As word of the incident spread, a large crowd gathered, demanding immediate action and the swift arrest of the perpetrators. This led to a massive protest, with demonstrators blocking Tonk Road for about three hours. Tensions quickly escalated when protestors set tires on fire near the temple and attempted to set a nearby petrol pump ablaze. Timely police intervention prevented the situation from spiralling further.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) East, Tejasvini Gautam said that “We received information that some anti-social elements tried to vandalise Tejaji’s statue at Tejaji temple on Tonk Road. Police reached the spot and have registered an FIR. Investigation is underway,”

VIDEO | Rajasthan: “We received the information that some anti-social elements tried to vandalise Tejaji’s statue at Tejaji temple at tonk road. Police reached the spot and FIR has been registered. Investigation is underway,” says Deputy Commissioner of Police, Jaipur East,… pic.twitter.com/pOwo4oUR4F

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 29, 2025

Gautam commented on the development and commended the police’s quick response, stating, “A catastrophe was averted due to the swift action of the police.” At least 20 people were detained during the operation to control the protest, and while attempts to disperse the crowd peacefully were made, “mild force” was eventually used to clear the blockade.

Misinformation and allegations amplify communal hate

The vandalism initially sparked a wave of misinformation, with certain groups accusing the Muslim community of being behind the desecration. Social media videos emerged showing protestors raising anti-Muslim slogans, which further stoked tensions of law & order. However, a swift and thorough investigation by the Jaipur Police helped put a stop to these rumours. Authorities quickly arrested a suspect, effectively containing the misinformation.

In response to the seriousness of the situation, over 10 police teams were mobilised to investigate the incident. Investigators reviewed CCTV footage and identified a suspicious vehicle near the temple at approximately 2:30 AM. By tracking the car’s movements across more than 100 cameras, police traced the vehicle to the InterContinental Hotel on Tonk Road.

The arrest of Siddharth Singh: Motive behind the vandalism

The investigation led the police to Siddharth Singh, a 34-year-old man from Bikaner who was residing in Rajapark, Jaipur. Singh’s vehicle was linked to the crime, and he had been visiting a friend at the hotel that night. After extensive questioning, Siddharth was arrested in connection with the vandalism.

In a press conference held later that evening, DCP Tejasvini Gautam provided details of the investigation. Singh was reportedly returning home late on Friday night after consuming alcohol with his friend at the hotel. According to Rajasthan Patrika, Singh had recently been dealing with financial distress, having been forced to shut down his restaurant, ‘Tamas Cafe,’ due to monetary struggles. This financial strain had caused significant emotional and mental stress.

Singh admitted to the vandalism during police questioning. According to Rajasthan Patrika, Singh explained that after leaving the hotel, he had stopped his vehicle near the Veer Tejaji Mandir, where he first recorded a video on his phone saying, “You didn’t do right by me”, before smashing three idols. Singh reportedly linked his actions to frustration and anger over his financial situation, blaming God for his hardships. Police were able to confirm Singh’s identity and his involvement in the crime through CCTV footage.

Singh’s confession and realisation of the impact

Upon his arrest, Siddharth Singh confessed to the crime. Investigators found a photograph of the temple on his phone, timestamped at 3:18 AM, further corroborating his involvement. Singh later expressed remorse, stating that he was under intense stress and had informed his fiancée that he had made a mistake. According to the Indian Express, Singh did not initially grasp the full extent of his actions until the next morning when his fiancée informed him about the protests and the public outrage over the incident.

However, Rajasthan Patrika provided a slightly different account of Singh’s realisation. According to Singh’s statement, he sent his fiancée photos of the broken idols that night, but then forgot about the incident until he was told about the controversy the next day. He only understood the gravity of his actions after his fiancée informed him of the ensuing protests.

Former CM Ashok Gehlot, MP Hanuman Beniwal condemn vandalism

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condemned the act, calling it “highly deplorable” and an “unacceptable attack on public sentiments and faith.” In a post on X, he said, “The incident of breaking Veer Tejaji Maharaj’s statue in Jaipur’s Pratap Nagar is extremely condemnable. Tampering with public sentiments and faith in this manner is unacceptable.”

जयपुर के प्रताप नगर में वीर तेजाजी महाराज की मूर्ति को तोड़े जाने की घटना अत्यंत निंदनीय है। जन-भावनाओं और आस्था के साथ इस तरह का खिलवाड़ अस्वीकार्य है।

सरकार से मांग है कि इस मामले के दोषियों की शीघ्र पहचान कर उन पर कड़ी से कड़ी कार्रवाई की जाए। साथ ही, धार्मिक स्थलों की…

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) March 29, 2025

Gehlot also demanded stringent action against the culprits, stating, “I urge the government to swiftly identify the accused and take the strictest possible action. Additionally, effective and robust measures should be put in place to ensure the security of religious sites, preventing such incidents in the future.”

Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) chief and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal also reacted to the incident. Sharing his statement on X, he said, “It has come to my notice that anti-social elements have broken the statue of folk deity Veer Tejaji Maharaj in Pratap Nagar’s Sector 3, Jaipur. I have spoken to the Jaipur Police Commissioner and urged him to identify the culprits as soon as possible and initiate strict legal action against them.”

जयपुर में प्रताप नगर के सेक्टर 3 में लोक देवता वीर तेजाजी महाराज की मूर्ति असामाजिक तत्वों द्वारा तोड़ने की जानकारी संज्ञान में आई,मैने जयपुर पुलिस कमिश्नर से मूर्ति को तोड़ने वाले बदमाशों का शीघ्रता से पता लगाकर उनके खिलाफ कड़ी कानूनी कार्यवाही करने के संदर्भ में बात की…

— HANUMAN BENIWAL (@hanumanbeniwal) March 29, 2025

Multiple cases filed in connection with the incident

DCP Tejasvini Gautam confirmed that three separate cases had been filed in connection with the vandalism and the protests. The first case was filed by the temple priest, Manoj, regarding the desecration of the idols. The second case, filed by the police, concerns damage to public property and arson during the protests. The third case was registered by Ramesh, the manager of the petrol station, concerning the attempted arson and vandalism at the fuel station.

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The post Amid rumours blaming Muslims, drunk café owner Siddharth Singh arrested for vandalising Veer Tejaji idol in Jaipur appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Ten of these places are located in Haridwar district, four in Dehradun, two in Nainital and one in Udham Singh Nagar. Aurangzebpur in Haridwar has been renamed Shivaji Nagar, Ghaziwali as Arya Nagar, Khanpur as Shri Krishnapur and Khanpur Kursali as Ambedkar Nagar.

Likewise, Miyanwala in Dehradun will now be called Ramjiwala, Chandpur Khurd as Prithviraj Nagar, Nawabi Road in Nainital has a new name Atal Road and Panchukki Marg has been renamed Guru Golwalkar Marg after the second Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief.

“The changes have been made in accordance with the will of the people and per Indian culture and heritage of the country by honouring the great personalities,” claimed Dhami.

