Communal Organisations | SabrangIndia https://sabrangindia.in/category/communal-organisations/ News Related to Human Rights Mon, 04 Aug 2025 11:32:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://sabrangindia.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Favicon_0.png Communal Organisations | SabrangIndia https://sabrangindia.in/category/communal-organisations/ 32 32 Communal Conspiracy in Karnataka School: Sri Ram Sene leader orchestrates poisoning to target Muslim headmaster https://sabrangindia.in/communal-conspiracy-in-karnataka-school-sri-ram-sene-leader-orchestrates-poisoning-to-target-muslim-headmaster/ Mon, 04 Aug 2025 11:32:01 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=43068 Three arrested after 11 children fall ill from poisoned water; police uncover plot aimed at removing long-serving Muslim educator in Karnataka’s Hulikatti village

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]]> In a chilling case that underscores the dangerous nexus between communal hatred and criminal conspiracy, Karnataka police have unearthed a deliberate attempt to poison schoolchildren in Belagavi district in a bid to target a Muslim school headmaster. The incident, which occurred on July 14 in Hulikatti village of Saundatti taluk, left 11 children ill after they drank water from a contaminated tank at the Government Lower Primary School, reported The News Minute.

The conspiracy unveiled

Initial investigation began after the school’s headmaster, Suleman Gorinaik, filed a complaint with the Saundatti police station when several students complained of nausea and a foul smell in the drinking water. Prompt medical attention helped avert a major tragedy, and all affected students recovered quickly, according to Superintendent of Police Bheemashankar S. Guled, as per the TNM report.

As the investigation progressed, police discovered that the school’s water tank had been intentionally poisoned with pesticides. Surveillance, forensic evidence, and witness accounts led to the arrest of three individuals on August 2:

  • Sagar Patil, taluk president of the Hindutva outfit Sri Ram Sene in Saundatti,
  • Krishna Madar, a local resident coerced into participation, and
  • Magangouda Patil, an accomplice who assisted in procuring the poison.

According to SP Guled, the entire plot was masterminded by Sagar Patil, who allegedly sought to have Headmaster Gorinaik transferred or suspended from his post, motivated purely by communal animosity. Gorinaik, a respected educator who had served the school for 13 years, was well-liked by the local community, a fact that did not sit well with certain hard-line elements, according to the report of TOI.

A child manipulated

According to the Indian Express, police investigations revealed that Krishna Madar, acting under Patil’s direction, had purchased three types of pesticides, mixed them, and transferred the toxic concoction into a soft drink bottle. He then handed this bottle to a minor student, luring the child with Rs 500, chocolates, and condiments, and instructed him to empty the contents into the school’s drinking water tank. The minor, unaware of the gravity of the act, complied.

The police have confirmed that the soft drink bottle was recovered from the crime scene, and forensic analysis detected traces of insecticide inside. The minor child will now serve as a prosecution witness under legal protection, given his vulnerable status, as per TNM.

Blackmail and coercion

One of the most disturbing elements of the investigation is the role of blackmail in furthering the conspiracy. Police have stated that Sagar Patil coerced Krishna Madar into participating by threatening to reveal his inter-faith romantic relationship. According to the Belagavi SP, Patil weaponised communal shame and social stigma around inter-faith relationships to push Madar into executing a dangerous plot that endangered the lives of children, as per The Hindu.

Arrests and legal action

All three conspirators, Sagar Patil, Krishna Madar, and Magangouda Patil, have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. Belagavi police have invoked stringent provisions under criminal law to charge the accused with criminal conspiracy, attempt to cause grievous hurt, poisoning, and endangering life, among others.

The minor student, whose role was manipulated, will not face charges and is being treated as a victim in the broader scheme, as per media reports.

Chief Minister’s strong condemnation

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took to social media to strongly condemn the incident, describing it as a “heinous” and “unforgivable” act rooted in religious bigotry. “The headmaster of the government school in Hulikatti village, Savadatti taluk, Belagavi district, belongs to the Muslim community. With the malicious intent of having him transferred elsewhere, Sagar Patil, the taluk president of Shriram Sena, along with two others, has been arrested for poisoning the drinking water of school children. In this incident that occurred 15 days ago, several children fell ill, but fortunately, no lives were lost,” he stated in a post on X dated August 3.

“Religious fundamentalism and communal hatred can lead to heinous acts, and this incident, which could have resulted in the massacre of innocent children, is a testament to that. In the land of the Sharanas, who proclaimed, “Compassion is the root of religion,” how could such cruelty and hatred arise? Even at this moment, I cannot believe it,” the CM wrote, expressing disbelief that such hatred could manifest in Karnataka, “the land of the Sharanas” — a reference to the state’s egalitarian cultural heritage.

Taking aim at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Siddaramaiah further questioned whether senior BJP figures — including Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Mutalik, BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra, and Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka — would take moral responsibility for the acts perpetrated by those aligned with Hindutva ideologies. “Leaders who always support such socially destructive acts should now come forward and atone for their sins,” he declared.

A call to action against hate

The CM also highlighted the formation of a special task force to counter hate speech and prevent communal riots. “To curb hate speeches and communal riots, we have formed a special task force, and we are taking all possible legal measures against such elements. For all our efforts to bear fruit, the public must also raise their voices against such forces, resist them, and file complaints,” Siddaramaiah stated, urging citizens to report such conspiracies, resist communal forces, and stand up against sectarianism.

He concluded by praising the local police, especially the Belagavi team, for swiftly uncovering the conspiracy. “Congratulations to the police personnel who foiled the evil plot to massacre children. I have full confidence that the judicial system will deliver appropriate punishment to the culprits who committed such a heinous act”.

The complete post may be read here: 

 

SP Guled had noted that the police solved the case using a combination of scientific evidence, interrogation of students, and surveillance records.

Conclusion

The poisoning plot in Belagavi is a stark reminder of how hate-driven ideology can metastasize into lethal violence, even targeting children. The police’s timely intervention prevented what could have been a mass poisoning. But the incident raises larger questions about the rise of communal vigilantism, the weaponisation of school spaces, and the moral decay that accompanies unchecked religious extremism.

Related:

“Sambhal: Anatomy of an Engineered Crisis”- How a peaceful Muslim-majority town was turned into a site of manufactured communal conflict

Bengal arrests expose communal plot by members of Santani Ekta Manch, Punjab sees similar incident

Anatomy of Nagpur Riots: A communal bio politics that thrives on the graded inequalities of religion, gender and caste(s)

‘High-Handed, violation of the SC orders’: Bombay HC pulls up Nagpur Civic Body for demolishing homes of accused in communal violence

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]]> 100 yrs of RSS as seen by global media house: Power, controversy, push for Hindu-first India https://sabrangindia.in/100-yrs-of-rss-as-seen-by-global-media-house-power-controversy-push-for-hindu-first-india/ Fri, 01 Aug 2025 11:30:27 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=43045 On a blistering summer evening in Nagpur, nearly a thousand men in brown trousers, white shirts, and black caps stood in formation as a saffron flag was raised, marking a graduation ceremony for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers. This vivid scene, described in a recent FT Weekend Magazine article, “A hundred years after it was […]

