Image Courtesy:theprint.in

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politicians are working overtime to stay in the limelight by spewing communal speeches that make them sound more like heads of right-wing groups. As many state elections loom on the horizon, BJP politicians, have been echoing anti-Muslim and anti-Christian hate speeches like the ones made at Haridwar recently. Even though they have made the headlines for their extreme views, however as they are yet to be censured by the BJP’s senior leadership, it may be seen as an ‘encouragement’ and thus inspire many more.

Just recently, the BJP-led Uttarakhand government headed by Chief Minister Pushakr Dhami, had been ‘oblivious’ to a Hindutva conclave held in Haridwar between December 17 and 19, where hate speech after hate speech made by religious leaders, right-wing activists, hardline fundamentalist speakers called for a Muslim genocide. It was called the ‘Dharma Sansad’ or ‘Religious Parliament’, and was attended by BJP man Ashwini Upadhyay.  Upadhyay and reportedly the BJP Mahila Morcha leader, Udita Tyagi.

Close on the heels of right wing politicians are sangh parivar affiliates who seem to be at the core of such hate scripts. Here are a few who are speaking the loudest at the moment, and communal groups active on the ground are soaking it in: 

Will “not hesitate to kill more Afzal Gurus”: Pradipsinh Vaghela
Pradipsinh Vaghela, a General secretary of the BJP in Gujarat, has said he would “not hesitate to kill more Afzal Gurus”. Vaghela was referring to Kashmiri separatist leader Mohammed Afzal Guru, who was hanged to death for his role in the 2001 Parliament attacks. But the message he intended seems to be aimed at a larger target. Vaghela, reported Indian Express, was addressing members of the BJP Youth wing in Gujarat on Saturday and said, "Congressmen say that if one Afzal Guru is killed, more will be born. But I am saying that if more are born, we will kill them all." 

Set “yearly targets to convert people” to Sanatan Dharma: Tejasvi Surya
Tejasvi Surya has implored temples and mutts to set “yearly targets to convert people” to Sanatan Dharma. According to the MP, the “only option left for Hindus is re-convert all those who left the Hindu faith and that includesMuslims of Pakistan. And yearly targets should be given to Mutts and temples to do this job.” Tejasvi proudly tweeted the speech and told his 1 million followers that he "Spoke on 'Hindu Revival' at Sri Krishna Math."

https://t.co/gXWWZZytm4

— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) December 25, 2021

He added that it was “after 2014, Bharat is finally decolonising itself after 70+ years of colonial hangover. Following centuries of being ruled by foreign invaders, Bharat is re-emerging as 'Vishwaguru'," and called for the conversion of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism. He reportedly called Islam and Christianity not religions but “political imperial ideologies”. He reportedly claimed that these faiths were “propagated by wielding swords.” 

According to him, “Hindu has been taken out from his mother religion. There is only one possible solution to address this anomaly. Those people who have left their mother religion and have for various socio-political, economic reasons over the course of India’s history have gone out of the Hindu fold must be brought back in whole, into the Hindu fold, brought back to the mother faith.” 

New ‘Madhuban Mein Radhika Naache’ video hurt Hindus: Narottam Mishra 
Narottam Mishra home minister Madhya Pradesh has threatened to take official action against actor Sunny Leone and composer Saqib Toshi if they do not remove a music video from social media within three days. Indian Express reported Mishra has threatened the two with an FIR and seeks an apology from the actor for her performance of the song ‘Madhuban Mein Radhika Naache’. The song was a super hit in the 60s and was sung by the legendary  Mohammed Rafi for the film Kohinoor. The new rendition, ‘Madhuban’, which has upset Mishra was released by Saregama Music on December 24 and is sung by Kanika Kapoor and Arindam Chakraborty, stated news reports.

Mishra reportedly said, “Some people who continuously hurt Hindu sentiments. There are temples for Radha in India, we pray for her. Saqib Toshi can make songs concerning his religion, but such songs offend us. I will take legal advice and action will be taken against them (Toshi and Leone) if the video is not taken down in three days.” According to the IE, Mathura-based priests have demanded a ban on the video, accusing the actor of hurting their religious sentiments by performing an “obscene” dance on the iconic song. Sant Naval Giri Maharaj of Vrindavan said, “We will go to court if the government does not act against the actress and ban her video album,” and that “ she should not be allowed to remain in India.” Akhil Bhartiya Tirth Purohit Mahasabha’s national president Mahesh Pathak added that the actor “has maligned the prestige of Brijbhumi” by presenting the song in a “derogatory manner” stated the news report.

I salute Nathuram Godse that he killed Gandhi: Kalicharan Maharaj 
Hindu Religious Leader Kalicharan Maharaj hailed Nathuram Godse for killing Mahatma  Gandhi. Kalicharan abused Gandhi in his speech at a ‘dharma sansad’ held at Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur, reported Outlook. He also said, “The target of Islam is to capture nation through politics. In front of our eyes they had captured in 1947 (referring to partition)...They had earlier captured Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan…” He asked people to elect a “staunch Hindu king (leader) in the government irrespective of any party (he/she) belongs to...The women of our houses are very good and civilised and they do not go to vote (in election). When there will be gang-rapes then what will happen to women of your houses (families)...(Mahamurkho) Idiots! The target of Islam is to capture nation through politics. In front of our eyes they had captured in 1947 (referring to partition)...They had earlier captured Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. They captured Bangladesh and Pakistan through politics.”

Exclude tribals who converted to other religions from the list of tribes: VHP 
On Saturday December 25, the Central Board of Trustees of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) passed a resolution demanding that the central government amend the Constitution to ‘exclude tribals who converted to other religions' from the list of tribes. According to an India Today report, VHP’s working president Alok Kumar said, "According to the Constitution of India, people who convert to Christianity and Islam should not be eligible to get the reservation and other benefits given to the Scheduled Tribes. But, even after getting converted, they are availing both types of benefits," He further said, "In the case of Kerala vs. Mohan, the Supreme Court had made it clear that if a person of a tribe renounces his original religion and adopts another religion and leaves his traditions, customs, rituals and rites, then he will not be considered a tribe.”

Offer Rs 1 Crore award to 'Hindu Prabhakaran’: Yati Narsinghanand 
Yati Narsinghanand Giri who was one of  the organisers of the Haridwar Dharam Sansad on December 19, interrupted a speaker who was mid-way through a anti-Muslim hate speech and announced, “If any youth worker is prepared to become the Hindu Prabhakaran, then before anyone else, I will give him Rs 1 crore… if anyone takes on the responsibility to become the Prabhakaran of the Hindus, I will give Rs 1 crore, and if he continues for one year, I will raise at least Rs 100 crore to give.” He was referring to Velupillai Prabhakaran, the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), an armed organisation, banned in India,who have been held responsible for the death of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

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