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Hate Watch: Navratri events marred by targeted attacks on Muslim youth and artist

sabrang — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 12:53:41 +0000

As the Navratri festival begins on October 3, 2024, recent incidents in BJP-ruled states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have raised serious concerns about the continued and targeted attacks on Muslim youth and artist for participating in Navratri and Graba events by right-wing outfits. This ongoing violence highlights troubling tensions during a time meant for celebration.

In our previous report on Sabrang India, we highlighted the sinister thread of hatred and communal division that is increasingly undermining the fabric of interfaith coexistence. The sacred rhythms of Navratri have been disrupted by the discordant notes of intolerance and division in several BJP-ruled states, including Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, where right-wing groups have intensified their activities. Similar incidents have recurred across the country.

Uttar Pradesh

In Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim woman artist Baby Imran was barred from performing at a Garba event despite being invited, solely due to her identity. When she began her performance, the electricity was cut off and not restored until she left the event.

While speaking to the media, the artist said that “I have promoted my folk culture through social media and the entire public of Jhansi has supported me.” She reacting to her expulsion from the event, said that “There is no caste of an artist, or the religion of an artist is humanity, I am a Muslim, my name is Muslim but I have always brought forward Indian Sanskrit, such behavior has never happened with me.”

In #UttarPradesh‘s #Jhansi, a #Muslim woman artist was invited but not allowed to perform at a #Garba event due to her religious identity.

When she started performing, electricity was cut off. It was not restored unless she left the event. pic.twitter.com/v56VKiKYkZ

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) October 10, 2024

Madhya Pradesh

In Indore, Madhya Pradesh, the right-wing outfit Bajrang Dal disrupted a dandiya event upon allegedly discovering a Muslim youth attending with food containing chicken. In the video that surfaced on social media, you can see a saffron shawl wear right-wing leader citing the names of the alleged Muslim youth for attending the event along with having chicken.

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In Dewas, Hindu Jagran Manch members warned non-Hindus to leave a Garba event immediately, threatening physical assault for those who did not comply. In a video that surfaced on social media, a group of right-wing members while chanting the slogan of ‘Jai Shree Ram’ entered the Garba event and addressed the gathered crowd, stating, “If any vidharmi is present in this pandal, leave immediately; otherwise, we will throw you out.”

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Similarly, On October 6, 2024, in MP’s Guna, right wing outfit Hindu Jagran Manch’s members intruded a Garba celebration, caught and physically assaulted Muslim youths for attending the event, and handed them over to the police. In the video police personnel can be seen assaulting the Muslim youth when he opposed his expulsion.

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The rising hostility against Muslim artists and youth participating in cultural celebrations highlights a troubling trend of communal division in India. Recent incidents, particularly in BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, reveal a chilling atmosphere where right-wing groups disrupt events and instigate violence based on religious identity. The exclusion of individuals like artist Baby Imran and the threats faced by Muslim attendees at Garba events underline a broader agenda that seeks to undermine interfaith harmony. This escalating intolerance not only harms the spirit of cultural unity but also threatens the very essence of India’s kaleidoscopic festivals.

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Hate Watch: Vigilante groups misuse Navratri as an excuse to spread communal unrest

The post Hate Watch: Navratri events marred by targeted attacks on Muslim youth and artist appeared first on SabrangIndia.

VHP leader assaults Muslim youth attempting to enter Navratri event in UP

sabrang — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 06:34:28 +0000

India’s kaleidoscopic festivals, epitomized by the vibrant revelry of Navratri, weave a rich tapestry of diversity and harmony. Through joyful participation in Ramlila and Garba events, they bridge communal divides and foster warm interfaith exchanges.

However, a sinister thread of hatred and communal division has increasingly sought to weaken this fabric, as the sacred rhythms of Navratri has disrupted by the discordant notes of intolerance and division in few cities of BJP-ruling states Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The installation of posters and hoarding by right-wing outfits imposing ban on entry of non-Hindus in Navratri events and Garba Pandals leads to Muslim cleric to made request Muslim youth to not participate in Navratri events in Ratlam.

Muslim youth beaten by VHP members for ‘trying to enter’ Navratri event in UP

On October 4, 2024, in a tragic incident occured on Friday at Lajpat Bhavan in Swaroop Nagar in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur district, a Muslim youth was allegedly beaten up by members of the right-wing extremist organisation Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal at a Navratri event. In Swaroop Nagar.

According to the Hindustan Times, the video of incident shared on social media showed a man being beaten up while being questioned about his religion. Motijheel police outpost in-charge, Ravi Kumar, has lodged an FIR against unknown men for assaulting unidentified youngsters at the event, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Dinesh Tirpathi said on Saturday, October 5.

As per a report in the HT in a statement, Yuvraj Dwivedi, VHP’s district secretary (Kanpur North), claimed to have carried out checks at ‘Garba’ and ‘Dandia’ venues during the ongoing Navratri festival in the city to prevent people from other religions from participating in the celebrations.

MP’s Muslim cleric urges Muslims to avoid Navratri and Garba events

In BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, after posters by right-wing outfits banning entry of non-Hindus in Garba Pandal and Navratri Events, the Qazi of Western MP’s Ratlam City has issued a written appeal to all Muslims of the districts, especially the youngsters and women to opt out from Navratri events and Garba celebrations.

The Qazi of western MP’s Ratlam city, Mohd Syed Quazi Ahmad Ali, issued a written appeal to all Muslims of the district in wake of apprehension of communal tensions highlighting current times and situation.