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]]> On a blistering summer evening in Nagpur, nearly a thousand men in brown trousers, white shirts, and black caps stood in formation as a saffron flag was raised, marking a graduation ceremony for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers. This vivid scene, described in a recent FT Weekend Magazine article, “A hundred years after it was founded, India’s Hindu-nationalist movement is getting closer to its goal of a Hindu-first state,” captures the enduring presence of the RSS, a century-old Hindu-nationalist organization.
However, the article, a rare one of a controversial organisation by a top global media house, authored by Andres Schipani and Jyotsna Singh, also highlights sharp criticisms of the RSS’s ideology and influence, raising concerns about its impact on India’s pluralistic society.
Founded in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in Nagpur with just 17 followers, the RSS was rooted in Hindu supremacy and territorial nationalism, inspired by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar’s 1925 work “Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?”. The organization has since grown into a vast network, reaching into sectors like the judiciary, military, and business.
“They want to change society,” Christophe Jaffrelot, a South Asia expert at Sciences Po and King’s College London, is quoted as saying. “They want to change the values of the people, and that is the ultimate goal.”
The article portrays the RSS as a tightly knit community, fostering a sense of brotherhood among volunteers who wear uniforms, sing nationalist songs, and train in Hindu-centric philosophy. “The message of the daily meetings is a restoration of a sense of community among Hindus,” especially those feeling “rootless,” wrote Walter Andersen and Shridhar Dandekar in “Hinduism’s Challenge”.
The RSS emphasizes cultural Hinduism, with its national joint editor stating, “Though it talks about Hindu religion, it is not a religion or book. The purpose is to be proud of your ancestors, of your dharma, which does not mean religion but duties, ideas, and values.” Its community work—such as manning a hospital mortuary during a crisis in which 19 people died—is praised internally. “The Sangh’s work has been increasing, despite… opposition and resistance from its critics,” wrote Manmohan Vaidya, an RSS joint general secretary.
Yet, the article also highlights significant criticisms of the RSS’s ideology and actions. Critics accuse the organization of promoting bigotry and exclusivity toward India’s minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians. A 1955 government intelligence report quoted Hedgewar as asserting that “Hindus would dominate the future government of India, and it was for them to say what political rights and privileges were to be conceded to non-Hindu elements.”
This perspective—rooted in Savarkar’s skepticism about the loyalty of non-Hindus to a Hindu state—fuels accusations that the RSS seeks to marginalize minorities. Jaffrelot argues, “They want minorities to become second-class citizens. If this is not politics, what is politics?” He criticizes the RSS’s expansive network, noting, “The whole family is a huge network, infiltrating all kinds of milieus, including the judiciary, including the army, including the business community. They are everywhere, all centralized in the same way, under the same umbrella.”
The article quotes Devanura Mahadeva, a former RSS member who later became disenchanted, offering a scathing critique in his book “RSS: The Long and Short of It”. He writes, “History is whatever they believe—for us RSS, their beliefs are the same as the world’s Hindu right-wing parties,” likening the RSS to global far-right movements.

The article also notes the RSS’s controversial history, including its association with communal violence—such as the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by a former RSS member and the 1990s demolition of a 16th-century mosque in Ayodhya, which sparked significant backlash.

The RSS’s influence is evident in its ties to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a former RSS member. The article notes that policies like tightening laws on religious conversions, policing cow slaughter (sacred to Hindus), and building a temple at the disputed Ayodhya site align with the RSS’s Hindu-first vision.
“There are so many policy changes which have happened according to the vision of RSS, so we appreciate it,” a senior RSS official in Nagpur told the authors.
The article criticizes recent moves, such as a controversial April 2025 bill placing Muslim endowments under government control, which critics argue undermines minority rights. The RSS’s accusations of “love jihad”—alleging Muslim men court Hindu women to convert them—further stoke tensions in a country where Hindus make up 80% and Muslims 14% of the 1.4 billion population, it asserts.
Despite its political influence, the RSS ironically maintains that it is not a political party. Jaffrelot notes that Madhavrao Sadashivrao Golwalkar, who led the RSS from 1940 to 1973, “did not want RSS people to become politicians because they would become dirty, forget the rules, the values.”
Yet, this distinction is superficial, the article argues, given the RSS’s policy impact. Some RSS leaders also express discomfort with Modi’s cult of personality, particularly his claim of being “sent by God,” which clashes with the organization’s ethos of collective loyalty. Jaffrelot warns that the RSS’s vision of a Hindu-first state is unattainable, stating, “They live in a different world from the ideal world… You will never be sufficiently Hindu. You will never be sufficiently strong.”
Still, the RSS remains optimistic about its future, notes the article. Its current chief, greeted with orange bindis at the Nagpur ceremony, told The Organiser in May that within 25 years, the RSS will “unite the entire” Hindu community, declaring, “The RSS’s future looks good—strong.” Volunteers like Ratna Sharda, who joined at a young age, reflect this dedication: “As long as I remember, I’ve been in my RSS uniform. I have no other uniform of childhood.”
Public reactions on X reveal deep divisions, the article says. Supporters praise the RSS’s cultural pride and community work, while critics condemn its exclusionary ideology and threat to India’s secular fabric. The RSS’s mission to reshape India’s cultural and political landscape is gaining traction—but this, the article suggests, may deepen divisions in India’s diverse society.
First Published on counterview.net

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]]> Targeted by Mob, Arrested without Cause: Two Catholic nuns jailed in Chhattisgarh despite consent documents and no evidence of conversion https://sabrangindia.in/targeted-by-mob-arrested-without-cause-two-catholic-nuns-jailed-in-chhattisgarh-despite-consent-documents-and-no-evidence-of-conversion/ Mon, 28 Jul 2025 09:54:34 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=42970 Despite valid IDs and parental consent, nuns face charges under BNS and state conversion law; no action on those who harassed them

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]]> On Saturday, July 26, two Catholic nuns from the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate (ASMI)—Sister Preeti Mary and Sister Vandana Francis—were arrested at Durg Railway Station in Chhattisgarh along with Sukhman Mandavi, a youth from Narayanpur district. The group was accompanying three young women aged between 18 and 19, reportedly to Agra for domestic work. As per the report of The News Minute, despite the women being legal adults with valid identity documents and written parental consent, the nuns were charged under Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (trafficking of persons) and Section 4 of the Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act, 1968, for alleged forced religious conversion.

The arrest, which followed a public mob intimidation led by Bajrang Dal activists, is being widely condemned as a blatant case of targeted harassment of religious minorities under the guise of anti-conversion and trafficking laws.

Mob tip-off, not law, triggered arrest

The incident was triggered not by any formal complaint or police investigation, but by a train ticket examiner (TTE) at the station who questioned the group and then contacted local Bajrang Dal members rather than railway authorities. According to Father Sebastian Poomattam, Vicar General of the Raipur Archdiocese, who spoke with The News Minute, the women told the TTE they were travelling to Agra under the care of the nuns, and the nuns had their tickets. But soon, a Bajrang Dal mob gathered and began harassing the group.

The nuns were accompanying the women to secure employment as kitchen helpers in convents in Agra, with salaries between ₹8,000 and ₹10,000, as confirmed by Fr. Poomattam. “They were all over 18 and had consent letters from their parents,” he said, as reported in the The News Minute report.

Despite this, the railway police detained the group. Bajrang Dal activists gathered outside the police station and allegedly pressured authorities into registering an FIR. The women were later sent to a state-run shelter, while the nuns and the young man were remanded to judicial custody until August 8.

Police inaction against Bajrang Dal despite harassment

Sister Asha Paul, from the Congregation of the Holy Family in Delhi, alleged that no Church representative was permitted to meet the arrested nuns. “We believe the young women were coerced into changing their statements. The nuns had all required documents—IDs, consent letters—yet they were treated as criminals,” she said, as reported by The News Minute.

Multiple eyewitness accounts and Christian organisations confirmed that the nuns were publicly humiliated by Bajrang Dal members, led by Jyoti Sharma, even before their arrest, with police officers reportedly standing by. Videos shared by Anti-Christian Tracker Watch on social media show the group being harassed on the platform.

Despite this, no FIR has been filed against Sharma or other members of the vigilante group.

Systematic targeting of Christians, say Church and civil society

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) condemned the arrests, stating that the women were legal adults, their travel was voluntary, and there was no evidence of conversion. “This is a violation of their constitutional rights. The Church will raise the issue on all appropriate platforms,” CBCI said in a press statement, as reported by The New Indian Express.

The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council’s (KCBC) Social Harmony and Vigilance Commission said the police action was based on “false and baseless allegations” from Bajrang Dal members. According to The New Indian Express, the KCBC warned that the incident fits a broader pattern of intimidation and misuse of anti-conversion laws to target religious workers. “This distressing incident is part of a broader and deeply troubling pattern of increasing hostility towards Christians and missionary personnel across various Indian states. The weaponisation of anti-conversion laws by extremist groups is not only unjust but also poses a serious threat to the constitutional rights of religious minorities in the country. We affirm that Catholic missionaries do not engage in forced conversions,” their official statement noted.

