Gradually, as the party tried to shift, slowly, the (soft) Hindutva line, it lost disastrously to the BJP whenever it tried to outdo the saffron juggernaut. The reason behind things not going well for the Congress, among many reasons, a key one is the role of state leaders considered as ‘kshatraps’ who are unable to look beyond their families and jaatis. None of these khsatraps can be termed as inclusive. Some went overboard on their ‘inclusiveness’ that they lost base of their own communities like Harish Rawat in Uttarakhand. However, people like Bhupesh Baghel, Ashok Gehlot, Kamalnath and now Bhupinder Singh Hooda became tired outdone leaders who gained everything from the Congress but could not (did not) go beyond their own family interests and therefore damaged the party. All this at a time when people were looking to the Congress Party as an alternative to the ruling BJP.  Let’s not forget the fact that Siddharamaiyya was defeated in Karnataka despite his good work by caste identities as both Vokalingas and Lingayats never wanted an OBC of the marginalised section to lead the state. D K Shivakumar continues to challenge the chief minister and the powerful Vokalinga lobby is desperate to have him chief minister likes the Jats of north India. Both the Jats as well as Vokalingas-Lingayats are actually powerful landed savarna castes but over the years the Bahujan narrative-setters –for the sake of their vote politics– have added them to the OBC category. The same Bahujan narrative setters are unable to respond or just keep silent when violence against Dalits occurs in those states dominate by these Bahujan politics. BSP Chief Ms Mayawati herself said that though Dalit votes shifted to other parties, the same did not happen in return as Jats did not vote for Dalit candidates and that is a reality. The Bahujan narrative-setters need to look beyond their jaati interest and see the diverse contradictions among various communities at the ground level. There is no one community which can be blamed as being ‘jaatiwadi’ or casteist as almost everyone falls foul of this category. The only thing is that all of us are looking at someone below us and are in awe of someone above us as Baba Saheb had explained. Unfortunately, communities and leaders who need to stitch this broad based participatory alliance with diverse communities are unable to go beyond their jaati interests and trapped in their constructed image of a particular community leader.

We must also discuss about the conduct of the Election Commission of India (ECI) transparency, vote dumping and EVM-related and other administrative issues. These are serious issues and Election Commission; political parties and the highest court have failed collectively to assure us as why shouldn’t the number of vote polled be equal to that of the VVPAT slips. Why has there been a huge mismatch in votes polled and votes counted. Why have the objections not been taken seriously by any of the agency or body accountable for free and fair polls? Why has the Opposition not raised the issue systematically and consistently?

It is important to understand that narrative making is important but it does not really work if you don’t have the cadres and leaders representing those communities at the ground. You won’t get cadres and leaders of the communities if there is a narrative of ‘dominance’ of one particular community in the party organization and structure.

In Haryana, Congress went into the fray with a sense of over confidence convinced that it is returning to power after ten years of anti-incumbency and incompetent government led by the non Jats. It wanted to exploit the rising Jat sentiment of returning to the power but ignored the vital factor that it was only possible if the Jat leadership was ready to play the role of a facilitator ensuring the participation of all those communities particularly Dalits are feeling threatened.  Dalits who constitute about 21% of the total Haryana population cannot even imagine of having a chief minister of their own because 27% Jats would not like them to be so.

The first decade rule under Bhupinder Singh Hooda has brought the Jat Dalit hostilities into lime light where Hooda had no interest to work as conscious keeper of the constitution and provide justice to Dalits. I was witness to various movements led by Dalits for justice including Bhagana and Mirchpur where Dalits became victims of Jat hegemony in Haryana and Hooda was silent, did nothing. In fact, the Congress High command at the time could not even persuade Hooda to act against Jats who were the accused on both the cases. Hence, promoting Hooda at the time when Haryana was witnessing a massive anti Jat incumbency was nothing but playing in the hands of BJP. Even if the party wanted to ensure that it remain in command with powerful Jat votes, it was important to play an inclusive game. The humiliation meted out to Ms Selja, an extremely loyal leader from the Dalit community of Haryana did not go down well with the Dalits in the state. If even after so many years, a woman of substance who had devoted her life and energy to build the party, Selja cannot expect to lead the party or be in its platform as leader of the party, this reflects the highhandedness of Hooda family.