The Uttarakhand Chief Minister, who has launched a relentless anti-Muslim rhetoric even since he took over the reins in 2021, began with ‘Land Jehad’, ‘Love Jehad’, ‘Mazar Jehad’, ‘Thook Jehad’, implementation of the Uniform Civil Code ((UCC) and action against Madrassas.

Dhami is a young Hindutva icon of BJP-RSS who is credited with implementing the ‘Hindutva Gujarat Model’ in the hill state of Uttarakhand, reaping rich political dividends for this Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The BJP officially lauded the state government for changing the names as part of the campaign to eradicate the “last vestiges of slavery.”

“Uttarakhand has announced the renaming of several locations across Haridwar, Dehradun, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar districts. The new names reflect public sentiment and uphold India’s cultural and historical heritage. This initiative seeks to honour great personalities who have played a significant role in preserving Indian culture, inspiring future generations,” BJP leader and its IT cell chief Amit Malviya posted on X.

Rajput Community Miffed?

Interestingly, in its zeal to erase any Muslim-sounding or lslamic names, Dhami has also changed the name of ‘Miyanwala’ village near Dehradun which has nothing to do with Muslims. It was a Rajput village. The renaming of their village is brewing resentment among the Rajput community, which has demanded that the state government should refrain from renaming their village. The ‘Miyans’ are a famous Rajput clan in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh hills, known for their military valour.

Jai Singh Rawat, a senior journalist in Uttarakhand, said the state government should look into history and not act blinded by their opposition of anything that sounds Muslim. “The ‘Miyans’ are famous Rajput clan and Miyanwala is their village. The BJP-RSS think-tanks should educate themselves before acting impulsively in their anti-Muslim campaign,” he told this reporter.

The writer is a freelancer based in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Courtesy: Newsclick

The post ‘Eid Gift’: Uttarakhand CM Dhami Renames17 Places With Muslim-Sounding Names appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Voting began at 7 a. m. in constituencies including Katehari, Karhal, Mirapur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Sisamau, Khair, Phulpur, and Kundarki, with polls scheduled to close at 5 p. m. By the 5 the 5 p. m. update, voter turnout figures were as follows: Ghaziabad 33.30%, Katehari 56.69%, Khair 46.43%, Kundarki 57.32%, Karhal 53.92%, Majhawan 50.41%, Meerapur 57.02%, Phulpur 43.43%, and Sisamau 49.03%.

Sabrang India reported multiple incidents of voter suppression across Uttar Pradesh’s Meerapur, Kundarki, and Sisamau assembly constituencies on November 20, 2024. As by-elections for 15 seats concluded at 6 pm, 8 out of 15 seats saw blatant violations of voting rights. Particularly troubling were the reports from 7 of the 9 seats in Uttar Pradesh, where Muslim women were allegedly denied their right to vote based on their religious identity. Hundreds of videos surfaced on social media, exposing these violations and raising concerns about the fairness of the elections. Additionally, clashes erupted between AAP and Congress workers in Punjab’s Dera Baba Nanak seat.

Muslim women voters stopped by police, IDs and voting slips illegally verified

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav shared a video from Kakrouli, Meerapur, showing a police officer in riot gear pointing a gun at women. In a post on X, he tagged the Election Commission, urging immediate suspension of the Kakrouli SHO. He accused the officer of preventing voters from casting their votes by threatening them with a revolver.

“Election Commission should immediately suspend SHO of Kakrouli police station area of Meerapur because he is stopping voters from casting their votes by threatening them with a revolver.” He wrote on X

मीरापुर के ककरौली थाना क्षेत्र के SHO को चुनाव आयोग तुरंत निलंबित किया जाए, क्योंकि वो रिवॉल्वर से धमकाकर वोटर्स को वोट डालने से रोक रहे हैं। @ECISVEEP @SECUttarPradesh@rajivkumarec@spokespersonECI@ceoup#ECI#YouAreTheOne#IVoteForSure#UPPolitics#SamajwadiParty pic.twitter.com/WfiygzqO0t

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) November 20, 2024

Akhilesh Yadav also shared another video showing burqa-clad women claiming they were being prevented by police from reaching the polling station. In Ibrahimpur, Muslim women faced mistreatment and were denied the right to vote. Expressing concern on his official X handle, Yadav urged the Election Commission to take immediate action against the Station House Officer (SHO) responsible for the incident.

“There should be immediate suspension action against the SHO who used indecent behaviour and language with women to prevent them from casting their votes in Ibrahimpur,” he wrote on X.

इब्राहीमपुर में वोट डालने से रोकने के लिए महिलाओं के साथ अभद्र व्यवहार एवं भाषा का प्रयोग करनेवाले SHO के ख़िलाफ़ तत्काल निलंबन की कार्रवाई हो। @ECISVEEP @SECUttarPradesh@rajivkumarec@spokespersonECI@ceoup#ECI#YouAreTheOne#IVoteForSure#UPPolitics#SamajwadiParty pic.twitter.com/CkwoQOoHMv

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) November 20, 2024

Shockingly, voters were reportedly also stopped by police from casting their votes at booth number 65 in the Katehari Assembly of Ambedkar Nagar.

Voters are being stopped by the police from casting their votes at booth number 65 of Katehari Assembly of Ambedkar Nagar.

Election Commission should take cognizance, fair voting should be ensured. pic.twitter.com/4phxTxZeh6

— MD Kareem (@MDKareemWadi) November 20, 2024

While the legal mandate to check voters’ IDs and slips lies with the presiding officer and their team, as clarified by the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh in an order dated November 19, 2024, police personnel deployed at polling booths in UP blatantly violated this rule on poll day i.e. November 20, 2024. Despite the mandate, police personnel demanded voters, particularly Muslim voters, show their IDs. Many were forcibly turned away and prevented from proceeding to the polling booths, effectively denying them their right to vote.

SP demanded re-polling on Kundarki assembly constituency

On Wednesday, the Samajwadi Party (SP) called for repolling in the Kundarki Assembly seat, alleging fraudulent voting and a deliberate attempt to prevent voters from a specific community from reaching polling stations. Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate, Mohammad Rizwan wrote to the Election Commission, requesting the cancellation of the election

However, Mohammad Rizwan confronted police officers who were checking voter IDs and slips at a barricade near a polling booth. Rizwan lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (ECI), accusing police of misconduct, including physically assaulting polling agents and obstructing voters, particularly in Milak Sikri. He alleged that police actions were aimed at disrupting the election process and intimidating party agents. Voters in Kundarki reported being questioned about their party choice, with those supporting the SP facing abrasive treatment and, in some cases, being denied the right to vote. Rizwan claimed the administration was actively preventing SP supporters from voting.

In #UttarPradesh‘s #Moradabad, #SamajwadiParty candidate #HaziRizwan confronting cops over latter checking voting slips and IDs of voters at a police barricade put up ahead of the polling booth.