Notably, the United Christian Forum (UCF) had reported that incidents targeting Christians have surged from 127 in 2014 to 834 in 2024—a near sevenfold increase—highlighting what it called “a coordinated campaign of intimidation against minorities.”

Call for action

Congress leaders from Kerala sharply condemned the arrests. AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, highlighting that the present incident is a blatant case of mob intimidation and wrongful imprisonment. When written consent and documentation are ignored, and police act under pressure from fringe elements, it is a breakdown of law.

John Brittas, Member of Parliament from CPI-M, also addressed a letter to the Chhattisgarh CM stating that the arrest of Kerala nuns Sr. Vandana Francis & Sr. Preethi at Durg on baseless trafficking & conversion charges is a disgrace, and a blatant misuse of the law to target minorities.

 

The KCBC has demanded intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union ministers, stating: “The Centre must not stay silent. Mob rule cannot override constitutional rights. This is a moment of reckoning for India’s commitment to democracy and religious freedom.”

Related:

United Christian Forum submits memorandum to UP Governor Anandiben Patel; demands repeal of UP anti-conversion law and its recent amendment

United Christian Forum submits detailed memorandum to Minority Affairs minister Kiren Rijiju highlighting targeted violence against Christian Community; demands repeal of anti-conversion laws

Allahabad HC’s recent judgement dubbed “saffron-tinged”, “fuelling fear among Christians,” says United Christian Forum

United Christian Forum: Average two Christians attacked in India every day, 287 incidents reported from UP itself

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]]> Emergency regime and the role of RSS https://sabrangindia.in/emergency-regime-and-the-role-of-rss/ Fri, 04 Jul 2025 07:13:59 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=42612 The RSS’ claim that they were the main force of ‘resistance’ during the 15-month period of the Emergency is not borne out by record

The post Emergency regime and the role of RSS appeared first on SabrangIndia.

]]> This June (2025), the country did observe the 50th year of the Emergency which was imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975. Long columns have been written about this period when many democratic liberties stood suspended, thousands were jailed and the media was muzzled. This period is seen very differently by some Dalit leaders who recall the radical measures taken by Indira Gandhi in the previous decade like nationalisation of Banks and abolition of privy purses.  Enough has already been written and analysed.

On this occasion the Union Cabinet passed a resolution condemning that period and praising those who sacrificed opposing this event. It was resolved to “commemorate and honour the sacrifices of countless individuals who valiantly resisted the Emergency and its attempt at subversion of the spirit of Indian Constitution, a subversion which began in 1974 with a heavy-handed attempt at crushing the Navnirman Andolan and Sampoorna Kranti Abhiyan.” The BJP is putting heavy emphasis on its great role during the 21 months of that period. This matches with the claims of RSS that it was they who were the major force opposing the emergency. Like most of the outfit’s other claims this one is also devoid of any element of truth.

Some work in independent media tells a different tale. Prabhash Joshi, one of the doyens of journalism wrote, “Balasaheb Deoras, then RSS chief, wrote a letter to Indira Gandhi pledging to help implement the notorious 20-point program of Sanjay Gandhi. This is the real character of the RSS…You can decipher a line of action, a pattern. Even during the Emergency, many among the RSS and Jana Sangh who came out of the jails gave mafinamas (mercy petition). They were the first to apologise… Atal Bihari Vajpayee was [most of the time in hospital]… But the RSS did not fight the Emergency. So why is the BJP trying to appropriate that memory?” He concludes that “they are not a fighting force, and they are never keen to fight. They are basically a compromising lot. They are never genuinely against the government”.

TV Rajeswar, who served as Governor of Uttar Pradesh and Sikkim penned a book, ‘India: The Crucial Years” [Harper Collins] corroborated the fact that “Not only they (RSS) were supportive of this [Emergency], they wanted to establish contact apart from Mrs. Gandhi, with Sanjay Gandhi also”.

While many socialists and communists were undergoing the prison sentence, the RSS cadres were restless to get released from jail. Subramanian Swami of BJP in an article in The Hindu narrated the emergency story. (June 13, 2000) he claimed that RSS chief Balasaheb Deoras and former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee betrayed the anti-Emergency movement by writing letters of apology to India Gandhi. “It is on the record in the Maharashtra Assembly proceedings that the then RSS chief, Balasaheb Deoras, wrote several apology letters to Indira Gandhi from inside the Yerawada jail in Pune disassociating the RSS from the JP-led movement and offering to work for the infamous 20-point program. She did not reply to any of his letters.” (The 20-point program and Sanjay Gandhi’s five-point are cited by the Congress regime to justify the imposition of the Emergency, in its endeavour to Regenerate India).

One of my friends, Dr. Suresh Khairnar, ex-President of the Rashtriya Seva Dal was also in jail during this time. When he saw the RSS cadres signing the mafinama (mercy petition), he was furious at this act of betrayal and confronted them. As per their style they said what they are doing is as per the path which was taken by Tatyarao (V D Savarkar). So true of the strategies of the Hindu nationalists!

One also remembers that when A.B.Vajpayee was arrested in Bateshwar near Agra while overlooking the procession participating in Jungle Satyagraha, which pulled down the Union Jack from the government building and hoisted tricolor. Vajpayee immediately wrote a letter and disassociated from the 1942 Quit India Movement. He got his release immediately. The followers of this ideology have been well characterized by Prabhash Joshi above.

While the verbal aggressive language of theirs is so loud, their practice is different. When Vajpayee led the NDA Government in 1998, human rights activists did feel the difference. Until then, several committed human rights workers had regarded Congress and BJP as two sides of the same coin. The Vajpayee’s period, however, opened the eyes of many to the fact that BJP is a party with a difference. That was despite the fact that BJP on its own did not have the full majority that time.

Now Modi has been in the saddle for nearly eleven years. In 2014 and 2019 he got full majority. And with this full majority; the true colours of their credentials are loudly apparent. While the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi followed a laid down procedure in the Constitution, however manipulated, what we are now witnessing an ‘undeclared emergency’. In 2015, in an interview with Shekhar Gupta of Indian Express, none other than Lal Krishna Advani said, “Today it has been 40 years since the declaration of Emergency at that time. But for the last one year, an undeclared Emergency has been going on in India. (‘Indian Express’ dated 26-27 June 2015.)

Freedom of expression has been totally muzzled. Many have been imprisoned for daring to speak the truth.  Freedom of religion is going for a freefall. Justice is being overtaken by bulldozer justice. The intimidation and torture of minorities on the pretext of love jihad, cow-beef is abominable. Many eminent social activists have been put behind the bars in the Bhima Koregaon case. Muslim activists like Umar Khalid, Gulfisha Fatima are incarcerated even though their cases are not coming up for hearing. Corporate controlled media is ever ready to plead for the government’s policies and suppress the dissenting voices.

While the Union Cabinet and RSS and other linked organisations are taking all the credit for resisting the emergency of 1975, the present regime has been imposing the same by other means. The index of democracy on the global scale is constantly on the decline. There is a need to introspect and overcome the undeclared emergency which India is undergoing at present.