The BJP used this insult to boost their own campaign and the BSP too raised the issue. The anti-Dalit characteristic of Hooda as well as dominant Jats in the region has not in any way diffused and whether real or not, this was the narrative that carried the day. The Congress party must understand that their leaders were made to believe that ‘Kisan’, Pahalwan and ‘Jawan’ were against BJP, as if cutting across the community line there is a broad anger against the government. Frankly speaking, this slogan of Kisan, Pahalwan and Jawan only addresses the Jat voters of Haryana. Congress did not bother to reach out Dalits and Rajput votes.

Through 2024, even when we all know that there was a Rajput desperation to break out of the BJP and ally with any or all other groups who were sympathetic to its issues, the Congress leadership refused to accept the fact that they too exist. Similarly, despite Rahul Gandhi’s loud claims of Social Justice, no collective effort was made in Haryana to reach out to Dalits. The last moment entry of Ashok Tanwar could not bring back the Dalit votes in the party and the reason is clear.

The Congress must understand that a political party is not like a social justice movement. A movement can run on one particular agenda targeting one section of the people but mass politics has to be inclusive and ensure engagement with all communities. Right now, India’s poor and marginalised want a share in the power structure and that happens through their political representation at different levels. While job reservation is an important issue, parties will have to prepare them to take a categorical stand on the issues. BJP succeeded because it has an open stand on various issues unlike Congress which is unable to take a stand. The Dalit vote cast in Haryana was not one sided. The Jatav-Chamar votes who are over 50% of the total Dalit votes in Haryana actually went along with BSP because of the absence of Congress clear stand on sub categorization. The Balmikis who are about 30% of total voters among the Dalits, voted mostly for BJP because it supported the demand for categorisation. So Dalit votes whether pro or anti, went along with other parties and not to the Congress because of its refusal to take a stand.

At a public meeting Yogendra Yadav recently said that an effort is being made against to convert the elections into a Jat verses non Jats and added that the BJP is expert in spinning such a narrative. The party did the same in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar where it pitched other communities against Yadavas. The BJP might have been doing things as per its own political strategy but in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party and Congress are also doing the same which is blaming Rajputs or Thakurs for everything wrong there. Yogendra Yadav has not acknowledged this in a single sentence anywhere mentioning that it is the same Thakurs who actually voted against BJP in Uttar Pradesh and ensured the defeat of many of the Hindutva leaning candidates. Unfortunately, today opposition parties are targeting Rajputs in order to take Yogi Adityanath head on. This may boomerang as the community has no presence in the judiciary, media, industry and bureaucracy in comparison to other powerful communities of Uttar Pradesh. Haryana’s Jat verses non Jat narrative would not have succeeded if Bhupinder Singh Hooda and others had the humility of extending their outreach to other marginalised communities particularly the Dalits in Haryana.

There are about 8% Yadav votes in Haryana and many areas adjoining Uttar Pradesh impact that. A combined campaign with Akhilesh Yadav would have worked here but the local leadership of the party refused to ally with either the AAP or Samajwadi Party. In politics, many a time, even when it is known that an ally does not have a base in the state, to keep them in good humour,  we do share one or two seats so that, through such a strategy goes out to communities that they represent. It sends a signal about the intent of the party. An alliance with the Samajwadi Party and a joint campaign would have served the purpose but Bhupinder Singh Hooda was not interested in that. It would have served better than allying with AAP. The Congress AAP alliance failed because of over ambitious project of AAP and BJP wanted to use it. The BJP works at multiple levels and fronts to achieve its goal. So, Ram Rahim of Dera Sacha Sauda got released on parole and Arvind Kejriwal getting bail from the highest court during the same period could have equally contributed to foiling Congress chances in the state.

That apart, it is also visible that a number of candidates who were not given tickets from the Congress party even contested as independent candidate and got extremely handsome share of votes caused the defeat of the party. Though this happen in any party; here it is also undeniable that that Hooda dominated everything as he was sure he would be in power and he wanted to ensure that after the victory, he become chief minister without any interference of the party High Command. Bhupinder Hooda and his dream to rule Haryana has not just ended, the ambition has also dealt the Congress a severe blow. Congress party now needs to rebuild the party and bring all stakeholders together. Bring the issues that compliment issues being re-calibrated; when Rahul Gandhi raises the Caste Census and reservation issue, it is time, it is done without offending anyone. There is a big difference between political parties and civil society or intellectuals as a political party will have to cater the mass while intellectuals and civil society leaders/influencers are mostly single issue driven. They may speak out of conviction but may bypass ground realities. Political parties cannot afford to behave like charitable organisations or a civil society watchdog group. Congress also needs to be careful of the ‘loyal’ YouTubers who had no other agenda then getting “likes”. The party got carried away with the agenda setters on social media. They remain far from ground realities and were just talking of their ‘man ki baat’. Congress needs to transform into a e party of all and not of one jaati or a couple of jaatis but for that it will have to weave a narrative where every stakeholder feels part of the committed whole.. For this to happen, the party needs to rebuild the party organisation in all the states with new blood.

