Image: Twitter
Videos of Hindu Mahasabha members threatening to remove Muslim shrines from across India are making rounds on the social media. This hate speech was reported from Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh. In the said video, a group of people can be seen standing and giving a hate speech. The first speaker says that he will ensure that when a Hindu nation is established, the country gets rid of all the shrines (Mazhars) too. He further said that tales will only flow from temples, and the fears of the Maulanas will come true as we have taken the oath of establishing a Hindu nation and destroying their property.
The second speaker, a woman donning an orange dupatta over her saree, can be heard saying “akhand bharat ab saakaar chahie, aatanki kasab ke rakhto se miti ka rang lal chahie, hindu-hindutva-yug-sanskaar chahie, ho faulaadi bhagwa dhaari, Delhi ke takht par yogi sarkaar chahie.” Through this Islamophobic and communal so-called poetry, the speaker compares the Muslim community to terrorism convict Ajmal Kasab, who was given the death penalty. She is asking for the blood of Muslims to flow like that of Ajmal Kasab, and urges the Hindu extremist outfits to achieve that.
The third speaker begins with his communal diatribe by saying that in the year 1947, they (Muslims) took the oath of Ghazwa-e-Hind. He then says that even in 1947, the Hindus were duped, and for 70 years, we have been getting duped. The speaker then spreads misinformation by saying that Jawaharlal Nehru was an Islamic leader, who brought in the end of the Hindu saga. He then urges the Hindus to get serious about establishing the Hindu Nation, since the Hindus have nowhere to run to.
The next speaker then proceeds with spreading this anti-Muslim communal agenda and says that in not much time will the Hindu Rashtra be established now as the Hindu citizens are aware of what is happening in our country. He further says that if a Hindu nation is not established, we will have to give up on a lot of things. He then issues threats in the air that now that all the Hindus are one, they are coming to establish a Hindu nation.
As can be observed from the translation of the hate speech made by the Hindu Mahasabha members, provocative, misinformed and anti-Muslims comments are made with an air of impunity. The speakers have not even tried to disguise the message of violence that they are promoting by instigating the Hindu population to get rid of Muslim population for the establishment of a Hindu nation.
The video can be viewed here:
Location: Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh
Hindu Mahasabha members threaten to remove Muslim shrines from across India. pic.twitter.com/QUlXWB2BsT
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) February 16, 2023
While the Hindu Mahasabha members limited themselves to provoke anti-Muslim sentiments, the members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal were a step ahead by directly attacking a mosque under-construction. This incident reportedly took place in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, where VHP and Bajrang Dal members vandalized an under-construction mosque by claiming it was illegal. The video shows a herd of men attacking an under-construction mosque using sticks and bricks, breaking down the equipment being used, protesting and sloganeering on the roads, and thereby jamming the roads. While this was no peaceful protest, the police can nevertheless be seen just standing while this display brazen/shameless performance is going on. The mob can be seen shouting “Jai Shree Ram” as they vandalise the mosque, in the presence of police.
This “protest” was held by the members of the extremists Hindutva outfits as, according to them, the mosque was constructing a second level illegally. This “protest”, wherein harm was also done to public property, reportedly went on for half an hour. Till now, the Hindutva extremists had used a bulldozer to illegally demolish structures of religious and cultural importance to the Muslims, even their homes and hearth, but now it seems that the Hindu swords and sticks are going to be enough to take the laws into their hands.
Towards the end of the video, Chandramohan Vedi, the district head of VHP was heard saying that the permission for construction was given to the Mosque, but not for constructing two levels on it. He said that they wanted to authorities to come and see how the permission was being misused as two more levels were being constructed, and that is why they are protesting on roads. The extremist Hindu outfits find it fit to violently attack on property as a way of demanding attention from the authorities. And since they hadn’t gotten the required attention, they also found it fit to take the law into their hands and take action themselves only.
The video can be viewed here:
Location: Banda, Uttar Pradesh
Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal members vandalized an under-construction mosque, claiming it was illegal. pic.twitter.com/3QsJvHU61b
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) February 16, 2023
The Banda police then, on the morning of February 16, issued a statement in which they said that they will have to enquire into the illegal acts that are happening in the Mosque as the foundation is being constructed. No reference was made in the statement of the police regarding the violence that was showcased during the “protest” by the VHP and the Bajrang Dal. Thus, in addition to standing quiet while violence ensued, the police sided with the Hindutva outfits in their statement regarding inquiry too.
The video can be viewed here:
#bandapolice थाना कोतवाली नगर क्षेत्र की घटना के संबंध में वीडियो बाइट पुलिस अधीक्षक बांदा श्री अभिनंदन।#अभिनंदन #UPPolice pic.twitter.com/oYMmaLh50g
— Banda Police (@bandapolice) February 16, 2023
Related:
Chhattisgarh: Sahu Samaj leader calls for mass violence against Muslims
Scapegoats and Holy Cows: Crime and Justice Delivery in the Age of Sectarian Nationalism
Madhya Pradesh: Church Defiled by miscreants, ‘Ram’ written on walls