Polling underway at a total of 9 UP seats including #Kundarki in Moradabad. pic.twitter.com/F3Diyg6sm1

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) November 20, 2024

Rizwan claimed that SP supporters and other voters were subjected to extreme police atrocities, with reports of intimidation and obstruction. According to the candidate, the local administration was actively preventing and threatening Samajwadi Party supporters from exercising their right to vote.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Haji Mohd Rizwan (@mohdrizwanmla)

Full story can be read here

ECI suspended 7 Policemen in UP over violations

Despite numerous videos circulating on X and other social media platforms, in which Muslim women alleged vote denial based on their religious identity, the Election Commission of India (ECI) initially remained silent. After facing pressure from the opposition, the ECI eventually took action and suspended seven police personnel, including three from Moradabad, two from Kanpur, and two from Muzaffarnagar.

मतदाताओ के पहचान पत्र की जांच किए जाने की शिकायत को चुनाव आयोग ने गंभीरता से लिया है इस संबंध मे मीरापुर विधानसभा एवं सीसामऊ मे ऐसी शिकायत पाए जाने पर 02-02 पुलिस कर्मियों को निलंबित किया गया तथा सभी को निर्देशित किया गया है की मतदान कार्मिकों द्वारा ही मतदाता की पहचान की जाएगी

— CEO UP #IVote4Sure (@ceoup) November 20, 2024

These videos highlighted how voters supporting the Samajwadi Party (SP) were allegedly mistreated by the administration, with claims of rude behavior and intimidation. Many reported being denied the right to vote, particularly those pressing the SP’s cycle button.

It was after Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav accused police of unlawfully checking voter IDs and Aadhaar cards, publicly and repeatedly on ‘X’, formerly twitter,  urging the Election Commission to take action, that the poll body began to address the issue. Yadav’s accusations highlighted the BJP’s alleged influence on the administration to suppress votes and engage in foul play. While the ECI did suspend several officers, its initial inaction on the widespread complaints only fueled doubts about its impartiality.

Additionally, in a statement, Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Ridwa clarified that five police officers have been suspended in response to complaints of irregularities during voting. He emphasised that all voters arriving to cast their votes would undergo ID verification, but this responsibility lies solely with the polling station staff. Police officers are not authorized to check IDs, and any police personnel found performing this task will face strict action.

लखनऊ-मुख्य निर्वाचन अधिकारी नवदीप रिणवा का बयान

5 पुलिसकर्मियों को सस्पेंड किया गया है

मतदान में गड़बड़ी की शिकायत पर कार्रवाई

सभी वोटर जो वोट देने आएंगे ID चेक होगी

पोलिंग स्टेशन में मतदान कर्मी ID चेक करेंगे

पुलिसकर्मी आईडी चेक नहीं कर सकते हैं

जो पुलिस कर्मी… pic.twitter.com/dLMd9MjZoA

— भारत समाचार | Bharat Samachar (@bstvlive) November 20, 2024

Punjab records 59.67% voter turnout till 5 PM in 4 Assembly Constituencies

In the Punjab by-polls across 4 assembly constituencies, the overall voter turnout reached an average of 59.67% by 5 PM. The turnout for individual seats was as follows: Dera Baba Nanak recorded 59.8%, Chabbewal (SC) saw 48.0%, Gidderbaha had the highest turnout at 78.1%, and Barnala recorded 52.7%.

#ByeElections2024

𝟏𝟎-𝐃𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐤, 𝟒𝟒-𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐥 (𝐒𝐂), 𝟖𝟒-𝐆𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐡𝐚 & 𝟏𝟎𝟑-𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐚

Average Voter Turnout till 5 PM 59.67%

What are you waiting for, #govote#TheCEOPunjab #NoVoterToBeLeftBehind #ChunavKaParv@ECISVEEP pic.twitter.com/D8K5ZL6Fl7

— Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab (@TheCEOPunjab) November 20, 2024

While the election proceeded peacefully in most areas, a clash broke out between AAP and Congress workers at the Dera Pathana polling booth in Gurdaspur, creating a brief moment of tension. Despite this, the by-poll remained peaceful.

Palakkad (Kerala) bypoll turnout crosses 50%

With just half an hour remaining before polling stations close in the Palakkad by-election, voter turnout had reached 65.98%, with 1,28,484 votes cast out of 1,94,706 registered voters. Of the 1,00,290 women voters in the constituency, 66,162 have already cast their votes, reflecting active participation in the election process. The final turnout is expected to increase as the voting period concludes.

With just half an hour remaining before polling stations close in the Palakkad byelection, voter turnout has reached 65.98%, with 1,28,484 votes cast out of a total of 1,94,706 registered voters.

Of the 1,00,290 women voters in the constituency, 66,162 have cast their votes so… pic.twitter.com/XIzGl4QTgY

— South First (@TheSouthfirst) November 20, 2024

Kedarnath recorded 56.78 % turnout till 5 PM

As of 5 PM, the voter turnout in the Kedarnath by-election reached 56.78%, according to the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttarakhand. Voting began at 8 a.m. and concluded at 6 p.m.

Kedarnath by-election update | Total voting percentage recorded till 5 PM is 56.78%, as per Chief Electoral Officer, Uttarakhand (@UttarakhandCEO). pic.twitter.com/iXfb2Ddf3h

— Lok Poll (@LokPoll) November 20, 2024

However, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan criticised the illegal police interference in checking IDs, posting on X, he said that. “There are many credible reports of gross police interference with voting today. Police are preventing minorities from voting under the guise of checking ID cards. How is this permissible @ECISVEEP? Are you allowing @Uppolice to control elections?”

There are many credible reports of gross police interference with voting in UP by polls today. They are preventing minorities from voting in the guise of checking ID cards. How is this permissible @ECISVEEP ? Are you allowing @Uppolice to control elections?

— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) November 20, 2024

Hence, the by-elections for 15 assembly seats across Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, and Uttarakhand on November 20, 2024, were marred by significant voter suppression and police misconduct. In Uttar Pradesh, 8 out of the 15 seats experienced blatant violations of voting rights, with Muslim women and other voters being denied the right to vote based on their religious identity. The Election Commission, initially silent, eventually suspended seven police officers in response to widespread allegations of illegal ID checks and voter obstruction. Violent clashes between AAP and Congress workers were also reported in Punjab’s Dera Baba Nanak. The low turnout, especially in Uttar Pradesh, raised concerns about the integrity of the election process.

The Election Commission’s delayed response to these violations further undermined public confidence in its impartiality. On November 23, 2024, the results for all 15 by-election seats will be announced, with voter suppression and electoral misconduct continuing to cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the outcomes. The gaze will then be on the integrity of the counting process, especially after serious concerns have been expressed about the concealment of actual voting figures — constituency-wise—by the ECI before counting begins, at 8 am on November 23.

Related:

https://sabrangindia.in/up-by-elections-reports-of-serious-disturbances-and-disruption-of-voters/

https://cjp.org.in/counting-of-votes-and-post-counting-remedies-to-the-victim-candidates-of-a-tainted-election-process/

https://sabrangindia.in/vote-for-democracy-vfd-releases-report-on-the-conduct-of-general-election-2024/

The post Voting manipulation and police brutality plague 8 out of 15 by-poll seats; Muslim voters denied their right to vote in UP appeared first on SabrangIndia.