Though Congress’s defeat in Haryana is shocking for the party, it may be a boon for Rahul Gandhi and others. Bhupinder Singh Hooda would have behaved like other leaders such as Ashok Gehlot, Kamalnath or Amrinder Singh etc. once in power. He never followed the party line when Dalits were being attacked in Haryana. The Congress High Command appears today helpless because regional kshatraps can damage party if not benefit it and therefore it was unable to act against them but Hooda now join the company of Ashok Gehlot, Kamalnath, Bhupesh Bhagel and Harish Rawat. Time has come for the party to move on and build up the grand old party by bringing young leaders from different communities that reflect the ground realities of the state.

All this is not to discount the unfair means which the ruling party adopted, the disappointing role of Election Commission, the issues of fairness and transparency and the manipulated EVMs. They remain vital and important for the health of democracy but we also know the fact that despite that parties have won elections. If the party and many others feel that EVMs have been manipulated and hacked then they must launch a sustained campaign in all seriousness. Administrative issues of fair play are extremely important. However the Congress other committed blunders and that cannot be ignored.

Therefore, Congress would do well, to conduct a caste census of the party structure so that it understands what ails the party, who are the leaders dominant in the party structure yet unable to fetch votes to the party. Get a complete figure of communities within the organisation and link it with the state figures. A complete overhaul of Congress party is not possible without a jaati-janganana’ or caste censuses of the entire party structure. Rahul Gandhi who is advocating the caste census and social justice issues with rigour needs to start putting his home base in order as his social justice agenda will remain unimplementable if there are no takers within the party. Will the party ever listen?

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author’s personal views, and do not necessarily represent the views of Sabrangindia.

Related:

Haryana Police body complains to Election Commissioner over votes stolen from them

Disgust and dismay at INC nominating Lal Singh as candidate in J & K elections: CCG

Assembly Polls: SKM to Campaign for BJP’s Defeat in Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir

The post Congress needs a caste census of its party, then build new leaderships from the margins appeared first on SabrangIndia.

According to reports, over the past seven years, India has witnessed a staggering 500% hike in cases filed under its hate-speech law, according to the National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB). The data reveals a six-fold increase in hate speech crimes, with 2014 marking the lowest count at 323 cases and the year 2020 witnessing the highest at 1,804 cases. Out of all states, Tamil Nadu recorded the highest number of reported cases at 303, and is followed by Uttar Pradesh with 243 cases, and Telangana with 151 cases. Furthermore, Hindutva Watch, an organisation dedicated to monitoring hate, has documented about 255 incidents of hate speech gatherings targeting Muslims only in the first half of 2023 itself. Interestingly, around 70% of these incidents occurred in states set to hold elections in 2023 and 2024. The report further also revealed that 80% of hate speech events unfolded in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Sonipat, Haryana

On November 22, Pravin Togadia, delivered a loaded speech in Haryana’s Sonpiat. Togadia is a public figure and Hindutva leader, and formerly the international working president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. In speech, Togadia engaged in fearmongering as he claimed “they”, Muslims, were taking over parks and even posing a threat to businesses. Furthermore, he spoke about conspiracy theories about Muslim population growth. 

Location: Gohana, Sonipat, Haryana
Date: November 22

Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP) leader Pravin Togadia delivers another hate-filled speech against Muslims, indulging in fear-mongering while peddling conspiracy theories over Muslim population. pic.twitter.com/9B6Enn8821

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) November 24, 2023

“No beard-topi is seen in Haryana. Now (they’re) taking over parks, killing in Mewat, Pakistan is standing in Panipat. And population is rising in the entire country. Danger is rising. What does danger mean? None of our homes will remain. Business won’t be safe…History is witness, wherever “their” rule has been, non-Muslims have been attacked, killed and rendered homeless, daughters-sisters don’t remain. We can see from Spain to Malaysia…Their population is rising. Amongst, our Hindus, our population is decreasing. Some Hindu couples exist without a child! Some have one, others have two. The average used to be 2, now it is 1 ¼.”

