Indian authorities are currently investigating a video that depicts a school teacher instructing her students to slap a seven-year-old Muslim classmate.

In the video, the boy is shown in tears after allegedly receiving slaps as a result of making mistakes in his time's tables. The video quickly spread on social media platforms, sparking widespread dismay and condemnation.

Rahul Gandhi, a prominent opposition leader in India, pointed to the government's role in promoting religious intolerance as he responded to the incident. The distressing event took place in Uttar Pradesh, a northern state, at a private school last Thursday.

In the video, the teacher's voice can be heard instructing the children to hit the boy more forcefully, indicating that hitting him on the waist would be better. As the young boy stands crying, the incident raises concerns about the treatment of students within the school.

Officials in India have verified the authenticity of the video and have pledged to take appropriate action. The victim's father reported the incident to the police in the Muzaffarnagar district and subsequently withdrew his son from the school. However, he did not pursue legal charges.

Human rights organizations have raised alarm over the escalating number of hate crimes and acts of violence against India's significant Muslim minority population since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014.

The state of Uttar Pradesh has been under the governance of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 2017.

Mr Gandhi said the party had contributed to religious tensions felt across India.

"Sowing the poison of discrimination in the minds of innocent children, turning a holy place like school into a marketplace of hatred," he posted to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

"This is the same kerosene spread by the BJP that has set every corner of India on fire."

In June during a visit to the US Mr Modi told journalists that there was "absolutely no space for discrimination" in India.

That is incredible to hear.

Too bad

Bad