On June 22, 2024 during a felicitation programme of the winning BJP candidates from Assam, BJP leader – Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has claimed that the people is of ‘Bangladeshi-origin’ and the minority community members overwhelmingly voted for the Congress in the general assembly election of 2024.

He told the media, “Without considering the developmental work done for them by the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state.”

He added, “We analysed 39 per cent votes of the Congress. It is not spread across the state. Fifty per cent of it is concentrated in 21 assembly segments which are minority dominated. In these minority-dominated segments, BJP got 3 per cent votes.”

While the BJP won around 240 seats in total across the in the 18th General Assembly elections of 2024, they BJP is Assam had witnessed a lacklustre performance in terms of its vote share.

Further, seemingly stoking communal sentiments, Sarma has claimed, “One thing this election proved is that Hindus do not indulge in communalism. If someone commits communalism in Assam, one community does it, one religion does it, and no other commits communalism this election is proof of that. Someone is contesting against Sarbananda Sonowal Ji, someone is contesting against Bijuli Kalita Medhi, and someone is contesting against Dilip Saikia. The people of Assam have voted for us on the basis of merit, hope, aspiration and within the complainant of scarcity, they also voted for the party that was against us. There are no roads, no job, and even after accepting it, not a single person has complained about our During the Congress days, no land patta was received in char.”

Blaming the ‘minority community’, Sarma further stated, “The minority community people are living in misery due to poverty during the Congress days. In the minority areas, there is not a single road, no electricity, no thought of increasing prices. No matter what the officials have been doing, the minority vote for the Congress and this time also they have flooded them with their votes.” Sarma is an incumbent chief minister in Assam. Going further, he seems to be reportedly taking a partisan stance, and calling his party, BJP, as one that stands for ‘Hindu society.’

As per government data, the Muslim community continues to see high dropout rates in the state at 29 percent. Their education rates in the state are lower than that of other marginalised communities, such as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

“We, the people of Assam should learn that those who have been calling the BJP communal for so long. The BJP can say that if we stand somewhere for the Hindu society. If we stand somewhere for the Assamese society, if we stand for the people of the nation, we have not got 100 votes out of the 100 votes. None of our MPs won by 10-12 lakh votes. But if we go for the vote centres for the minority people of Bangladesh origin in Assam excluding Karimganj, out of 100 votes, only 99 votes have been received by the Congress. Earlier their contract was with Badruddin Ajmal, now the contract has been transferred to Rokibul Hussain. Only the contract was changed but not the team. The idea of communalism has not changed.”

Sabrang India has previously published an analysis of how people voted against BJP’s hate and communalism and in favour of democracy in Assam and the entire North East. While the BJP has maintained its hold on nine seats in the state, which is equal to its performance in the previous general assembly elections in 2019. It also has increased its vote share from 36.4% to 37.43%. However, the Indian National Congress (INC) edged out the BJP in terms of vote share increase, and has risen from 35.8% to 37.48%, even though the party has only retained its previous number of three seats.

Related:

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma reportedly spent 58 crores of public funds on travel

Assam: Post by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma casteist, promotes oppression?

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FIR against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma for hate speech

The post Once again, Assam CM tries to shake communal sentiment, claims minority community only know how to engage in communal activities appeared first on SabrangIndia.

PUCL has maintained through its statements and public position in the last four years that this divisive piece of legislation is a betrayal of the ideals of our freedom struggle, disregards the inclusive and plural history of India and squarely violates the letter and spirit of the Indian Constitution.  It is illegal, constitutionally immoral and unconstitutional as it makes an arbitrary and discriminatory link between religion and citizenship. The Indian Constitution through its citizenship provisions (articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10) and the Citizenship Act, 1955 (before the amendment brought in by the CAA 2019) do not  make religion the basis of citizenship.

However unlike both the constitutional provisions as well as existing statutory provisions on citizenship, the CAA 2019 is a statute which is discrimination writ large. While the aim of providing a pathway to citizenship to ‘illegal immigrants’ is to be welcomed, such a pathway cannot violate the Indian Constitution.  The problematic heart of the CAA 2019 is that it chooses to provide eligibility for Indian citizenship to ‘illegal immigrants’ residing in India from the viewpoint of their religion and expressly excludes from its purview Muslims, while including persons belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian community.  Further only those from the above religious backgrounds from three countries, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan can seek the benefits of the law.

Arbitrary, discriminatory

It is important for every Indian to ask, what is the logic of selecting only three Muslim-majority countries and excluding immigrants from the Muslim community?  If one thinks the logic is to create a pathway for citizenship for persecuted minorities, as narrated by the Home Minister in umpteen speeches, this narrative is debunked and exposed by the arbitrary nature of the exclusion of Muslim community and persons from several non-Muslim neighbouring countries from benefit of the law.

It is a well-known fact that there are religious and non-religious persecuted people found in India’s entire neighbourhood including China, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal, who too should have been considered, if the intention of the law was indeed to provide succour to persecuted minorities in the region. It should be pointed out here that over 100,000 Sri Lankan refugees of Tamil origin who fled racial persecution in Sri Lanka, (many of whom are Hindu by religion) and a large proportion of whom have been residing in camps in Tamil Nadu for over 40 years. These stateless Srilankan Tamils have been seeking citizenship in India with several generations born and bred in India. They are arbitrarily ignored by the 2019 amendment to the Citizenship Act which considers only persons from the above 3 countries. Moreover, the community that has faced the worst religious persecution in South Asia, being the Rohingya Muslims who have faced military crackdowns over decades, and over the years more than 1.5 million have been forced to flee Myanmar and rendered refugees, are also excluded from the ambit of the law.

It bears noting that people persecuted in Pakistan include the Ahmadiyyas  who are considered heretics and are not allowed to adopt and practice their religion. The only reason they are excluded from the benefits of the law is they claim to be Muslims, albeit persecuted Muslims.  In Bangladesh the LGBTQI community has  been subjected to relentless persecution, but no LGBTQI person can claim the benefit of this law. They stand excluded because the benefit of the CAA 2019 is only on the basis of religion.

The benefit of CAA 2019 is not on the basis of persecution which is a constitutionally permissible ground of classification, but on the ground of belonging to a religion. This prima facie discriminatory piece of legislation goes against the core value of secularism enshrined in the Indian Constitution and also violates Article 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution, under which the protection by the State of persons, both citizens and non-citizens has been underscored. Therefore discrimination against persons solely on the grounds of religion is unacceptable.

Imminent threat of NPR-NRC

As the Home Minister of India indicated, the CAA should not be seen in isolation but as part of a  chronology, with it being followed by the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).  First the NPR, being the register of all persons residing in a place, is to be prepared, which is to be followed by the NRC process under the Citizenship Rules, 2003. For conducting NRC, the Local Registrar is empowered to verify and scrutinise the particulars collected of every family and individual and identify those having ‘doubtful’ citizenship, to send for further enquiry. In an empowerment of third party vigilantism, the rules give the power to anyone to ‘object to the inclusion or exclusion of certain names’, from the first list.