New Delhi

In New Delhi on November 19, during the Hindu Rashtra Adhiveshan event organised by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Lata Singh Thakur who is the chief of Hindu Dharmasena Chandi Vahini, delivered a hate-filled speech against Muslims. Thakur not only targeted the Muslim community but also called on Hindus to keep weapons. “In areas, where Muslims are large in number and Hindus are less, then we go and perform Hindu rituals there, to do away with the fears of the Hindus…The reason for this is that we are so paralysed by fear. Thus, if they know how to wield a sword or use a Katta, don’t we know this too?” She continued, “The day the Hindu in you will awaken, that day Hindu Rashtra won’t have any issue in getting established.”

Location: New Delhi
Date: November 19

At the Hindu Rashtra Adhiveshan event organized by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, chief of Hindu Dharmsena Chandi Vahini Lata Singh Thakur delivers hate speech against Muslims and calls on Hindus to keep weapons.

This event featured multiple… pic.twitter.com/lv29RGaaea

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) November 24, 2023

Sangareddy, Telangana 

On November 23, Thursday, BJP’s national president, J.P. Nadda, criticised Telangana Chief Minister and BRS chief K. Chandrashekhar Rao for what he termed as ‘appeasement politics.’ Nadda accused KCR of attempting to please a “particular section of Telangana” by promising to increase reservation for minorities from 4 percent to 12 percent. 

Location: Sangareddy, Telangana
Date: November 23

BJP President JP Nadda promised to rescind 4 percent reservation to Muslims if his party comes to power in the state. pic.twitter.com/F7wCZNHMWN

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) November 24, 2023

Jaipur, Rajasthan

Speaking in the capital city of the poll-bound state, who is said to be a BJP leader, delivered a speech which mostly targeted Muslims, and also raised the slogan, “If you want to live in India then you have to chant Jai Shri Ram.” Sharma continued further, saying, “These (coming) elections will decide whether Jaipur will be “mini-Pakistan” or not. However, we are the sons of Bharat Mata, and with us remaining, we will not let mini-Pakistan be created.” The crowd roared in response to his slogans. “And whoever talks of making a Pakistan … he will have to go to Pakistan.”

“Two years ago in this district, a situation akin to riots was created here. Glasses of houses were shattered. Those goons who have such an ideology will not be allowed to enter here! And if, should one (of these goons) enter…then, Yogiji had told such criminals to either surrender or,” cries of bulldozer, “leave Uttar Pradesh. And if neither doesn’t happen, then…”

He further says the oft spoken slogan, “Ayodhya toh Jhaanki hai! Mathura, Kashi baaqi hai!” He continued further, “The election in Rajasthan is basically a semi-final. This will be fought by Ram Bhakts itself! But when, the Modiji’s rule will be established in 2024, several will have to go!” BJP leader Gopal Sharma delivers fiery hate speeches against Muslims. He said that mosques in Mathura and Varanasi will be replaced with/temples & raised the slogan: “If you want to live in India then you have to chant Jai Shri Ram.”

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan
Date: November 19

BJP leader Gopal Sharma delivers fiery hate speeches against Muslims. He said that mosques in Mathura & Varanasi will be replaced with/temples & raised the slogan: “If you want to live in India then you have to chant Jai Shri Ram.” pic.twitter.com/4S8MvtDJlI

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) November 23, 2023

Related

Hate speeches at events across north India, calls for violence against minorities

BJP MLA T Raja Singh delivers hate speech during election rally, CJP approaches Election Commission again!

Trend of divisive politics continues, 3 hate speeches by Assam CM in poll bound states

Unveiling the diverse impact of Hate Speech

The post Muslims continue to feature as main characters in hate speech appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Cow militia thrashed truck drivers in Bhiwani district, Haryana

For instance, in the Bhiwani, district of Haryana, a shocking case emerged on August 12, where members of Acharya Azad Singh Arya’s cow militia violently attacked two mini-truck drivers, Junaid and Nasir. The brutal assault was carried out under the pretext of transporting cattle. 

