On the morning of August 5, a cloudburst in Uttarakhand triggered catastrophic flash floods, swallowing entire villages and reducing homes to debris. Among the worst-hit areas was Dharali, a peaceful village near Gangotri, where people lost everything—homes, loved ones, livelihoods. A video showing the fury of the floods quickly spread online, shaking the nation with grief. But amidst the heartbreak and despair, a disturbing reality unfolded—some users on social media chose not to express sorrow, but joy.

These reactions came from individuals like Ali Sohrab, Karishma Aziz, and others who shared the viral video not with sympathy, but with celebration. They referred to the disaster as “कुदरत का बुलडोज़र” (nature’s bulldozer), using the term to make fun of the situation and mock the tragedy as some kind of divine justice against a Hindu-majority region.

The term “bulldozer” was not used accidentally. Uttarakhand, often called Devbhoomi (Land of the Gods), has recently made headlines for a government-led mission to remove illegal structures. Many of these unauthorized constructions were Islamic religious establishments. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, bulldozers were used to reclaim public land, and these actions gained massive public support. Yet, they also triggered outrage in certain Islamist circles.

This growing resentment took an ugly turn online. “Ye aapda hai ya bulldozer chal raha hai?” (Is this a disaster or a bulldozer at work?) was one such tweet mocking the disaster. Others described the floods as “Khuda ki laathi mein awaaz nahi hoti”, meaning God’s stick strikes without warning. These kinds of reactions represent more than insensitivity—they show the rise of a dangerous, morally hollow ideology that celebrates human suffering under the guise of religion.

The root of this hatred lies deep within decades of political conditioning, where Muslims were not treated as equal citizens, but as a pampered vote bank. During the UPA regime, illegal land encroachments were ignored, religious conversions overlooked, and the fear of being labeled "communal" kept many from questioning violations of the law. This appeasement culture allowed some to feel entitled—above the law, beyond accountability.

However, under Modi’s central government and Dhami’s state administration, this narrative has changed. The bulldozer has become a symbol of unbiased governance, treating every citizen equally before the law. And it is this shift—from privilege to parity—that has enraged some within the Islamist segment. To them, equality feels like oppression. Being judged by the same standards is seen as persecution. Their fury is not about injustice—it’s about the loss of their long-standing immunity.

This fury turned venomous in the wake of the Uttarakhand floods. For such groups, Devbhoomi, home to revered Hindu shrines like Kedarnath and Badrinath, is a symbolic battleground. As soon as natural disaster struck, these ideologues twisted it into an act of divine revenge—Allah’s way of punishing the state for demolishing illegal Islamic structures. Thus, instead of mourning, they rejoiced. Instead of support, they spread mockery. And instead of unity, they sowed division.

Let’s be clear: this is not political commentary. This is hatred disguised as religion. It’s the same twisted logic that cheered during the Partition, the same mindset that justifies terrorism and radicalism, as long as it fits an Islamist agenda.

Even more shocking is the silence from India’s so-called liberal secularists and moderate Muslim voices. Imagine if the roles were reversed—if Hindus had celebrated a tragedy in a Muslim-majority region. The uproar would have dominated every media channel, every protest site, every activist’s Twitter feed. But when the hate is directed at Hindus, there is utter silence. This selective outrage enables extremist thinking to flourish under a fake veil of victimhood.

Let’s not be fooled. This is not about religion. It is about a dangerous ideology that resists change, accountability, and justice. These people are not upset about bulldozers—they are upset about being treated equally. They don't want fairness; they want continued privilege without consequence.

The tragedy in Uttarakhand should have brought everyone together. But instead, it has been turned into a grotesque celebration of death by those who see Hindu pain as divine comedy. This mindset is not only cruel—it is dangerous for the unity of the nation.

No society can survive if its people laugh at others’ suffering. And when that laughter is justified using God, it becomes not just immoral—but evil. In moments like this, silence is not neutrality—it is agreement.

India must not let this pass. We must confront this sickness—clearly, courageously, and without compromise. Because when people start finding joy in others' death, we’re not looking at political protest—we’re staring at the face of a cruel, extremist ideology determined to tear apart the soul of India.