Related:

On the 50th anniversary of India’s formal ‘Emergency’, how the RSS betrayed the anti-emergency struggle

How RSS betrayed the struggle against the Emergency, from its archives

RSS as worshippers of brute power did not oppose 1975 Emergency

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]]> On the 50th anniversary of India’s formal ‘Emergency’, how the RSS betrayed the anti-emergency struggle https://sabrangindia.in/on-the-50th-anniversary-of-indias-formal-emergency-how-the-rss-betrayed-the-anti-emergency-struggle/ Tue, 24 Jun 2025 09:31:32 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=42419 How the authoritarian proto-fascist RSS not only in a sense supported India’s formal Emergency (1975-77), filed mercy petitions for early release from prison but also –in sharp contrast—played no part in the fierce and challenging struggle for India’s freedom against colonial rule

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]]> The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), as a Hindutva Gurukul (university) specialises in training cadres in speaking falsehoods and fabricating history. As the latest proof of this core propaganda push, we find that, on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency [1975-77 to 2025], every Tom, Dick, and Harry from the RSS enlightening Indians on how the RSS stood against the Emergency, how ‘valiantly its cadres challenged the dictatorial rule of Indira Gandhi and made great sacrifices during anti-Emergency movement.’ In its latest issue of the RSS (English) organ, the Organizer (June 24, 2025) presenting PM Modi as the singular symbol of the fight against Emergency has stated:

“The lesson had been burned into public memory. The Emergency became more than a chapter in history. It became a warning. For Narendra Modi, it was not just a past event. It was part of his personal journey. As Prime Minister, he has often reminded the nation of those dark times…It was about imprisoning free thought, art, and expression. That period left behind not just scars, but reminders. It taught us that freedom is earned, not gifted.” [i]

Let us take first, examine the claim that the RSS-BJP rulers are/have been committed to the liberal democratic values as a faith. The most prominent ideologue of the RSS, MS Golwalkar, also known as the ‘Guru of Hate’ [whom PM Modi credits for grooming him into a political leader] while addressing the 1350 top level cadres of the RSS in 1940 declared, “RSS inspired by one flag, one leader and one ideology is lighting the flame of Hindutva in each and every corner of this great land.” [ii]

With such a philosophical love for totalitarianism the RSS has, always hated sharing of power. Proponents of the Sangh have stood in strong opposition to the federal structure of the constitution, a ‘Basic’ feature of the India polity. Golwalkar declared in 1961, “Today’s federal form of government not only gives birth but also nourishes the feelings of separatism… It must be completely uprooted, constitution purified, and unitary form of government be established.” [iii]

So far as the formally declared Emergency is concerned, the RSS claim of fighting against it needs to be evaluated in the light of contemporary narratives including documents from RSS archives. In this connection, two narratives one by a veteran thinker and journalist of India, Prabhash Joshi and the other by TV Rajeswar, former Intelligence Bureau [IB] chief who was the deputy chief of IB during the Emergency are of immense importance. They recounted the days of the Emergency (or state terrorism) when the RSS ‘surrendered to the repressive regime of Indira Gandhi’, ‘assured her and her son, Sanjay Gandhi to enforce faithfully the draconian 20-point programme announced by the Emergency regime.’ In fact, a large number of RSS cadres got themselves released from jails after mercy petitions (maafinaamas).

The account by veteran journalist, Prabhash Joshi appeared in the English weekly Tehelka n the 25th anniversary of the Emergency. [iv] According to him even during the Emergency “there was always a lurking sense of suspicion, a distance, and a discreet lack of trust” about RSS’ joining the anti-Emergency struggle. He went on to say that,

“Balasaheb Deoras, then RSS chief, wrote a letter to Indira Gandhi pledging to help implement the notorious 20-point programme of Sanjay Gandhi. This is the real character of the RSS…You can decipher a line of action, a pattern. Even during the Emergency, many among the RSS and Jana Sangh who came out of the jails, gave mafinamas. They were the first to apologize. Only their leaders remained in jail: Atal Behari Vajpayee [most of the time in hospital], LK Advani, even Arun Jaitley. But the RSS did not fight the Emergency. So why is the BJP trying to appropriate that memory?”

Prabhash Joshi concluded that “they are not a fighting force, and they are never keen to fight. They are basically a compromising lot. They are never genuinely against the government”.

TV Rajeswar, who served as Governor of Uttar Pradesh and Sikkim penned a book, ‘India: The Crucial Years” [Harper Collins] corroborated the fact that “Not only they (RSS) were supportive of this [Emergency], they wanted to establish contact apart from Mrs. Gandhi, with Sanjay Gandhi also”. [v] Rajeswar in an interview with Karan Thapar disclosed that Deoras,

“Quietly established a link with the PM’s house and expressed strong support for several steps taken to enforce order and discipline in the country. Deoras was keen to meet Mrs. Gandhi and Sanjay. But Mrs. Gandhi refused.” [vi]

According to Rajeswar’s book,

“Sanjay Gandhi’s concerted drive to enforce family planning, particularly among Muslims, had earned Deoras’s approbation.” [vii] Rajeswar also shared the fact that even after Emergency the “organization (RSS) had specifically conveyed its support to the Congress in the post-emergency elections.” [viii] It will be interesting to note that even according to Subramanian Swamy during the Emergency period, most of the senior leaders of RSS had betrayed the struggle against the Emergency. [ix]

Contemporary documents in the archives of the RSS validate the narratives of Prabhash Joshi and Rajeswar. The 3rd Supremo of RSS, Madhukar Dattatraya Deoras wrote the first letter to Indira Gandhi within two months of the imposition of Emergency. It was the time when state terror was running amok, crushing the human rights of thousands of Indians.

In letter dated August 22, 1975, Deoras began with the following praise of Indira:

“I heard your address to the nation which you delivered on August 15, 1975, from Red Fort on radio in jail [Yervada jail] with attention. Your address was timely and balanced so I decided to write to you”. [x]

Indira Gandhi did not respond to it. So Deoras wrote another letter to Indira on November 10, 1975. He began his letter with congratulating her on being cleared by the Supreme Court of disqualification which was ordered by the Allahabad High Court,

“All the five Justices of the Supreme Court have declared your election constitutional, heartiest greetings for it.” It is to be noted that opposition was firmly of the opinion that this judgment was reflective of executive pressure on the judiciary. Deoras also stated that “RSS has been named in context of Jaiprakash Narayan’s movement. The government has also connected RSS with Gujarat movement and Bihar movement without any reason…Sangh has no relation with these movements…” [xi]

Since Indira Gandhi did not respond to this letter either, RSS chief got hold of Vinoba Bhave who supported the Emergency religiously and was a favourite of Indira Gandhi. In a letter dated January 12, 1976, he begged that Acharya should suggest the way that ban on RSS was removed. [xii]  Since Acharya too did not respond to Deoras letter, the latter in another letter without date wrote in desperation,

“According to press reports respected PM [Indira Gandhi] is going to meet you at Pavnar Ashram on January 24. At that time there will be discussion about the present condition of the country. I beg you to try to remove the wrong assumptions of PM about RSS so that ban on RSS is lifted and RSS members are released from jails. We are looking forward for the times when RSS and its members are able to contribute to the plans of progress which are being run in all the fields under the leadership of PM.” [xiii]

[All these letters in Hindi are being reproduced from a publication of the RSS at the end of this article.]

Even a prominent Hindutva ideologue Balraj Madhok who as an RSS whole-timer founded Bhartiya Jana Sangh (1951) on RSS command confessed:

“Sarsanghchalak of the Sangh Shri Bal Saheb Deoras was a MISA prisoner in Pune’s Yervada Jail…his life was full of comforts. Therefore, he wrote two letters to the jailed Indira Gandhi on 22-08-1975 and 10-11-1975 to change her attitude towards the Sangh and lift the ban on it. He also wrote a letter to Shri Vinoba Bhave and requested him to try to remove the feeling of opposition towards the Sangh from Indira Gandhi’s mind. These letters were leaked by the government and they were published in many newspapers. This naturally had an adverse effect on the morale of the Sangh volunteers and the Satyagraha movement became almost dead.”

[Madhok, Balraj, Zindagi Ka Safar –3: Deendayal Upadhyay Ki Hatya Se Indira Gandhi Ki Hatya Tak (Journey of Life-3: From the Murder of Deendayal Upadhyay to the Murder of Indira Gandhi), Dinman Prakashan, 2003, pp. 188-189.]

Incidentally, another tidbit from history. Former President of the Indian Republic, Pranab Mukherjee was invited by the RSS chief, Mohan Bhagwat as the chief guest of the graduation ceremony of its new recruits who are fired to work towards their goal to convert India into a Hindu state. Pranab Mukherjee had been indicted as one of the top leaders of Congress for Emergency excesses.

It is shameful that despite these facts thousands of RSS cadres continue to get monthly pension for the persecution during Emergency. The BJP ruled states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra have decided to award a monthly pension of Rs 20,000 to those who were jailed during the Emergency period for less than 2 months, and Rs 10,000 to those who were jailed for less than a month. These policy decisions by RSS-backed BJP states have taken care of the financial interest of those RSS cadres who (even) submitted mercy letters completing only one- or two-months’ jail term. For securing such a significant amount in pension, no condition was applied –to the effect that the beneficiary should have been in jail for the whole period of the Emergency!

