Last week, the Dehradun Press Club became the unlikely stage for a disturbing event led by a group of religious leaders who, among other inflammatory remarks, openly called for violence against Muslims. As per a report of Newslaundry, Yati Ramswaroopanand Giri, one of the key speakers, gave a divisive and provocative speech through which he brazenly urged Hindus to arm themselves to “protect the women in their families.” As per the report, he had stated that, “Every person reading and believing the Quran becomes a terrorist,” during an event that was publicly promoted as one for “Sanatani Hindus.”
About the event, speech delivered:
Ramswaroopanand, a repeat offender when it comes to incendiary speeches, used the September 10 event to stoke fear and hatred, drawing on false and gruesome allegations about Muslims, including fabricated stories of violence against women in Bangladesh. He even went as far as to announce the upcoming “Vishwa Dharma Sansad” in December, vowing to discuss ways to make Uttarakhand “Islam-mukt” (free from Islam).
Despite tagging prominent figures like Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the event’s promotion, Ramswaroopanand’s invitation, shared on social media on September 10, initially failed to gain traction. However, videos from the event quickly spread online, prompting the Dalanwala police to take suo-motu action. Ramswaroopanand and a fellow seer, Mahant Giri, were charged under sections 196 (promoting enmity) and 353 (public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023.
Ajai Singh, the Dehradun SSP, explained the swift registration of an FIR, citing Supreme Court guidelines mandating immediate action in cases of hate speech. He also urged people not to engage with such harmful content online, reminding them of the Supreme Court’s directives on such matters.
Classic case of lax oversight?
The larger question remains: how did an event advocating such extreme rhetoric find a platform in the press club? As per the Newslaundry report, Ajay Rane, president of the Dehradun Press Club, explained that the hall is available for public events on a rental basis, and the club does not usually screen the content of the events. When questioned about guidelines in place to prevent such misuse of the venue, Rane had acknowledged their existence but refused to provide further clarity on their specifics or enforcement.
A member of the press club had also revealed that, after the police took action, a notice was quietly posted outlining “dos and don’ts” for speeches at the club. However, the lack of prior oversight remains a significant issue, especially when compared to other clubs like the Delhi Press Club, where stricter protocols, including an anti-hate speech undertaking, are enforced for event organizers.
Despite the gravity of these comments, many journalists in attendance did not challenge the seer directly. A few questioned why he wasn’t addressing other pressing issues like unemployment, but Ramswaroopanand responded with his typical vitriol, accusing Hindus of becoming “impotent” in the face of a growing Muslim population—a baseless claim intended to incite communal fear.
Growing trend of religious fanaticism and the role of public platforms:
Prominent journalists, like Nitin Sethi, expressed shock and outrage that such blatant hate speech was allowed to take place at the Dehradun Press Club. He noted that the event was part of an ongoing pattern of communal polarization in Uttarakhand, a troubling trend that should have raised red flags for the club’s management. “Allowing a known hate-monger to misuse a public forum like this is akin to enabling a crime,” Sethi remarked as per the Newslaundry report, adding that the lack of serious action against the event’s speakers undermines the police’s so-called suo-moto action.
Rajeev Lochan Shah, editor-in-chief of the local fortnightly Nainital Samachar, echoed these concerns, calling for journalists to take a more active role in confronting such hate when it occurs. “Anyone can book a venue and hold a press conference, but in the case of such blatant hate speech, journalists should have raised an issue then and there,” he said.
The incident highlights a growing trend of religious fanaticism finding public platforms, often with little resistance or accountability, and the failure of institutions like the Dehradun Press Club to prevent their spaces from being used to spread hate. Despite legal actions being taken, the persistence of such events in Uttarakhand and the wider country signals the deepening challenge of combating communal polarization and violence in India.
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