According to the statement of a relative, the vehicle had proper certificates, “We had proper licenses to transport cattle. I request the Rajasthan and Haryana government to look into the mob attack and ensure justice to Junaid and Nasir.”

Bhiwani, district has gained notoriety due to its history of cow vigilantes taking the law into their own hands, often with fatal consequences. Notably, the region experienced the terror reign of individuals like Monu Manesar and Bittu Bajrangi, with Monu Manesar facing accusations of killing two Muslims in the name of cow protection. 

Location: Nuh, Haryana

Acharya Azad Singh Arya’s cow militia unit thrashed a mini-truck driver for transporting cattle. pic.twitter.com/ACTwB0n3HS

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 13, 2023

(The incident actually took place at Bhiwani, Haryana)

An investigative piece in the August edition of The Caravan magazine by Harsh Mander has documented the disturbing growth of cow vigilante mobs and their operational methods. Mandar’s article explicitly points out that the rising communal tension in the Mewat region can be attributed primarily to the terrorising actions of cow vigilantes against Muslims.

Imam assaulted and blamed for alleged religious conversions in Meerut, UP

Adding to the distressing sequence of events, an incident in Meerut on August 12 involved the physical assault of an Imam over alleged conversion attempts. Although the audio in the video documenting the incident is unclear, it captures the assault on the Imam, including the involvement of a woman. The attackers are heard shouting, “We are Hindus. Why are you destroying our religion?”

Location: Meerut, Uttar Pradesh

Imam assaulted by a mob over allegations of religious conversion. pic.twitter.com/92YZca0nWa

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 13, 2023

Muslim man lynched over cattle theft in Assam

The unsettling trend of mob vigilantism targeting minorities continues in Assam, where a 40-year-old Muslim man, Hifzur Rahman, fell victim to a Hindu mob’s violent tendencies. On a fateful Saturday night in the Bamungaon area of Hojai’s Lanka on August 12, Rahman was lynched by the mob on suspicions of cattle theft. Despite the victim’s claims of innocence and proper legal procedures, he was assaulted by the crowd in the darkness of the night, leading to severe injuries. Later, police transported Rahman to a nearby hospital. Rahman, however, succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead despite all medical efforts. According to authorities, his body was transported for a post-mortem examination.

A 40-year-old #Muslim man, #HifzurRahman, was Lynched by a #Hindu mob on Saturday night over the suspicion of cattle theft in #Hojai, #Assam.

Sanjay Das, Nikhil Das, Tulendra Das, Uttam Chakraborty, Jayanta Chakraborty, and Sandhu Mazumdar were arrested. pic.twitter.com/5aHEpK0QSi

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) August 14, 2023

The incident prompted the victim’s family to report the heinous crime to the police, sparking an inquiry into the matter. Eight individuals were subsequently identified by the authorities as suspects in the lynching case. Six of these suspects, namely Sanjay Das, Nikhil Das, Tulendra Das, Uttam Chakraborty, Jayanta Chakraborty, and Sandhu Mazumdar, were apprehended and taken into custody. The gravity of the situation has raised concerns about the prevalence of mob and vigilante violence in the area. Legal actions are underway under Section 302 (murder) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the arrested individuals.

Related 

Intolerance on the Rise: Unveiling Disturbing Trends in India

UP: Scribe Faces FIR for Highlighting School Textbooks Meant for Poor Kids Being Sold as Scrap

Brutal attack on young Muslim boy in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar

Christians attacked during prayers in national capital

The post How hate spills onto physical targeted attacks on the streets: August 2023, India appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Lalpur, Jamnagar: Gujarat

Far-right leader Kajal Shingla recently delivered a hate speech targeting Muslims in Lalpur, Jamnagar. Speaking at an event organized by the Hindu Sena, Shingla indulged in fear-mongering and propagated anti-Muslim conspiracy theories. Her divisive rhetoric adds to the escalating communal tensions within the region. The video was posted online on August 13, 2023.

Location: Lalpur, Jamnagar

Far-right leader Kajal Shingla delivers hate speech targeting Muslims.

She indulged in fear-mongering and peddled anti-Muslim conspiracy theories.