Interestingly, in sharp contrast, in the case of anti-colonial (British) freedom struggle there has not been even a single person from RSS cadres to have claimed the freedom fighter pension. It may be noted that nobody remembers hundreds of Communist youths, branded as Naxals killed in fake encounters during the Emergency. Interestingly, Shiv Sena, the Hindutva co-traveller of the RSS also openly supported the Emergency.

Tavleen Singh, a senior journalist who had once welcomed Modi’s ascendancy to power in 2014 did not mince words while evaluating Indian democracy on the 50th anniversary of declaration of Emergency,

 “Brutal repression of democratic rights can happen again, and the answer is that it can, but in a more dangerously subtle way. There are those who say that since Narendra Modi became prime minister, an ‘undeclared emergency’ has come into force. I hesitate to make sweeping judgements of that kind, but what has happened is that some freedoms we took for granted have become endangered. This has been done not by throwing Opposition leaders, journalists and dissidents into jail, but by tweaking the laws to make curbs on freedom legally possible.

“The law that is supposed to prevent sedition has been tweaked to widen the definition of that word. Laws meant to curb black money have been tweaked as well and if a dissident does not end up in jail for ‘anti-national activities’, he could end up rotting in some forgotten cell because the Enforcement Directorate charges him with money laundering. The Opposition leaders who have these charges thrown at them have fought back valiantly because they have political parties behind them, but dissidents and journalists have just learned to keep quiet. Is that good? Is that democracy?”

So, writing on the wall is clear. India had Emergency imposed using some Articles of the Indian constitution and same was rescinded. Presently without Indira Gandhi and Congress government we have perpetual ‘undeclared’ Emergency under Modi rule. It needs not to be withdrawn as was never declared!

 

[i] ‘National Emergency 1975: The murder of the Indian republic on June 25,  https://organiser.org/2025/06/24/298840/bharat/national-emergency-1975-the-murder-of-the-indian-republic-on-june-25/

[ii] Golwalkar, MS, Shri Guruji Samagar Darshan (collected works of Golwalkar in Hindi), Bhartiya Vichar Sadhna, Nagpur, nd., vol. I, p. 11.

[iii] Ibid. vol. III, p. 128.

[iv] http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main13.asp?filename=op070205And_Not_Even.asp

[v] https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rss-backed-indira-gandhis-emergency-ex-ib-chief-264127-2015-09-21

[vi] Ibid.

[vii] https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/ib-ex-chiefs-book-rss-chief-deoras-had-backed-some-emergency-moves/

[viii] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/RSS-backed-Emergency-reveals-former-IB-chief/articleshow/49052143.cms

[ix] https://medium.com/@hindu.nationalist1/double-game-of-senior-rss-leaders-during-emergency-74abc07a4fa8

[x] Madhukar Dattatraya Deoras, Hindu Sangathan aur Sattavaadi Rajneeti, Jagriti Prkashan, Noida, 1997, 270.

[xi] Ibid., 272-73

[xii] Ibid. 275-77.

[xiii] Ibid. 278.

(The author is a former professor of Hindi, Delhi University and a scholar on recent Indian modern history)

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author’s personal views, and do not necessarily represent the views of Sabrangindia.

Related:

How RSS betrayed the struggle against the Emergency, from its archives

RSS had no role in the freedom struggle

We or Our Nationhood Defined – 1947 Edition

The Ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is both Hate-Ridden and Supremacist – Part 1

‘Old Wine in New bottle’: Bhagwat on Caste

The Sangh’s Hypocrisy on Dalits, It’s Time to Read ‘Bunch of Thoughts’, Again!

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]]> Undermining religious freedom: Proffering ‘integral humanism’ as a right wing defence https://sabrangindia.in/undermining-religious-freedom-proffering-integral-humanism-as-a-right-wing-defence/ Mon, 23 Jun 2025 07:53:16 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=42396 In the name of ‘integral humanism, extreme pro right wing ideologues are putting forward, again, an ideology of a majoritarian Hindutva state

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]]> During the past four decades India has witnessed the rising intimidation and targeting of religious minorities. After the demolition of the Babri mosque the country witnessed unprecedented violence in Mumbai leading to the loss of nearly one thousand lives (1992-1993). In 1999 the most horrific act of burning alive of pastor Graham Stains, labelled as the ‘most ghastly incident from the inventory of black deeds’ by the then President of India Dr. K.R. Narayanan, took place. The Gujarat carnage was orchestrated in the aftermath of the ghastly Godhra train burning, leading to massive polarisation along religious lines and the victory of BJP in subsequent elections. Later the massive Kandhamal violence on the pretext of the murder of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati, a prominent right wing Vishva Hindu Parishad leader, on August 23, 2008, along with four of his disciples, in Odisha (formerly Orissa), osensibly by Maoists (though this was explicitly denied by the Maoist organisation later), led to attacks on Churches and loss of lives. The   violence in Muzzafarnagar in UP 2013 and in Delhi 2019, are few other major acts of violence; which have tormented the country.

This is not all. The violence in the name of ‘cow slaughter’ by vigilantes, ‘love jihad’ killings targeting inter-faith relationships and marriages have added to the fire of anti-minority hatred. The enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA2019) has added to the woes of the Muslim community. Finally, the attacks on scattered prayer meetings of Christians on the pretext that these meetings are meant for conversions has kept up anti minority hate  and is getting intensified during the last few decades.

There is a gross violation of the rights of minorities and violation of the ‘Freedom of Religion’ in various forms. ‘Freedom of Religion’ acts have been implemented recklessly in various states. These laws as such are a big hurdle for the practice of one’s religion. This suppression of practice of religion added on with the hate against minorities has led to the total intimidation of religious minorities. We also witnessed the hateful rhetoric used during the 2024 national elections, the ongoing demolition of Muslim homes and the government’s renewed push to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 (CAA 2019)—a law that, especially when coupled with the National Register of Citizens (NRC), risks rendering millions of Muslims stateless and without legal protection.

This image of India being created by the acts by the BJP Government and Hindutva politics has had an adverse effect on India’s international image and standing. Attempts are on to mask up this image which reflects India’s falling position on various indices’ related to freedom and democracy. How does the Government and ruling ideological outfit of RSS deal with this reality? To begin with, India at official level does not recognise any of the agencies monitoring rankings related to human rights in particular. The government states that this is interference in the ‘internal matters’ of our country. The same Government shouts itself hoarse when the atrocities on Hindus take place in neighbouring countries. To raise concern about these atrocities is valid but the Government displays double standards on this.

To add up to the strategy of undermining the deteriorating condition of Indian minorities, now Mr. Ram Madhav, leader of RSS-BJP, in an article argues that this way of looking at violation of religious freedom is through a ‘Eurocentric lens’. In an endorsing way he presents the report of a US based think tank, “Changing the conversation about religious freedom: An integral human development approach”. As per this report “a crucial component of overall human flourishing and sustainable development has to be based on Integral Humanism”. He comments that religious freedom should not just be treated as relating to Human Rights. (I.E. June 14). This is a clever ploy to undermine the freedom of religion in the country.

As per Madhav invading Mughal armies ‘persecuted Hindus’. He puts the blame of Partition exclusively on Muslim League. In contrast to Madhav’s understanding the leader of India’s freedom movement, Gandhi saw diverse religions rooted in India and thriving with harmony. On similar lines Nehru saw our civilisation as a syncretic one. He writes “She (Bharat Mata) was like some ancient palimpsest on which layer upon layer of thought and reverie had been inscribed, and yet no succeeding layer had completely hidden or erased what had been written previously.”  