The NPR and NRC process will create two categories of citizens in India, Citizens and Doubtful citizens. Those who are not included in the NRC upon failure to provide sufficient documentary proof, could be rendered without citizenship and essentially treated as foreigners or stateless. Depending upon the kind of proof of citizenship required, a threat of detention will hang over the heads of many millions who do not have the documentation required to prove citizenship.

CAA ignores religious and non-religious persecuted people of China, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal

The NPR and NRC process gives the Local Registrar unprecedented and unchecked power to target certain communities and individuals. Based on the animus the state has shown towards Muslims there is also a legitimate fear that this power will be exercised with a discriminatory intent. The NPR and NRC will adversely affect not only Muslims who do not have documentation, but also other categories of persons without documents such as single women, LGBT persons estranged from their families, divorced women, homeless people, tribals or poor people. The fears around the NRC are not abstract as seen from the experience in Assam NRC of 2018 which required citizens to prove their citizenship based on documents. The process resulted in 1.9 million Indians being struck of the citizenship rolls, with more than sixty percent of those who were declared non-citizens and illegal migrants being Hindus.

The NPR and NRC process will entrench the discrimination embedded in the CAA. Persons from communities eligible under the CAA will be able to take benefit of the law and apply for citizenship, meanwhile persons belonging to the Muslim community who have been excluded from the benefit of CAA, will be rendered remediless and termed “infiltrators” who cannot be given citizenship under the 2003 amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955. Those whose citizenship is considered doubtful will potentially be deprived of their right to vote and be subjected to a process of deportation as foreigners. As it is extremely unlikely that any neighbouring country will accept these detainees, they will be indefinitely detained in camps. Thus the animus towards the Muslim community which is at the heart of the CAA/NPR/NRC has serious implications for the future of the Indian polity.

Public opposition ignored

The law has seen overwhelming public opposition. Massive and peaceful protests and sit ins were held in 2019-2020 after the law was passed by citizens, youth from across universities and led by Muslim women from all over the country. The protests focussed on raising awareness about the discrimination and uncertainty of existence Muslims would have to face in their own land of birth and that of their ancestors, if unable to produce requisite documents.

In Delhi, the assertive Muslim youth who coordinated the peaceful and democratic protests, ended up in Jail for exercising their constitutional right to expression and assembly. Several youth have been unjustly and falsely implicated in the communal violence in Delhi in February, 2020 in which 54 persons were killed, with more than 21 being booked under UAPA.  The message sent out to the people was that they should be prepared for reprisals if they challenge the Government’s decisions even through constitutional means by exercising their right to protest in opposition to discriminatory laws that violate the Preambular promise of equality and secularism.

The government’s optics in notifying rules for implementation of the law on 11th of March, 2023, the first day of the holy month of Ramzan for the Muslims, communicates a harsh message of intolerance to a minority community facing the brunt of humiliation on a daily basis with increasing communalism . The notification of the law, which comes around the eve of the Parliamentary elections of 2024, indicates that the ruling party at the centre is promoting divisive politics which will fray the bonds that bind India together.

PUCL strongly condemns this  deeply polarising  decision that has been taken  just weeks from the election and demands that the law be repealed. PUCL has filed an urgent application to stay the implementation of the law in the Supreme Court and challenge the rules notified to implement CAA 2019. PUCL will continue to work to raise awareness of how  discrimination in citizenship laws  is the beginning of the end of the constitutional idea of India.

— Kavita Srivastava, President, V Suresh, General Secretary, PUCL

Courtesy: CounterView

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However, a law which took birth and become a reality within 4 days (December 9 to 12) was kept in convenient cold storage for 4 years and 9 months without being notified. It was enforced on March 11, 2024 when the 2024 parliamentary elections are few weeks away. The plight of the persecuted non-Muslim minorities in India’s neighbourhood was abandoned for close to five years and then resurrected only when PM Modi needed this polarizing law to push his electoral advantage.

It does not take much to understand that this is likely the first step in the direction of bringing in a more monstrous law for scrutinizing citizenship of all existing Indian citizens. The NRC-NPR exercise is going to play havoc with crores of Indians specially the marginalised migrant worker, Adivasi, Dalit, Farmer and Muslims.
Let us examine defence of enforcing The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 or CAA by the RSS-BJP regime.

(1) CAA 2019 –an attempts to bury India’s Constitution

Shah while piloting the Bill in Lok Sabha had declared that it was in accordance with the Indian Constitution as “the Constitution is our religion.” PM who abstained from the House due to an election engagement in Jharkhand reposed full faith in Amit Shah by declaring that “This bill is in line with India’s centuries old ethos of assimilation and belief in humanitarian values”.

These were shamefaced statements. This Act, first of its kind in independent India, sanctions a blatant violation of the secular Constitution of India. Secularism has been declared as one of the ‘basic’ structures by the Supreme Court of India. Hindutva rulers claim that it was an amendment to the existing citizenship law, Citizenship Act of 1955. However, it is in total disregard of the 1955 Act under which Indian citizenship could be acquired by birth, descent, registration, naturalization or incorporation of territory. Thus the CAA also violates the equality and non-discriminatory character of the Indian Constitution which was declared to be one of the four inviolable pillars of the polity.

(2) It is part of global anti-Muslim polarising agenda of RSS

Amit Shah while presenting this bill declared that it was not against minorities. According to him, “under PM Narendra Modi no minority needs to be afraid”. He seemed to be a large hearted home minister who would welcome all “Those who come here due to persecution, to save their religion and honour of the women of their family…” [Ibid] The “benevolent” Amit Shah argued “If minorities are getting persecuted in neighbouring countries, we cannot be mute spectators. We have to ensure their safety and dignity”.

However, this claim is absolutely hollow like any other claim of his when we go through the Act. Persecuted Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians and Parsis in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh are welcome but persecuted Muslims like Shias, Ahmedyas and Sufis not eligible for this offer. According to RSS/BJP rulers persecuted Muslims were not considered because they did not constitute a minority but were all Muslims. Even illiterates know that in the three countries these above mentioned sects have been declared as non-Muslims. So were Rohingyas abandoned. Worst of all Tamils in Sri Lanka, clearly persecuted find no protection in this new law.

Amit Shah highly worried about religious persecution in three Muslim countries is not bothered about the persecution of Muslim rationalist, liberal and atheist writers, poets, bloggers and activists who in hundreds have been killed by religious vigilante groups in these countries. Over decades India has been denouncing the ethnic cleansing of Baloch nationalists. Thousands of them have been killed by the Pakistani armed forces and hundreds remain missing. Since they are Muslims they will not be welcome despite their continuous ethnic cleansing by the Pakistan Army!

And what about persecuted Uyghur Muslim minority in China? According to a UN committee more than one million Uyghur Muslims and other Muslim groups had been detained in concentration camps in the western Xinjiang region, where they were said to be undergoing “re-education” programmes. Recently, US Congress overwhelmingly approved a bill aimed at pressuring China over a brutal mass crackdown on ethnic Muslims in the far west of the country.

