Communalism has become rampant amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, and now it is getting an open push by the country’s who’s who, especially those from the ruling party.

Giving the medical pandemic a communal push, two days ago, a BJP MLA from Charpauli, Sahendra Singh Chauan, had called for the segregation of people from the Tablighi Jamaat sect and those from “their community” and asked people to “maintain distance” from them, reported The Indian Express.

The MLA, a former Rashtriya Lok Dal member, made the comments in a Facebook video.

5. BJP lawmaker (MLA Chaprauli), Sahendra Singh Chauhan from Uttar Pradesh is asking a bank in his constituency to “assign different time for Muslims so that they don’t mingle with common people”pic.twitter.com/zwGjsKZKoL

— Einstein ?? (@DesiPoliticks) April 20, 2020

In the video he said, “We all know that this disease is very dangerous and it would have very well been brought down in the first phase of lockdown. But certain members of a particular community and religion were found infected and the diseases has spread far. In my own constituency, several cases linked to Jamaat were found. It is my humble appeal that people should stay away from the members of the particular community. It is for their own safety and the safety of others around them.”

He also added, “I have spoken to the meal distribution team and the local magistrate that they should be given food separately and a time must be fixed for them to withdraw money. This is in the interest of the district and the nation.”

In the video, he has alleged that around 70 – 75 percent of the total Covid-19 cases in India are connected to the Tablighi Jamaat. He appealed to the people from his constituency to stay away from the people of the Jamaat and asked the respective authorities to ensure that they don’t come in contact with the general public.

However, when Chauhan spoke to The Indian Express, he said that his comments were only associated with members of the Tablighi Jamaat sect, and not to all of the Muslim community.

He said, “It is my belief that there will be peace in the community and it is not an indictment on Muslims. Several different communities reside together in the district. I only wish that people maintain distance from suspected cases and that they should be safe.”

Apart from Chauhan, Babita Kumari Phogat, wrestler and now member of the BJP, also commented on the Tablighi Jamaat saying that the coronavirus was the second biggest problem in the country, because “uncivilised Jamaatis” were at number one.

कोरोना वायरस भारत की दूसरे नंबर की सबसे बड़ी समस्या है।

जाहिल जमाती अभी भी पहले नंबर पर बना हुआ है।#jahiljamati

— Babita Phogat (@BabitaPhogat) April 15, 2020

An FIR was registered against her in the matter by a member of the Tablighi Jamaat in Maharashtra regarding her tweets on April 15 and April 2.

The tweet from April 2 was –

These hateful comments coming from people in positions of power, speaks volumes of the collective ideology that is borne by the people of the ruling party. It is common knowledge that there were multiple congregations in India, similar to that of the volume of the Tablighi Jamaat that took place during the coronavirus transmission. However, all these events were either under-reported or completely ignored, and only and only the Tablighi Jamaat was targeted for the rapid spread of the virus.

Related:

Covid-19: Was Tablighi Jamaat event the only mass gathering leading up to the lockdown?
FIR against 4 for attending Tablighi Jamaat
After warning, Meerut hospital apologizes for discriminating patients on the basis of religion

The post BJP members target Tablighi Jamaat for spread of coronavirus appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Cow vigilantes across the country have killed and maimed many in the recent past. But the latest incident from Karnataka is the first one of its kind.

Activists of the Hindu Jagrana Vedike killed a BJP member – Praveen Poojari (22) – and seriously injured another – Akshay (22) – who were transporting three cows in a van at Kakije near Hebri in Udipi district on Wednesday night, according to a report in The Hindu.     

KT Balakrishna, superintendent of police, told the newspaper that on receiving information about the transport of cows, a group of activists belonging to the Vedike, stopped their van at Kajike at around 8.30 p.m. and beat them, alleging that the cows were being transported to an abattoir.

The injured were then rushed to a hospital in Brahmavar, where Praveen Poojary died. On getting the information about the incident at around 11 pm, the police arrested Srikanth and 16 activists of the Hindu Jagran Vedike on charges of assault and murder.

Incidentally, cows can be slaughtered in Karnataka if old or diseased. Possession of beef is not a crime. Bill proposed by BJP in 2010 made slaughter punishable by 7 years’ jail and Rs 1 lakh fine, but it did not become law.

Whether the cows were being taken to an abattoir, as alleged by the vigilantes, is a moot point. Even if true, there is no law authorising  the criminal misdeed of self-proclaimed ‘gau rakshaks’.
 

The post Cow Vigilantism: Hindu Jagran Vedike Activists Kill BJP Member, Injure Another, in Karnataka appeared first on SabrangIndia.