Madhav tells us about the concept of ‘Integral Humanism’ which was first propounded by Jacques Maritain in 1936. He was a Catholic Christian and has been appreciated by the highest priests of the Church. As per Madhav his concept of Integral Humanism argued to rise above religions to secure not only the material but ethical, moral and spiritual well-being of individuals. Articulating this in the context of Catholic Christianity, it might have aimed to oppose those who were trying to opt for non-Catholic sects of Christianity. He also argued for “The freedom which Christian democracy seeks to promote…”

In India this phrase was presented by BJP leader Deendayal Upadhaya, who also had an RSS background. He was part of a political outfit which is working for Hindu Nation. This ideology regards that India was enslaved by Muslim kings and then the British. This political ideology attributes many ills of Hindu society to atrocities of Muslim king in particular. The fact is that many of the ills regarding caste-Varna and gender hierarchy are mentioned in the earlier tomes regarded holy by Hindus. They are also unmindful of the fact that the administration of Muslim kings was full of upper caste Hindus at various levels.

In the four major lectures given by Upadhyay 1965 the ideology of ‘Integral Humanism’ was presented. This ideology argues against the federal structure of India and calls for ‘Dharma Raj’. As per him the Dharma is above parliament. It does argue for the predetermined role of Individual, i.e. subtly upholding caste-Varna system. It stands for status quo in society. Maritain advocated ‘Christian democracy’ while Upadhyay is part of the agenda of ‘Hindu Nation’. BJP has adopted ‘Integral Humanism’ as its ruling ideology.

The results of the Integral Humanism, which claims to be above religions, in practice adopts the values of Brahminical Hinduism and is raking up issues of temples (demolition of mosques), holy Cow (Lynching) Love Jihad and conversions as the core part of its agenda.

Integral Humanism is being put forward to undermine the values of Indian Constitution, rights of minorities, low caste and women in the present times. It may be a more sophisticated name for the agenda of Hindu Rashtra, something totally in opposition to the Indian Constitution.  

Related:

Right wing’s assault on mosques intensifies: UP Court to hear petition on Budaun’s Shamsi Shahi Mosque amid growing trend of similar targeting of minority shrines

Uttarakhand High Court orders security, condemns hate speech over Uttarkashi Mosque

Supreme Court urges UP government to maintain peace and harmony in Sambhal, prohibits the trial court from taking any further steps till January

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]]> Right-wing outfits and NCP MLA’s protest led to dismissal of 114 Muslim workers at Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra https://sabrangindia.in/right-wing-outfits-and-ncp-mlas-protest-led-to-dismissal-of-114-muslim-workers-at-shani-shingnapur-temple-in-maharashtra/ Thu, 19 Jun 2025 11:04:48 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=42334 In Ahmednagar’s Shri Shani Shingnapur temple, 114 Muslim workers were among 167 dismissed by the Shri Shaneshwar Devasthan trust. While the reasons cited were alleged disciplinary lapses it is no coincidence that right-wing groups—Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), Sakal Hindu Samaj (SHS), and an MLA belonging to the NCP—had earlier protested and demanded the removal of Muslim employees at temple, claiming temple donations serve ‘Hindu causes’ and that the ‘sanctity of temple’ would be marred; following dismissals, these groups hailed the action, while the temple trust denied religious bias

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]]> Shani Shingnapur, a village renowned for its unique tradition of houses without doors or locks, now finds itself at the centre of a different kind of closure. The Shri Shaneshwar Devasthan Trust, which oversees the administration of the revered temple, has made a controversial decision on June 14, 2025 that effectively closed its doors to a significant number of Muslim workers. Through the dismissal of 167 contractual employees, a striking 114 of whom are Muslim, the Trust has ignited a heated debate.

This move by the temple authorities came directly on the heels of intense pressure and vocal demands from pro-right-wing organisations and even a local NCP MLA, all demanding for the removal of non-Hindu workers from the temple’s operations. A protest rally led by Ahmednagar (Ahilyanagar) NCP MLA Sangram Jagtap was also organised on June 14, 2025.

Following pressure from right-wing outfits, the Shani Shingnapur Temple Trust held internal meetings on June 8 and 14. Soon after these closed-door deliberations, the Trust issued dismissal orders for 167 workers, marking a significant and controversial move, as per a report in Maktoob Media.

While the temple management has vehemently denied any allegations of religious discrimination or bias, asserting that the decision was based purely on absenteeism and subpar work performance, the timing of these dismissals has raised significant concerns.

Occurring just days after the public outcries from Hindutva groups, the sequence of events has led many observers to question the true underlying motives behind the Trust’s actions. The stark contrast between the village’s open-door philosophy and the sudden closure of opportunities for Muslim workers at the temple presents a complex and troubling narrative.

Viral video showing Muslim workers doing work near the temple ignites controversy and demands for exclusion

The seeds of this controversy were sown in May, when a video clip rapidly gained traction across social media platforms. This footage depicted Muslim individuals engaged in painting and maintenance activities in the vicinity of the revered Shani Shingnapur temple. Almost immediately, the video became a flashpoint, drawing sharp criticism and objections from an array of right-wing organisations and leaders.

Their core demand was unequivocal–non-Hindus, they insisted, should be barred from working within the ‘sacred precincts of the shrine’. This chorus of demands quickly intensified, building considerable pressure on the temple administration.

Notably, these terminations occurred without any prior public hearing or a formal, impartial investigation into the allegations or the workers’ performance. This abrupt action, coming on the heels of the viral video and the escalating demands, further fuelled the contentious narrative surrounding the temple’s employment practices.

Right-wing outfits earlier demanded the removal of the Muslim workers

The pro-right-wing organisations, including the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and Sakal Hindu Samaj (SHS), led the campaign demanding the removal of Muslim workers from the Shani Shingnapur temple. These groups vehemently demanded the immediate removal of Muslim workers, expressing concerns about the sanctity of the temple and what they perceived as a disregard for Hindu sentiments.

Just a day before the dismissals, the HJS publicly called for immediate action. Through their official social media handle on X (formerly Twitter), the HJS stated, “Shocking! 114 Muslim workers deployed inside the sacred Shani Shingnapur temple; grill installed on holy platform, hurting Hindu sentiments. Demand for their immediate removal & strict action on officials who allowed this — @SG_HJS, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti. Govt urged to adopt Tirupati-like Hindu-only staff policy!”

Similarly, the Sakal Hindu Samaj, an allied pro-right-wing outfit of the HJS, also voiced its concerns days before the removal decision. The outfit, through a social media post on X, directly appealed to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for immediate intervention, questioning the very sanctity of the temple with the presence of Muslim workers. Their post on X read:

“Shani Mandir Trust at Shani Shingnapur in #Ahilyanagar has given jobs to 118 Muslims. These heretics do not believe in #Hindu gods, how will they maintain the sanctity of this temple? Are we waiting for another #Tirupati laddu fiasco to happen or readying ourselves for opening of Mecca and Medina for non Muslims ? Especially since this temple comes under the control of the #Maharashtra government Request to @Dev_Fadnavis to take immediate action on this and maintain the sanctity of the temple.”

Right-wing outfits hail dismissals, call for similar review and action at other temples

Following the temple trust’s decision, right-wing outfits Sakal Hindu Samaj and Acharya Tushar Bhosale, chief of the BJP Spiritual Coordination Front, celebrated the move. Bhosale explicitly stated the dismissals were a direct result of pressure from a “grand march” organised by “the entire Hindu society” in protest of Muslim employees. He hailed it as a “victory of the unity of the entire Hindu society,” indicating a clear intent to influence temple employment practices based on religious identity.

Bhosale said that, “In protest of the appointment of Muslim employees at the Shani Shingnapur temple, all of us, under the leadership of the entire Hindu society, organized a grand march yesterday. But under the pressure of this march, the temple administration has announced that they are removing the Muslim employees from their jobs. I congratulate all the Shani devotees of the country and the entire Hindu society, because this is a victory of the unity of the entire Hindu society”

Similarly, the Sakal Hindu Samaj commended the temple’s action. They framed the dismissals as a response to “anger in the Hindu community” over Muslim employees allegedly installing grills on a sacred platform.

Beyond endorsing the Shingnapur decision, the Sakal Hindu Samaj, along with organisations like Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, has now publicly demanded investigations into the appointments of “people of other religions” in other government-managed temples, urging their “immediate” removal.

Temple body denies religious bias, cites performance issues amid discrimination allegations

Amid mounting allegations of religious discrimination, temple officials at Shani Shingnapur have firmly denied that faith played any role in the mass dismissal of workers. They claim the decision was based purely on operational efficiency, pointing out that only around 900 of the 2,400 contracted workers were regularly reporting for duty, while the rest were allegedly underperforming or frequently absent.