Amit Shah’s argument for not allowing persecuted Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan is that they are not minorities in their respective countries. But persecuted Uyghur Muslims are a religious minority in China. Denial to take refuge to them under the CAA 2019 only shows hatred for Muslims and kowtowing to the Chinese rulers.

Tragedy is soon to unfold for Afghans who in hundreds, many of them women, migrated to India due to excesses of Talibaans. Since CAA has been notified all these Afghan refugees are going to be forced back into a theocratic Afghanistan ruled by the Talibaan.

(3) Farcical love for persecuted Christians

The love for Christians in the neighbouring countries is more puzzling as after Muslims, this community has faced the maximum violence at the hands of RSS goons in India. Modi started his first term as PM of India on May 26, 2014. One of the first decisions he made was about celebrating December 25, (X-MAS) as ‘good-governance day’ every year. It continues till date.

What fate awaited Christians in India was made clear by one of the most decorated police officers of India, Julio Ribeiro, on completion of almost nine months of Modi’s government, in the following words: “Today, in my 86th year, I feel threatened, not wanted, reduced to a stranger in my own country.  The same category of citizens who had put their trust in me to rescue them from a force they could not comprehend have now come out of the woodwork to condemn me for practising a religion that is different from theirs. I am not an Indian anymore, at least in the eyes of the proponents of the Hindu Rashtra.

“Is it coincidence or a well-thought-out plan that the systematic targeting of a small and peaceful community should begin only after the BJP government of Narendra Modi came to power last May? ‘Ghar wapsi’, the declaration of Christmas as ‘Good Governance Day’, the attack on Christian churches and schools in Delhi, all added to a sense of siege that now afflicts these peaceful people.”

Such attacks on Christians and their religious-educational institutions have since taken a pan-Indian diabolic character.

The most prominent ideologue of RSS declared Indian Christians as ‘Internal threat number 2’ after Muslims who were declared as ‘Internal threat number 1’. [MS Golwalkar, Bunch of Thoughts, Sahitya Sindhu, Bangalore, 1996, p. 193.]

How much Christians are loved by Amit Shah was made clear when Indian Parliament passed the 104^th Constitutional Act in 2019 itself. It did away with the nomination of Anglo-Indian members to the Lok Sabha and state legislatures from January 25, 2020. Nomination to Anglo-Indians was provisioned in the Constitution in order to give representation to a section of Christians who were incapable of getting elected any member of their community due to small number. In fact, despite this provision in force in the 17th Lok Sabha the Modi government did not nominate any member from the Anglo-Indian community to the House. The regime which is bothered about the persecution of Christians across the borders is working over-time to deprive them of all the rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

(4) Love for Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists who are decreed as Hindus in India by RSS

RSS-BJP rulers love for Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan is puzzling. BJP rulers as members of RSS do not accord the status of independent religion to the above mentioned religions.

The most prominent ideologue of RSS, Guru Golwalkar declared that Hindus should not be divided into Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains, “the Buddhists, the Jain, the Sikh are all included in that one comprehensive word ‘Hindu'”. [MS Golwalkar, The Spotlights, Sahitya Sindhu, Bangalore, 1974, p. 171.]

(5) Mysterious cut-off date

The cut-off date for seeking refuge in India by the persecuted communities has been fixed on or before December 31, 2014. This means (or implies) that there has been no persecution of Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians and Parsis in the three countries after December 31, 2014. It only shows complete disregard of the present reality in India’s neighbourhood. The cut-off date was tailor made to assuage the mounting anger of more than fifteen lakh Hindus who have been declared foreigners in Assam. But it has opened the old wounds in Assam where organisations fighting for the Assamese identity have risen in revolt against CAA.

(6) Persecuted Tamil Hindus of Sri Lanka left in the lurch

CAA is silent on Sri Lanka where large scale massacre of Hindu Tamilians took place. The fascist Buddhist organizations in Sri Lanka have been demanding Sri Lanka for Sinhalese Buddhists only. Amit Shah and his Hindutva government have brazenly betrayed the persecuted Hindu Tamilians of Sri Lanka who were forced to migrate to India during the civil war or still facing persecution there. More than 150000 (one and half lakh) are languishing in miserable camps with no rights. Shockingly, CAA sacrifices safety of even Hindus in the neighbourhood.

(7) Persecuted minorities and ethnic groups in Myanmar left to die

The Indian home ministry under Amit Shah has ordered a 1643-kilometre long fence to be erected on the India-Myanmar border. This is being done to stop the religious minorities and ethnic groups like the Rohingya people, Kachins (The Baptists) and the Arakan Army which are facing brutal persecution of the Military rulers from coming through. Since they took refuge in India to save themselves from the killing gangs of the Myanmar Army now with this fence they would be at the mercy of Myanmar rulers.

(8) Amit Shah’s hypocrisy on ‘one nation, one legislation’

RSS/BJP rulers have been pro-active on the demand that India is one nation and should have one law on each issue. Interestingly, prior to the CAA 2019, India had one single citizenship law but with the enforcement of CAA India would have multiple citizenship laws. This amendment to the CAA exempts the whole of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram, almost the whole of Meghalaya, and parts of Assam and Tripura, but keeps all of Manipur under its ambit which may also be made an exception. Thus citizenship will be governed by plethora of laws bidding good-bye to the goal of ‘one nation, one legislation’.

(9) CAA 2019 was scripted by the ‘Guru of Hate’, Golwalkar in 1939

CAA 2019 is the resurrection of what the most important ideologue of RSS, Golwalkar decreed in his 1939 book We or Our Nationhood Defined about the character of Indian nation. According to him it was, it is and will remain an exclusive Hindu nation. The reality is that it is not only against the minorities but against democratic-secular Constitution of India.  The RSS has been allergic to the idea of an all-inclusive India since its birth in 1925.

Golwalkar declared that in, “Hindusthan, the land of the Hindus, lives and should live the Hindu Nation…Consequently only those movements are truly ‘National’ as aim at rebuilding, re-vitalizing and emancipating from its present stupor, the Hindu Notion”.  [MS Golwalkar, We or Our Nationhood Defined, Bharat Publication, Nagpur, 1939, p. 43]

He went to the extent of declaring that all those who did not believe in establishing the Hindu nation “are either traitors and enemies to the National cause, or, to take a charitable view, idiots”. [MS Golwalkar, We or Our Nationhood Defined, Bharat Publication, Nagpur, 1939, p. 44.]

It is important to note that even when CAA 2019 had not been enacted, India under the stewardship of the visionary PM Nehru had allowed refuge to likes of Dalai Lama with his retinue (April 1959). At the end of 1970s thousands of East Pakistanis who were persecuted by Islamists and Pakistan army were provided shelter in India. CAA 2019 is nothing but a ploy of RSS/BJP rulers led by diehard Hindu nationalists like Modi and Amit Shah to convert democratic-secular India into a Hindutva theocracy. It was facilitated by a capitulated Parliament.

