Hindutva leaders in different parts of India are fanning the flames of communal discord through inflammatory speeches and divisive agendas. These instances highlight the growing concern surrounding hate speeches and the propagation of anti-Muslim conspiracy theories. That such propagandist hate speech is being generated with regular frequencies across the country when elections are due in four states in 2023 and the general elections next year, in 2023, tells its own sordid tale.
Lalpur, Jamnagar: Gujarat
Far-right leader Kajal Shingla recently delivered a hate speech targeting Muslims in Lalpur, Jamnagar. Speaking at an event organized by the Hindu Sena, Shingla indulged in fear-mongering and propagated anti-Muslim conspiracy theories. Her divisive rhetoric adds to the escalating communal tensions within the region. The video was posted online on August 13, 2023.
Location: Lalpur, Jamnagar
Far-right leader Kajal Shingla delivers hate speech targeting Muslims.
She indulged in fear-mongering and peddled anti-Muslim conspiracy theories.
Shingla was speaking at an event organized by Hindu Sena. pic.twitter.com/kKxCBdhOOz
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 12, 2023
“Hindus should organise themselves. Rohingyan Muslims and Bangladeshi immigrants are here to destroy us,” she said in speech. Thereafter, she made a “plea” to financially boycott Muslims. “The money given to Muslims is contribution to terrorists”, she reiterated. She “blamed Muslims” for communal disturbances in Mewat. She alleged that Muslims pelted stones against the Shobha Yatra. The police reports rejected this claim and are yet to verify the sources.
According to her Twitter bio, Kajal is an “entrepreneur, a research analyst, and a nationalist”. She has nearly 95,000 followers on Twitter, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Kajal, whose former name was Kajal Shingala, describes herself as the ‘Lioness of Gujarat’ on her website. Quoting from her website, which has been inaccessible for the past few days, the report said that she “spreads awareness about the Indian culture and works for the human rights of Hindus.”
Pondri Village, Palwal, Haryana
A vide surfaced on Twitter on 13th August, 20023 in which Acharya Azad Singh Arya, the leader of the Haryana Gau Raksha Dal, can be seen taking to the stage at a Hindu Mahapanchayat in Pondri Village, Palwal. His provocative speech targeted Muslims in Mewat and called on Hindus to arm themselves with rifles instead of revolvers.
Location: Pondri village, Palwal, Haryana
At Hindu Mahapanchayat, Haryana Gau Raksha Dal leader Acharya Azad Singh Arya delivered a provocative speech against Mewat’s Muslims and called on Hindus to buy rifles instead of revolvers. pic.twitter.com/ZSfIIq6zJo
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 13, 2023
In a video from the event, he is heard saying, “Everyone should get a rifle, not a revolver, because revolvers do not shoot far. I beg the youth to maintain a warm blood temperature. I question the Prime Minister: Why don’t you remove [Manohar Lal] Khattar and give us a chief minister like Yogi Adityanath?” Arya also said that he salutes the cow vigilantes who have been jailed for killings two Muslim men, Junaid and Nasir, in February.
“Junaid and Nasir were cow killers, and as soon as they were killed, the Rajasthan government stood up for them,” he said.
Azad Maidan, Panaji, Goa
In Goa, the far-right group Hindu Janjagruti Samiti orchestrated a hate rally against the conspiracy theory of “love jihad.” The event, held at Azad Maidan, Panaji, is yet another instance of spreading divisive sentiment. The video surfaced on Twitter on 13th August, 2023.
Location: Azad Maidan, Panaji, Goa
Far-right group Hindu Janjagruti Samiti organized a hate rally against the conspiracy theory of “love jihad”. pic.twitter.com/V6RVDb2w1V
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 13, 2023
Village Panchi, Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh
At a Bajrang Dal-organised meeting in Village Panchi, Baghpat, a Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader delivered a communal speech demonizing Muslims. This rhetoric adds fuel to the communal fire and raises concerns about the polarisation within local communities. The video was posted online on 12th August, 2023.
Location: Village Panchi, Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh
At Bajrang Dal organized meeting, a Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader delivered communal speech demonizing Muslims. pic.twitter.com/s4rzCILgVG
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 12, 2023
New Delhi
“Mathura, Varanasi Masjids would be converted into temples,” said Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) working president Alok Kumar. Attending an event organised by Vanvasi Raksha Parivar Foundation on August 13 at Delhi, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) working president Alok Kumar promised the conversion of Varanasi and Mathura Masjids into temples within ten years.
“If Ram Janmbhoomi (birthplace of Lord Ram) was converted into temples, how could we not do the same in Mathura and Varanasi. Within next ten years Mathura and Varanasi temples would be converted into temples” he promised to the audience.
He cautioned against reactionary attacks against the perpetrators. He praised the Hindus taking reactionary actions.
Location: New Delhi
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) working president Alok Kumar delivered a communal speech demonizing Muslims and claimed mosques in Mathura and Varanasi would be converted into temples in the next ten years.
Kumar was speaking at an event organized by Vanvasi… pic.twitter.com/nTtayORGPb
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 14, 2023
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