However, the move has sparked controversy, as the majority of those dismissed were low-wage Muslim labourers engaged in essential but menial tasks—such as sweeping, tending to the cowshed, agricultural work, and performing routine administrative duties. Many of these workers were hired without formal employment contracts, leaving them vulnerable and without legal safeguards.

Critics argue that the lack of documented performance reviews and transparent processes raises serious questions about the fairness and intent behind the dismissals, especially in light of the preceding pressure from right-wing groups demanding the removal of Muslim staff.

Controversy not new to Shingnapur

Religious discrimination is not a first-time controversy for the Shingnapur. In September 2024, Shingnapur Gram Panchayat passed a controversial resolution barring the registration of new Muslim voters, specifically targeting “recently arrived” individuals. Justified under claims of preventing “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants,” the move demanded the removal of existing Muslim names from electoral rolls. Civil rights groups condemned it as unconstitutional and sought legal action against the panchayat. Following widespread backlash, Sarpanch Rasika Patil issued a public apology, stating the resolution was misrepresented and no such action would be taken.

This incident followed an earlier resolution in August 2023, where the panchayat prohibited the allotment of village land for religious events—another decision widely criticised for targeting minority communities. Together, these actions suggest a troubling pattern of exclusion under the guise of administrative control.

Related:

The Right to Worship my God

Faith Knows No Religion: Banke Bihari Temple again rejects boycott call against Muslim artisans and businesses

Harmony vs disharmony in 2 states: Kerala temple welcomes Muslims; MP temple fires Muslims

 

 

 

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]]> Police, Bajrang Dal and the Making of Anti-‘Love Jihad’ Squad in Madhya Pradesh https://sabrangindia.in/police-bajrang-dal-and-the-making-of-anti-love-jihad-squad-in-madhya-pradesh/ Tue, 10 Jun 2025 05:50:48 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=42099 A Bhopal gym turns into a flashpoint as cops and Hindutva groups push communal claims, banning Muslims, in the name of ‘love jihad’.

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]]>

Bhopal: After a series of videos emerged showing Madhya Pradesh police publicly parading crime accused forcing them to chant slogans like “Police hamari baap hai (police is our father)” and “Gaai hamari mata hai (cow is our mother)”, now, a new video from Bhopal shows a police officer – on camera, in uniform – warning Muslims to stay out of a gym, raising fresh concerns over the police’s involvement in promoting communal narratives.

The controversy, this time, centres on sub-inspector Dinesh Shukla, who is seen sitting with Bajrang Dal members in a purported video addressing people inside a gym, stating, “Yahan koi bhi Mohammadan na ayega, na training lene ayega, na training dene ayega. Meine keh diya (No Mohammedan will come here, neither to take training nor to give it. I have said it).”

SI Shukla, in a widely circulated video, appears to enforce an informal ban on the presence of Muslim men in public spaces like the gym, reflecting the language used by right-wing groups who push the ‘love jihad’ conspiracy theory. While the sub-inspector has been line attached, his presence, alongside self-declared vigilantes, has raised serious questions about the narrowing gap between law enforcement and ideological policing in Madhya Pradesh.

Slogans, raids and threats in the name of honour

Hindutva vigilantes have been increasingly targeting Muslim individuals in the state under the pretext of “love jihad”. The term lacks any legal basis but is still used to allege that Muslim men lure Hindu women into romantic relationships to convert them to Islam.

The Madhya Pradesh Police recently also formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe allegations of forced religious conversions linked to a rape case.

Ayodhya Nagar police station station house officer (SHO) Mahesh Lilhare confirmed to The Wire that the incident took place on May 28 following a visit by members of Hindutva organisations to the gym. He said that the matter is under investigation, but the video that is circulating seems to be edited.

However, in another video from a gym in Bhopal, men associated with Hindutva organisations can be seen barging into the gym while shouting slogans like “Jai Shri Ram” and “Love jihad karne walon ko, joote maaro saalon ko (Beat up those who do love jihad).”

One of the men, who is also seen in the other video with SI Dinesh Shukla, is seen advising the gym management, asking, “Ladkiyon ko training kaun deta hai (Who trains the girls)?”

He continues, “Aap ek cheez dhyan rakho, agar love jihad ka case aapke gym mein ek bhi aata hai to uske zimmedar aap rahoge (Keep one thing in mind, if even one love jihad case comes up from your gym, you will be held responsible).”

The Wire cannot confirm the authenticity of video.

The man adds, “Hamara ek nivedan hai aapse, Hindu ladkiyon ke liye Hindu trainer hi rakhoge (We request you to appoint only Hindu trainers for Hindu girls).”

He is further heard saying, “Hamara main maqsad hai apni behen-betiyon ko love jihad se bachana (Our main aim is to protect our sisters and daughters from love jihad).”

Referring to past incidents, he adds, “Jis prakar ka kratya Indore mein hua, TIT College mein hua – love jihad nahi chalega (What happened in Indore, at TIT College – love jihad won’t be tolerated),” ending it with the slogan, “Love jihad murdabad (Down with love jihad)”.

A shared vocabulary of hate

According to the 2024 India Hate Lab report, nearly half of all recorded hate speeches, around 581 incidents, referred to conspiracy theories. Among the most common were terms like “love jihad,” “land jihad,” “population jihad,” “thook (spit) jihad,” and “vote jihad.”

SHO Mahesh Lilhare said, “There was a complaint from Hindutva organisations alleging that non-Hindu gym trainers were using Hindu names with the intent of carrying out love jihad or religious conversion. Several organisation members gathered, and our staff accompanied them to the gym. The name of the gym is still unknown, but we are contacting the girls to verify the details. We spoke to the sub-inspector in question, who denied making such a statement, saying the video was clipped. We have taken cognisance of the video and are investigating whether it is authentic or edited.”

He further stated that the police have no intention of acting against any caste or community. “Any action will be taken strictly according to rules and regulations, based on the outcome of the investigation. The police do not represent any religion or group. We are doing our job, as mandated under the IPC, CrPC, BNS and BNSS. Any language or terminology we use is strictly in line with legal provisions.”

While the police stress neutrality and adherence to legal procedures, the term “love jihad” has steadily seeped into public discourse, used freely by both political leaders and sections of the media.

Bhopal MP Alok Sharma was quoted as saying, “We are making a list and will be submitting it to the police. The police will do their work, the law will do its job, and in Madhya Pradesh, under Dr Mohan Yadav’s government, no one has permission to indulge in love jihad or land jihad. The law will take strict action against such people.”

This is not the first time Sharma has made such remarks. Recently, he publicly demanded sterilisation as a punishment for those allegedly involved in love jihad. In a similar aggressive rhetoric, Madhya Pradesh minister Vishwas Sarang had earlier said that such individuals should be shot in the chest.

Last month, a resident of Bhopal filed a petition in the Madhya Pradesh high court against the use of the term “love jihad” by major Hindi dailies accusing them of giving a communal angle to a rape case, and in doing so, linking the crime to entire Muslim community.

Advocate Deepak Bundele told The Wire that the matter will be heard on June 19.

Courtesy: The Wire

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]]> Bengal arrests expose communal plot by members of Santani Ekta Manch, Punjab sees similar incident https://sabrangindia.in/bengal-arrests-expose-communal-plot-by-members-of-santani-ekta-manch-punjab-sees-similar-incident/ Fri, 02 May 2025 11:49:09 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=41571 Two men, linked to the Sanatani Ekta Manch, were arrested in West Bengal for attempting to incite communal tension by placing a Pakistani flag on the wall of a public toilet next to a railway station, leading to a police investigation and strong condemnation from the TMC, who accused the BJP and RSS of conspiracy, a similar incident occurred in Ludhiana, Punjab

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]]> The Bongaon police have arrested two men for allegedly trying to incite communal tension by placing a Pakistani national flag on the wall of a public toilet next to a railway station in West Bengal’s North 24-Parganas district. The flag was spotted late on April 20, near Akaipur station, which falls under the jurisdiction of Gopalnagar police station.

