In various locations across India, recent events organised by Hindutva groups have raised concerns about communal harmony and the safety of minority communities. Far-right Hindutva leaders have delivered provocative speeches, promoting hate, and calling for Hindus to arm themselves. These alarming developments have led to growing tensions and concerns.
On Thursday, 3 August 2023, Hindu Jagruti Manch organised an event where a hardline Hindutva monk called for Hindus to take up arms in Kaithal, Haryana.
Location: Kaithal, Haryana
Hindu Jagruti Manch organised an event where a far-right monk called for arming Hindus. pic.twitter.com/Sx55P9U4BT
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 5, 2023
“Stay prepared! Carry stick, baton, gun, and if nothing, stones in a plastic bag. Don’t carry flags, one flag is enough! All must carry weapons! If such an issue would have happened in UP, bulldozers would have worked. If Manohar Lal Khattar doesn’t have bulldozers, he can get some from UP.” The speaker cried out to an enthusiastic crowd.
Another speaker came up, saying “This is the fight of Hindus, they don’t need the administration or the government. They can fight for their dignity by themselves! If such instances occur in Haryana, or elsewhere in India, then consequences will be felt. Hindu Samaj will display their strength!”
In the national capital, Delhi’s Shahdara Chowk, BJP leader and Hindu United Front head Jai Bhagwan Goyal delivered hate speech against Muslims, promoted dangerous stereotypes & called for using bulldozers. The video surfaced on the internet on the 5th of August, 2023.
“Rakshasa (Monsters) in the mode of Jihadis, Bangladeshis, and Rohingya, are activated again! …It seems like their time has come. They don’t live in peace, nor do they let others live in peace! Our India should be free of these Rakshasa, jihadis, and Islamic terrorists.”
“These jihadis will not listen to words, they must be dealt with force. It is time that they are dealt with in the same manner they have been crushed by the bulldozer in UP… These ‘Miyabhais’ are all working towards Ghazwa-e-Hind and Muslim Rashtra. There should be special courts to prosecute them and give them death by hanging!”
Location: Shahdara Chowk, New Delhi
BJP leader and Hindu United Front head Jai Bhagwan Goyal delivered hate speech against Muslims, promoted dangerous stereotypes & called for using bulldozers. pic.twitter.com/Ac2dGazTIq
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 5, 2023
In a video from Pali, Rajasthan, that surfaced on the internet on 5th of August, 2023, Vishwa Hindu Parishad members organised a rally where hateful slogans were chanted, including “Desh ke gaddaron ko, Goli maro salon ko” (Shoot the traitors of our country. Speakers at the protest urged the government to protect Hindu pilgrimages and rallies from such violence by Muslims.
In Mahendragarh, Haryana, a Hindutva rally witnessed an extremist leader deliver a venomous speech against Muslims, branding them as traitors. “Don’t believe Muslims, even if they swear on their faith.”
Going further, he stated, “Beware of these Muslims in whatever situation you encounter them, whether they come to you as workers, barbers, whatever. They spit in the plates they eat, they will urinate on food, and give you!” The video surfaced on the internet of the 5th of August, 2023, as the state of Haryana was beginning to barely recover from the throngs of violence that overtook it over the past week.
Location: Mahendragarh, Haryana
At a far-right rally, an extremist leader delivers a provocative speech against Muslims, and calls them traitors. pic.twitter.com/lwKpd26vBF
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 5, 2023
At an event organised by the Hindu Mahasabha in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, participants called for India to become a Hindu nation and did not shy away from threatening violence to achieve their objectives.
In Jalalabad, Uttar Pradesh, Rashtriya Bajrang Dal leader Arpit Gupta delivered a hate speech against Muslims, issuing threats and instigating violence over the Gyanvapi mosque dispute.
He threatened a repeat of Babri Masjid, “if judges don’t rule in favour of Hindus in the Gyanvapi mosque dispute.”
“On sacrificing lakhs of Hindus, could we contribute our temple to Bhagwan Raam. A survey on Gyanvapi (Mosque) must be immediately conducted!” Hateful slogans of a Desh ke gaddaron ko goli maro salon ko also followed through can be seen in the video that surfaced on Twitter on 7th of August, 2023.
Location: Jalalabad, Sahajanpur, Uttar Pradesh
Rashtriya Bajrang Dal leader and lawyer in district civil court Arpit Gupta delivers hate speech against Muslims.
He threatens a repeat of Babri Masjid if judges don’t rule in favor of Hindus in the Gyanvapi mosque dispute. pic.twitter.com/7nHd8eevQM
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 7, 2023
As Haryana reeled from violence, Hindutva leaders at a Hindu Mahapanchayat event in Gurugram called for the boycott of Muslims and the closure of mosques. The video, appearing on Twitter on the 6th of August, 2023, saw speakers saying “I appeal to you with folded hands, don’t give any Muslim your house (on rent)!” The speaker also urged people to support the (meat) shop of “our Valmiki Hindu brothers!”
Location: Gurugram, Haryana
Leaders at Hindu Mahapanchayat call for the boycott of Muslims and shutting down mosques. pic.twitter.com/AxZVyKAdCG
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 6, 2023
In Narwana, Haryana, the Bajrang Dal organised a hate rally where violent slogans were chanted. The rally also targeted Rohingya and Pakistanis, further escalating communal tensions and threatening social harmony. The video from Narwana surfaced on Twitter on the 6th of August, 2023.
Slogans such as “Jihadion aur gauhatyaron ko phansi ho” rang through as did the “goli maaron salon ko” slogan trend. They also threatened, saying there would be consequences if strict action wasn’t taken against the Rohingyas and Pakistanis in India.
Location: Narwana, Haryana
Bajrang Dal organised a hate rally, threatening violence while shouting hateful slogans. pic.twitter.com/1Vcw3GNFoM
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 6, 2023
Moving north, in Fazilka, Punjab, a video surfaced on the 6th of Augst, 2023, showing a Bajrang Dal leader justifying the murder of two Muslim men by Monu Manesar. His inflammatory speech blamed the victims and propagated dangerous conspiracy theories, fueling animosity between communities. “They ask why Monu (Manesar) killed those two Muslim men, but why do they again and again cut a cow sacred to Hindus? No Hindu has troubled mullahs or maulvis.”
He continued, “They retaliated for Babri by firing the Godhra trains filled with devotees, they (Muslims) should not forget the consequences they felt after the train burning! Not one but a thousand more Monu Manesar should emerge. Just as more and more Muslims are coming here, now Christians have also started increasing their conversions…What has happened in Mewat, the same is happening in Manipur.”, he told the cheering crowd.
Location: Fazilka, Punjab
In police presence, a Bajrang Dal leader justifies the murder of Nasir and Junaid.
“Even if we have to cut someone, we won’t shy away,” he told the crowd. pic.twitter.com/ee2xJQpZME
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 6, 2023
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Hindu Janjagran Manch Leader Delivers Hate Speech, Advocates Economic Boycott of Muslims