Qazi Ahmad Ali said in his statement that “I request Muslim young people, mothers, sisters, and daughters not to visit fairs or watch Garba events. Instead, I call upon you to stay at home, keeping in mind the situation,” Ali said in a written message addressed to the Muslim community.

As per a report in the Indian Express, while reacting to the reasons for the appeal, the Muslim cleric said, “At a time when Garba organizers and religious outfits are openly saying that non-Hindus (particularly Muslims) won’t be allowed entry into the Garbas and if caught in the Garba pandals, they would be taught lesson, this appeal has been for Muslims in Ratlam. Not just Ratlam, I appeal to the Muslims elsewhere also to stay indoors and strictly avoid going to Garbas for their own safety as well as for maintaining communal peace.” Reported the

However, local VHP leader Gaurav Sharma while defending these posters and one of the Garba organizers Pappu Purohit, said, “The Garbas are festivals of devotion to Goddess Durga, where all Sanatanis are welcomed. But there will be no place for non-Hindus, as they don’t believe in idol worship. Also, this strict ban on entry of non-Hindus into Garba pandals will ensure that none of the youths entering these pandals with the menace of love Jihad in mind, enter the pandals.”

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar said that police patrols, including teams of women officers on scooters, have been monitoring Garba venues from 7 pm to 1 am to ensure incident-free celebrations.

Hate Watch: Vigilante groups misuse Navratri as an excuse to spread communal unrest

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Is Madhya Pradesh steadily turning into a communal hot bed?

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 08:41:53 +0000

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Violent clashes broke out “between groups from different communities” at a garba event in Sendhwa in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday night. It escalated, and according to news reports, “Residents of Moti Baugh resorted to stone pelting around 8:30 P.M and the clashes went on till 12 A.M.” The Town Inspector of Sendhwa (City) Baldev Mujalda, told reporters that “an argument broke out between two groups” and some people in one of the “groups were drunk”. The police have arrested 15 persons, under various charged including “one for attempt to murder”.

According to Indian Express, Mujalda said that around seven policemen, including him, were injured in the stone pelting. Additional police force of around 70 personnel from seven police stations were deployed to bring the situation under control. The total number of injured persons is said to be around 16, and police have registered “cross FIRs from both the groups while the police filed a suo moto case of attempt to murder against eight unidentified persons and arrested one of them” reported IE adding that “14 others were arrested under Section 151 of CrPC for creating public nuisance.” Section 144 was imposed in the area, and will remain in effect till October 19.

Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), has written to the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), over attacks on Muslims in Madhya Pradesh since August 2021. CJP’s prayer to the apex minority rights body is to conduct a full-fledged investigation into such incidents and also seek information about such attacks under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. Madhya Pradesh has had a spurt of communal clashes and unrest, especially against the Muslim comunity in the past few weeks.

Here are just a few incidents that were reported so far in October 2021:

Barwani: Muslims are forced to flee from Borlay village, which according to news reports is dominated by the Hindu Patidar community. It is now a communal hotbed after an old incident of elopement in April. Maktoobmedia reported that houses of Muslims were being attacked several times, following the April elopement of a man named Ameen Khan (21), a resident of Borlay village allegedly with a minor girl from Patidar community. The couple were caught and police booked the young man and three of his accomplices under sections of the Indian Penal Code including 363, 376, and other sections of the POCSO Act. The girl was sent home. However, according to the report, Muslims were targeted, allegedly by the Patidars. The harassment forced them to flee the village. According to the news report, “the boundary wall of the Muslim graveyard was demolished by unknown people. Locks were put on the mosque’s gate prohibiting namaz and azaan. The imam of mosque and his wife were shooed away” and “handcarts of Muslim vendors were also burnt by unknown people late in the night.”

The administration including the Sub Divisional Magistrate called members of both communities for a peace meeting on April 30 and reportedly “forced” the Muslims “to sign on paper in presence of police and SDM” reported Makrtoob. This reportedly prohibited Azaan using loudspeakers and told them “to recruit imam from another village to perform prayers.” According to Muslim leader Fakhruddin Khan quoted in the news report, “Entire Muslim community would be held accountable if any untoward incident (elopement, etc) took place in the village.” Five months have passed but the restrictions on Muslims continue forcing many to migrate.

Ratlam: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) put up posters outside Garba venues saying “entry of non-Hindus is prohibited” across 56 pandals. The VHP claimed that “non-Hindu men indulge in objectionable activities and thus their entry is being prohibited for Garba”.

Indore: Four youths were arrested for creating “public nuisance” after members of Bajrang Dal caught them outside a Garba organised by the city’s Oxford College on October 10.

Indore: A Muslim family of eight, including two women, now face an FIR accusing them of multiple crimes, even though it was they who were reportedly attacked by a mob of over 100 people chanting religious slogans. In the Pewday village, Kampel area of Indore city of Madhya Pradesh, this family of blacksmiths is said to be the only Muslim family in the village, and had moved to the area two years ago. The family has claimed to have been threatened before, but did not really pursue the matter due to poverty and lack of support.

Neemuch: A Dargah (Muslim shrine), named Hazrat Bheda Peer Dargah Sharif, was vandalised allegedly by around two dozen masked men belonging to a Hindutva group. The attackers used explosives, damaging the structure, and also injured its caretaker, Khadim Noor Shah. According to a media report, two devotees were also thrashed and robbed “on suspicion of religious conversion”. Neemuch Police, told the media that “unknown assailants tried to demolish the Bhedabhan shrine, situated in Jawad tehsil, using explosives, and also left a note behind alleging that the shrine was involved in converting Hindus to Islam.”

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