According to police, the accused had also planned to write inflammatory slogans such as “Hindustan Murdabad” and “Pakistan Zindabad” on the wall to provoke unrest in the area.

In a post shared on social media platform X on May 1, Bongaon police said the act was deliberate and aimed at disturbing communal harmony. The duo, police said, have confessed to the act. “This was wilfully done to trigger communal disturbances,” the post read.

“We shall spare no efforts to bring to book those who are hatching such conspiracies” police said

Police arrested two active members of Sanatani Ekta Manch

A formal case has been registered against the two accused individuals, who are now in police custody. Authorities confirmed that a detailed investigation is currently underway to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy, including any possible links to larger groups or orchestrated campaigns aimed at provoking communal disharmony. Law enforcement officials have emphasised a zero-tolerance approach, stating that stringent legal action will be pursued against anyone found complicit in attempts to disturb public order or exploit religious sentiments for political or ideological gain.

The accused have been identified as Chandan Malakar (30) and Progyajit Mondal (45)—both residents of the local area. According to police sources, preliminary inquiries have revealed that the duo are active members of the Sanatani Ekta Manch, a right-wing outfit, and are reportedly affiliated with a national political party. Investigators are examining whether their actions were part of a coordinated effort to stir communal unrest, particularly in light of the timing and method of the incident.

TMC slams BJP and RSS for hatching conspiracies

Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale took to X to issue a scathing rebuke of what he described as an orchestrated attempt by right-wing forces to incite communal riots. In a strongly worded post, he stated, “THIS is how the BJP & Sangh Parivar are hatching conspiracies to incite communal riots. The deaths of 26 innocent Indians in a terror attack are being used by the shameless BJP & RSS to light fires within the country.” Gokhale linked the timing of the incident to recent national tragedies, suggesting that such provocations are being used to divert public attention and inflame religious tensions. Applauding the swift and decisive response by local authorities, he added, “Bengal will NEVER allow this.”

Echoing similar concerns, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose issued a fierce condemnation of the BJP, referring to it as the “Bhartiya Jumla Party.” In her statement, Ghose directly addressed the identities and motives of the accused: “The individuals named Chandan and Progyajit placed Pakistan flags, and when caught, confessed that they intended to create communal riots in Bengal. Saffron goons active in Bengal won’t succeed.”

She credited the vigilance of the West Bengal Police for preventing a potentially dangerous communal flare-up and reaffirmed her party’s commitment to maintaining peace and secularism in the state.

“They are up against the stern law enforcement of West Bengal Police,” Sagarika Ghose emphasised

Pakistani flag found outside Hanuman temple in Ludhiana, CCTV identifies gey accused

Similarly, on April 29, in Ludhiana (Punjab) a Pakistani flag was found placed outside the Mahabali Sankatmochan Shri Hanuman Temple in the Haibowal area, raising serious concerns about a targeted attempt to disturb communal harmony. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening around 5 PM, just before the temple was set to host its routine Balaji prayer service, which typically draws 10,000 to 15,000 devotees.

According to Rishi Jain, chairman of the temple committee and a resident of Ghumar Mandi, two unidentified individuals arrived on an Activa scooter, approached the temple’s main gate, and placed the Pakistani flags on the ground before quickly fleeing the scene. Their movements were clearly captured on the temple’s CCTV cameras, which have now become central to the investigation, reported Dainik Bhaskar.

Upon reviewing the footage, police identified the main accused as Vikram Anand, a resident of Chander Nagar, Ludhiana. He is believed to have acted with an accomplice, who remains unidentified. Both suspects are currently absconding, prompting a citywide search. Raids are underway to locate and apprehend them, according to Punjab Kesari.

Police register case, link motive to communal destabilisation

Confirming the development, Station House Officer (SHO) Ram Krishna of Haibowal Police Station stated that a case has been registered under sections related to promoting enmity between different groups and disturbing public peace. Authorities are also probing whether the act was a reaction to the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack or a deliberate show of allegiance intended to provoke unrest during a sensitive period.

According to Dainik Bhaskar, speaking to the media, Anuj Madan, another official associated with the temple, described the act as a premeditated attempt to inflame communal sentiments. He emphasised that the placement of the flag was not random but calculated, timed during a major weekly prayer event when the temple is heavily visited and emotions are already heightened.

A pattern or a lone incident? growing concern over intentions

The incident has sparked widespread outrage across Ludhiana, a city known for its communal balance. Religious leaders and civil society members have condemned the act, urging citizens to remain calm while demanding strict legal action against those responsible. The timing and nature of the incident have drawn parallels to the West Bengal case, where a similar flag placement incident occurred almost simultaneously, raising the question of whether these are isolated provocations or part of a larger, coordinated campaign aimed at destabilising peace in sensitive regions.


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]]> Two Questions ‘anti-national’, says ABVP UP professor barred for life from setting exam papers https://sabrangindia.in/two-questions-anti-national-says-abvp-up-professor-barred-for-life-from-setting-exam-papers/ Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:14:49 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=41005 Vigilante justice UP style had a professor, Seema Panwar debarred from examination work for life after the ABVP “objected” to the two questions on RSS, its parent organisation, in a political science paper, at the Chaudhary Charan Singh University reports Omar Rashid for The Wire

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]]> New Delhi: A state government-run university in Adityanath-ruled Uttar Pradesh has barred a professor of an affiliate college in Meerut from all evaluation and examination work after far right student activists objected to two questions set by her about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). This was reported in The Wire by Omar Rashid. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidharthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS, protested against Professor Seema Panwar, accusing her of being “afflicted with some anti-national ideology.”

Soon after ABVP submitted its “memorandum to the administration” of the state-run Chaudhary Charan Singh University – a major educational institution in western UP – the institution obliged and decided to debar Panwar from all examination work for life. “She has been debarred from setting papers for life,” Dhirendra Kumar Verma, the registrar of the university, told The Wire on April 5.

The unseemly controversy surrounded the private MA political science final-year examination on the paper ‘State Politics in India,’ conducted on April 2 in the colleges affiliated to the CCSU. The ABVP objected to two questions that were about its parent organisation, the RSS.

In this paper, question number 87 asked which of the following were considered anomic groups – those alienated from society. Among the options were “Dal Khalsa, Naxalite Groups, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front and Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh.”

Yet another question, numbered 93, was a match-the-following test. The question seemed to link the RSS to the rise of religious and caste identity politics. The other options linked the BSP to Dalit politics, Mandal Commission to OBC politics and Shiv Sena to politics of regional identity.

  1. Rise of backward politics
    B. Rise of Dalit politics
    C. Rise of Religious and Caste identity politics
    D. Rise of regional identity politics
  2. Shiv Sena
    2.⁠ ⁠RSS
    3.⁠ ⁠BSP
    4.⁠ ⁠Mandal Commission

The correct answer was A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1

Reputed for its disruptive even violent activities in Delhi University (DU) and elsewhere too, the ABVP said the questions had described the RSS as the reason for the emergence of religious and caste politics on the basis of the available options.

“Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been an apolitical, social, cultural and dedicated organization in the national interest on the basis of equality and national unity for the last 100 years,” the ABVP said. The wing of the RSS dubbed that the professor’s act was “anti-national” and demanded strict legal action by suspending the examiner who set the question paper in the “interest of students and the nation.”

A copy of the memorandum, shared by the ABVP’s Meerut wing, quoted by The Wire, stated, “The way Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been added in the above question, it seems that the examiner who set the question paper, being afflicted with some anti-national ideology, has worked to tarnish the image of the Sangh among the students in the society and create a wrong narrative, whereas doing so is not in the national interest.”

The ABVP also threatened to launch a large protest if the university did not act against the examiner. Registrar Verma said that a team of the university’s vice-chancellor concluded that the questions found “objectionable” by the students were “controversial.”  Professor Panwar, who teaches at Meerut College, was asked for a clarification, following which she submitted a written apology.

“She expressed regret and said that it was not her intention. She said she set the questions as there was a chapter on it,” said Verma. The registrar said no further action was taken against her. “She apologised for the mistake. What else could she do,” said Verma.

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