The Indian judiciary, specially the Supreme Court could have averted this tragedy by timely intervention. But despite more than 150 petitions challenging the constitutionality of the CAA pending before the highest court of justice since 2020 it continues to dither from hearing the petitions.

The only hope now is that the people of India will peacefully resist this undoing of democratic-secular India.

Related:

Anti-CAA protest: Delhi High Court quashes trial court’s order taking cognizance of FIR against Shabnam Hashmi for holding banner

‘Slip of Tongue,’ now says BJP MP who had promised CAA in 7 Days

CAA rules to be framed by March 2024, says Union Minister

The post Anti-constitutional, bereft of humanity & religiously bigoted: CAA 2019 is now enforced in India appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The arrests took place following accusations made by the local Hindutva group Sarva Hindu Samaj. Responding to this, the Education Minister of the state’s BJP-led government Madan Dilawar reportedly immediately took action and suspended the two government school teachers, Mujahid and Khan, over suspicions of alleged involvement in religious conversion attempts and also “love jihad” activities at the   government senior secondary school which is   reportedly located in Khajuri Od Pur village in Sangod block of Rajasthan. The group also accused them of allegedly abducting a girl student.

According to Mint news, the education minister promised that strictest actions against the suspended teachers “In the Khajoori village of Sangod Panchayat Samiti in Kota district, the religion of a girl in senior secondary school was mentioned as ‘Islam’ in the transfer certificate of a girl despite her being a Hindu. A conspiracy of religious conversion and ‘love jihad’ is happening there, Hindu girls are being forced to offer namaz – this has come to our notice.”

On Thursday, a government order instructing action against the teachers was issued by the Kota district education officer (secondary), after receiving the directive from the education minister.

However, according to Siasat News numerous students from the same school in Kota have raised their voices against the suspension of two Muslim teachers. They have stated that unfounded accusations have been levelled against them. Videos have emerged featuring students in school uniforms speaking to government officials, and determinedly opposing the suspension of their teachers. In one of the videos, one girl student can be seen saying, “Who will educate us now? The ones who gave false statements or the suspended teachers?”

In the video, a student states, “False statements are being forced upon children.” Another student question also stated that they were threatened to make certain statements, and the teachers who were suspended were ‘good’. The child also stated, “Kuch namaz nahi padhaya jaatha tha. Teachers bhi ache the. Kuch nahi hota tha school mein. Humko damkakar bola gaya tha ki aap aise bolo.”

Meanwhile, the Urdu Shikshak Sangh’s national president in Rajasthan, Amin Kamkhayani, has denounced these allegations, and has stated said, the suspensions are for “political appeasement.” The   state president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Mohammad Nazimuddin has called it a one sided action, and blames the regime change (with BJP getting elected) for these “polarisation tactics.”   He also demanded a fresh enquiry in the case.

Related:

Rajasthan: Muslim students barred from school, called ‘Chambal ke Daaku’ for wearing hijab

Dalit boy humiliated, forced to drink urine and liquor in Ajmer, Rajasthan

Rajasthan: State Education Minister warns of bulldozer action against teachers

Muslim youth from Bihar beaten to death in Rajasthan

The post Rajasthan: Muslim teachers suspended for ‘love-jihad’, as students allege they were made to falsely testify appeared first on SabrangIndia.

As we go forth into the New Year, the news that on average every day two Christians have faced attacks is a reality India is confronted with. India’s Christian community, a significant part of the nation’s diverse religious fabric, has been faced with a torrent of hate speech and discrimination by members of radical extremist Hindutva groups.

Amidst the rich tapestry of cultural coexistence and historical contribution, instances of discrimination, attacks and violence against Christians rings a bell of alarm for the community and the nation at large. In this year-ender, we delve into the intricacies of these challenges, examining the slurs while centring the voices within the community itself.

CJP spoke to Nancy, name changed, who is from Tamil Nadu. She works for a national faith based development organisation and is based in Northern India. Reflecting on the past decade, she stated that, “In the last eight years things have changed drastically in the country. Hate is regularly spread against minorities which is bad for democracy. I haven’t experienced any prejudices or instances personally directly but there is growing suspicion among colleagues and friends who were once close. They now support the current regime which is both sad and very scary. Also, many Christian organisations have lost their FCRA this year which has made me sad. I feel that despite harbouring good intentions of helping the needy and uplifting the nation, the commitments of the Christian community are eyed with suspicion. Though some Christian groups do engage in conversion (which is a fundamental right – though I am not for conversion) every organisation and individuals are perceived through the same lens.”

Accusations of foreign funding and conversion activities which are often fuelled by conspiracy theories by Hindutva organisations seem to have run amok this year. Amidst the many tropes that constitute anti-Christian sentiment, the salient amongst them is the idea that Christians missionaries are conniving to forcefully and coercively convert Indians to Christianity. Hindutva leaders have made allegations of Christian missionaries receiving financial support from companies such as Tide and Rin to convert people forcefully and incentivise people through monetary means.

Reflecting on the arrival of Christmas this year, Nancy highlights how everyday life of the Christian community is being affected adversely by the current, dominant political dispensation, “This would be a sad Christmas for many Christians as many have lost their jobs. Mass loss of employment will push many to poverty and the rural poor who depend on the development sectors will be further affected. The right wing in India and around the globe is taking control. The Palestine situation has made this Christmas even more sober and darker with the US, a Christian country, aiding the violence, which makes it even more deplorable. Violence and capitalism has destroyed the world which is also supported by Christian nations who are friends with our right-wing government. Closer home, we can see how Manipur has faced unspeakable violence which still continues: more than 50,000 Christians are in refugee camps. A sad Christmas for all and it’s painful.” She states that there is no government support in the wake of these incidents and what makes it even worse for the community.

There is also an attempt to create hateful rhetoric surrounding certain individuals and figures, such as Mother Teresa, which adds another layer to the discourse. The figure of Mother Theresa, revered globally for her humanitarian efforts, has been portrayed by some as a threat to India due to allegations of mass conversions. Furthermore, the accusation that Christians, as a community, have broken temples and destroyed statues further fuels tensions and add to the fire as an attempt to distort history.

“The landscape is definitely changing as we hear each day pastors are attacked and put in jail.” Expressing her apprehension, she states that she is worried how India will be home for the minorities in the years ahead and “if at all our children will have any future here.” “However,: she adds,” I feel the Muslim minorities are attacked even more whereas the Christian leaders are cosying up with the ruling party due to the large amount of property and other priorities instead of saving the country from hate violence and destruction.”

Dennis, name changed, highlighted a growing trend of derogatory language online, often involving terms like “rice bag” converts. In recent years, proponents of Hindutva hard-line ideologies have persistently asserted that Dalits who have embraced Christianity have converted as they were “lured” by financial incentives. The approach involves not only showcasing and stigmatising conversions to Christianity and Islam but also perpetuating casteist attitudes toward Dalits and other marginalised converts.

