. The women in burqas—students from the Muslim-majority area—were demanding better access to public transport, a common grievance in rural Kerala where bus routes often bypass educational hubs.
The woman in the saree, identified as a local resident named Rajamma, was not targeted for her attire or faith but for objecting to the disruption caused by the sit-in protest. In statements to media outlets following the incident, Rajamma clarified: "There is no communal angle involved in this. It was just about the bus not stopping where it should." Local police intervened briefly to de-escalate, and no arrests or formal complaints were filed.
Fact-checking organizations have repeatedly addressed this footage's misuse. Newschecker.in labeled it a "falsely claimed" narrative, noting the video's origins in a non-religious protest. India Today Fact Check affirmed: "This video doesn't show Muslim students demanding Hindu woman to wear burqa," emphasizing the protest's focus on transport logistics. Alt News traced similar distortions to right-wing handles giving it a "communal spin," while The News Minute reported on how the clip was weaponized amid broader political tensions.
This resurgence coincides with no verified reports of new incidents in Kerala involving burqa enforcement on public transport. Kerala's State Transport Department and police spokesperson confirmed to this outlet that no such complaints have been logged in 2025, attributing the viral spike to recycled misinformation ahead of local elections.
Experts on communal harmony in India warn that such fabricated stories exacerbate divisions in a state known for its religious pluralism—Kerala boasts a 55% Hindu, 27% Muslim, and 18% Christian population, per the 2011 Census. "Misinformation like this erodes trust and plays into fear-mongering," said sociologist Dr. Maya John, adding that genuine transport issues, like inadequate bus halts, deserve focus over divisive spins.
As the video continues to spread, platforms like X have seen counter-posts debunking it, with one user noting: "The video is from 2023... Fact-checks by India Today, Newschecker, and Alt News confirm it's not about forcing burqa on Hindu women—no communal angle." Users are urged to verify sources before sharing to prevent further polarization.
This incident underscores the challenges of digital-age fact-checking in India's diverse society, where old clips can fuel fresh narratives overnight. Kerala authorities have reiterated calls for calm, emphasizing that public transport remains accessible to all without discriminatory barriers.
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