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The wicked never rest, and the caustic hate speech of the Hindutva factions continued unabated on September 12, a day after the death of spiritual leader and social reformer Swami Agnivesh. Social media became a cesspool of posts that maligned the name of late Swami Agnivesh, with people using insensitive, even crass language, some even celebrating his death.
Following an ANI tweet reporting the demise of politician and social activist Swami Agnivesh, many Right-wing hate mongers retweeted the message with hateful comments alleging “damage to Hinduism.”
What is even more deplorable is that these comments came from former IPS officer M. Nageswara Rao as well.
GOOD RIDDANCE @swamiagnivesh
You were an Anti-Hindu donning saffron clothes.
You did enormous damage to Hinduism.
I am ashamed that you were born as a Telugu Brahmin.
మేక వన్నె పులి
गोमुख व्याग्रं
Lion in sheep clothesMy grievance against Yamaraj is why did he wait this long! https://t.co/5g7oKL62pO
— M. Nageswara Rao IPS (@MNageswarRaoIPS) September 11, 2020
In his bio, Rao describes himself as one who lives for “Civilisational Nation and EQUAL RIGHTS FOR HINDUS” making it abundantly clear where his loyalties lie. The former CBI Director has previously tweeted messages describing religious conversion as acts of aggression.
Many senior journalists and activists have even reported Rao’s objectionable tweet. The fact that it comes from someone so high in Indian law enforcement is testimony to the deep biases that have seeped into the Indian establishment.
As a testament to Swamiji’s legacy, many came forward to criticise Rao for his insensitive comments. However, his tweet emboldened many others to denounce Swami Agnivesh’s good name, resulting in yet another hate-spurned Twitter war.
Good Riddance is the best and minimal articulation for this guy. ???????
— #DivyaBhavyaShresthAkhandSaShaktBhaarat (@ProfBurraPrasad) September 11, 2020
Swami Agnivesh was a vedic scholar and a true Hindu nationalist. But, RSS goons lynched him, abused him, attacked him throughout his life. But, he stood strong for true nationalism.
RIP, a pure soul left his body today.— GEORGE (@GEORGE52107460) September 11, 2020
Swami Agnivesh gained the affection of many labourers, rights activists through his work against bonded labour. Even while battling liver ailments at Delhi’s Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) he was concerned about the 48,000 houses of Delhi’s slum dwellers that were to be demolished following Supreme Court orders.
His contributions were particularly important for the child rights movement in India. He founded the Bandhua Mukti Morcha (Bonded Labour Liberation Front) which freed as many as 1,78,000 bonded labourers including 26,000 children as per its website.
His death came as a severe blow to many including activist, journalist and close friend Teesta Setalvad.
Swamiji, Agniveshji a true ascetic wth Values of Truth, Non Discrimination Passed left us 6.55 p.m. todayBelieving in Non Violence, Human Rights & Dialogue, above all Constitutional Values he ws violently attacked, & brutally by guess who? #SwamiAgnivesh @JohnDayal @swamiagnivesh
— Teesta Setalvad (@TeestaSetalvad) September 11, 2020
However, his work also garnered many enemies from the far-right wing who wished to uphold age-old oppressive activities.
Om Shanti#SwamiAgnivesh
(a) A Maoist Sympathizer
(b) Anti Hindutva activist
(c) Anti-Ram Temple
(d) Supporter of Kashmir Separatist movement
(d) An active member of Award Wapasi & Tukude Tukude Gang pic.twitter.com/uogaR61Okh— LambodarPrasadDash (@LambodarPrDash) September 11, 2020
Thnks a ton oh god.. May he rotin hell now https://t.co/UaqSiF9gfZ
— Pipsip45 (@pipsip45) September 12, 2020
A brief glance at both LambodarPrasadDash’s and Pipsip45’s twitter accounts is enough to show their anti-Islamic and pro-Hindutva sentiments. Similarly, other voices of the Right also came to the surface.
truly a despicable soul.
what a wicked man he was
he epitomised what is wrong with Hindus
om shanti . https://t.co/V5qd1aRUqF
— Ajai Kumar (@Hayatokaw) September 11, 2020
not insulting the guy after his death but ANI should definitely not use self Acclaimed Prefix of Swami to a naxal sympathizer and pakhandi . https://t.co/wgT77sYH2R
— परिमल पार्थ (@parimalparth) September 12, 2020
Those who continue to denounce Swamiji and his work indicate that his battle against social evils is still very much a reality.
Related:
Champion of human rights, secularism, Swami Agnivesh, passes away at 81
Protests against attack on Swami Agnivesh emerge in many parts of the country
BJP-RSS goons storm Swami Agnivesh’s event on Gandhi Jayanti, say he’s not Hindu
Leaders Extend Support to Swami Agnivesh Post Attack, Demand Judicial Inquiry