He further continues, “I think the rise of online hatred might be an effect of Islamophobia, especially because it has become more common online to see people use derogatory slurs. You can also see people online and offline praise Hinduism as compared to Abrahamic religions, so there seems to be a pronounced bias and superiority of Hinduism that is upheld by certain factions.”

Dennis further describes his experience in public, “I have a thick beard, I have been called ‘Osama’ by kids in the metro.” Sharing further, he reveals the apprehensions about displaying religion in public, “I don’t wear any overtly religious stuff in public” Dennis’ statements reveal that violence and persecution against religious minorities, whether it is Christians or Muslims, is an interlinked phenomena, and that fear remains ever present.

Hindutva organisations seek to justify violence and communal sentiments against Christians by saying that they “kill” cows and eat their meat. In many of their hate speeches, Christian and Muslim both feature as “foreign enemies” that seek to wage conspiracy against Indians and Hinduism. Such narratives, though largely contested, range through and foment communal sentiments in the country and continue to shape perceptions and contribute to an environment of suspicion and mistrust and violence against Christians.

Sangeeta, name changed, a working professional in northern India narrates that she converted to Christianity while completing her studies. She kept her religion a secret for several years, with only close friends, knowing about it. “I began reading about Christianity when I was going to college. I also attended the Church and found the atmosphere very warm and welcoming, which is what led me to adopt the faith. However, I was very apprehensive about the reaction that would come from my loved ones and family if I were to share with them news of my change in religion.” Talking about the growing rise of hatred, she says, “Yes, of course, it is a source of fear and increased my apprehension even though I was never concerned about it before I changed my faith. I am apprehensive of talking about my faith publicly on social media.”

Fear is a common thread found in all these personal accounts. This is not without reason. 2023 has seen wide and far instances of violence against Christians. In Chhattisgarh alone, a state until this month ruled by the opposition Congress party, Christians form a minority and mainly belong to tribal communities. Both of these aspects make the new converts as well as existing Christians on the land greatly vulnerable to violence by Hindutva groups. About two percent of Chhattisgarh’s Christian population primarily resides in the southern Bastar region. On January 2, 2023, an act of vandalism targeted a church in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh which was fuelled by accusations of the Church engaging in “conversions.” Prior to this, between December 9 and 18, 2022 approximately 1,000 Adivasi Christians had found themselves persecuted, and it led to a mass displacement from their homes.

Manipur too is a state that has witnessed constant conflict since May 2023. According to news reports, around 120 churches have been vandalised in the state. The ethnic conflict between the majority Meiteis and the minority Kuki tribe has led to over 180 casualties and the displacement of about 60,000 people.

CJP spoke to Julianne, named changed, from Manipur who similarly talks about how Churches are routinely attacked to break the morale of the Christian community in Manipur. Julianne, a student from Manipur, says “These days’ things have gotten worse.” Talking about how Christians are targeted in Manipur, she narrates about how the government has publicly decried the building of churches in the hill regions of Manipur, “In the valley, several churches are routinely attacked on the basis of religion. They pick on our religion particularly because they know that attacking churches is what is going to hurt us. So Churches are routinely destroyed in Manipur, several were destroyed this year, too, in Manipur. People back home started reading the Bible’s book on Revelation, as it talks about times where people face persecution.”

“Overnight we became terrorists, overnight we were declared illegal immigrants. We did not have any idea that this is what would happen in our own homes. Sometimes I look out of my window, and I feel like I can see my old home in Manipur. I have hear that it was not burnt; but our belongings have been stolen.” Julianne continues with a calm, steady voice, revealing a steely resolve, “I need to start accepting that home is not a place. While what happened and is happening in Manipur should never happen to anyone, I feel there is much to learn from what has happened, God is always trying for us to learn something.” Talking about how the conflict has affected her, she says, “I used to not feel comfortable talking about my faith earlier. I used to feel, not exactly ashamed, but that it was uncool to talk about my faith in public. But now I feel like I am closer to God.”

The people of Manipur have faced harrowing times. Students like Julianne, and many belonging to the Kuki-Zo community have reportedly faced severe discrimination in the state. About 27 students from the community were reportedly prevented from taking their exams due to their identity. Violence against Meiteis has also erupted, leaving a people with severe fissures and suspicions and a state and central government disinclined, hostile even, to furthering dialogue and peace. Christians in Manipur, across the ethnic divide are a peculiar and specific target.

Related:

Hindutva’s “rice bag converts” controversy

Anti-Christian violence: Opening of a church resisted, police raids aid the rightwing

Alarming rise in violence against Christians in India as G20 Summit takes centre stage

Bible College in Imphal was burned down

The post Amidst festive cheer, India’s Christian community confronts prejudice and intolerance appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In a video posted by UP Tak, UP Police can be seen doing the rounds of settlements asking people for documents. As per the news report the policemen were going around in Muslim households in Benaras and asking for information like their name, twhere their family originates from etc. This was being done in Badau Chungi area of Adampur as well as Ganganagar colony and near Kashi railway station.

If they found out that someone belongs to West Bengal, they allegedly asked such people to produce all documents like Aadhaar card, PAN card, ration card and voter ID. If they were not found in possession of the documents, they were ordered to visit the police station with the documents at the earliest. This crackdown on illegal immigrants appears to be taking place with full blessings of the Adityanath administration where unrestricted powers appear to have been given to the police in handling anti-CAA protests. So far 25 persons have been reported killed in the violence related to the protests.

The UP police has, in the year 2019, arrested quite a few “illegal immigrants” in Agra and Mathura. This crackdown also seems like the first step towards identifying such immigrants to eventually arrest them. One of the police officials himself admitted on camera that they were asking people living in these settlements for their ID documents and information about how long they have been living there. The policemen also took videos of the people for easy identification in the future.

The people who were asked for documents said they have grown up there and that they do jobs like driving rickshaws or rag picking to earn a living. A strong directive from the Chief Minister’s Office has allegedly prompted such swift action and hard crackdown by the police.

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LUCKNOW: A third year student of KHWAJA MOINUDDIN CHISHTI URDU AND ARABIC-PERSIAN UNIVERSITY, Ahmad Raza Khan has been expelled from the college and barred from entering college premises for his social media post against CAA-NRC. Simultaneously the university has declared winter holidays starting from 26^th Dec to 10^th Jan.

The decision was taken at a hurriedly called meeting headed by Vice Chancellor Prof. Farooque Mirza. The meeting was also reportedly attended by the Registrar, Chief Procter, Examination Supervisor and hostel wardens.

But Ahmad said that he had posted this on December 17, before the protestors-police clash took place in the state and due to unavailability of internet he couldn’t remove the post. Speaking exclusively to SabrangIndia Ahmad said,” I just posted a simple a thing which had the first line of the preamble WE THE PEOPLE OF INDIA and appealed people to join in the protest.” Apparently the reason given by the university officials was that due to section 144 being imposed in the state he can’t ask people to protest (the reason can be read in the letter below). So what does he plan to do now ?” If my rustication will not be taken back by the university then I will approach the high court.”     He said.

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