Shingla was speaking at an event organized by Hindu Sena. pic.twitter.com/kKxCBdhOOz

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 12, 2023

“Hindus should organise themselves. Rohingyan Muslims and Bangladeshi immigrants are here to destroy us,” she said in speech. Thereafter,  she made a “plea” to financially boycott Muslims. “The money given to Muslims is contribution to terrorists”, she reiterated.  She “blamed Muslims” for communal disturbances in Mewat. She alleged that Muslims pelted stones against the Shobha Yatra. The police reports rejected this claim and are yet to verify the sources.

According to her Twitter bio, Kajal is an “entrepreneur, a research analyst, and a nationalist”. She has nearly 95,000 followers on Twitter, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Kajal, whose former name was Kajal Shingala, describes herself as the ‘Lioness of Gujarat’ on her website. Quoting from her website, which has been inaccessible for the past few days, the report said that she “spreads awareness about the Indian culture and works for the human rights of Hindus.”

Pondri Village, Palwal, Haryana

A vide surfaced on Twitter on 13th August, 20023 in which Acharya Azad Singh Arya, the leader of the Haryana Gau Raksha Dal, can be seen taking to the stage at a Hindu Mahapanchayat in Pondri Village, Palwal. His provocative speech targeted Muslims in Mewat and called on Hindus to arm themselves with rifles instead of revolvers. 

Location: Pondri village, Palwal, Haryana

At Hindu Mahapanchayat, Haryana Gau Raksha Dal leader Acharya Azad Singh Arya delivered a provocative speech against Mewat’s Muslims and called on Hindus to buy rifles instead of revolvers. pic.twitter.com/ZSfIIq6zJo

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 13, 2023

In a video from the event, he is heard saying, “Everyone should get a rifle, not a revolver, because revolvers do not shoot far. I beg the youth to maintain a warm blood temperature. I question the Prime Minister: Why don’t you remove [Manohar Lal] Khattar and give us a chief minister like Yogi Adityanath?”  Arya also said that he salutes the cow vigilantes who have been jailed for killings two Muslim men, Junaid and Nasir, in February.

“Junaid and Nasir were cow killers, and as soon as they were killed, the Rajasthan government stood up for them,” he said. 

Azad Maidan, Panaji, Goa

In Goa, the far-right group Hindu Janjagruti Samiti orchestrated a hate rally against the conspiracy theory of “love jihad.” The event, held at Azad Maidan, Panaji, is yet another instance of spreading divisive sentiment. The video surfaced on Twitter on 13th August, 2023.

Location: Azad Maidan, Panaji, Goa

Far-right group Hindu Janjagruti Samiti organized a hate rally against the conspiracy theory of “love jihad”. pic.twitter.com/V6RVDb2w1V

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 13, 2023

Village Panchi, Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh

At a Bajrang Dal-organised meeting in Village Panchi, Baghpat, a Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader delivered a communal speech demonizing Muslims. This rhetoric adds fuel to the communal fire and raises concerns about the polarisation within local communities. The video was posted online on 12th August, 2023.

Location: Village Panchi, Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh

At Bajrang Dal organized meeting, a Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader delivered communal speech demonizing Muslims. pic.twitter.com/s4rzCILgVG

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 12, 2023

New Delhi

“Mathura, Varanasi Masjids would be converted into temples,” said Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) working president Alok Kumar. Attending an event organised by Vanvasi Raksha Parivar Foundation on August 13 at Delhi, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) working president Alok Kumar promised the conversion of Varanasi and Mathura Masjids into temples within ten years.

“If Ram Janmbhoomi (birthplace of Lord Ram) was converted into temples, how could we not do the same in Mathura and Varanasi. Within next ten years Mathura and Varanasi temples would be converted into temples” he promised to the audience.

He cautioned against reactionary attacks against the perpetrators. He praised the Hindus taking reactionary actions.

Location: New Delhi

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) working president Alok Kumar delivered a communal speech demonizing Muslims and claimed mosques in Mathura and Varanasi would be converted into temples in the next ten years.

Kumar was speaking at an event organized by Vanvasi… pic.twitter.com/nTtayORGPb

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 14, 2023

Related

Nuh Haryana: Who cast the first stone?

Intolerance on the Rise: Unveiling Disturbing Trends in India

Five hate speeches given by Suresh Chavhanke in July, CJP moves NCM

Far right leader calls for “repeating Gujarat 2002 in Karnataka”: Hindu Jagaran Vedike (HJV)

The post Far right, Hindutva leaders stoke communal fires across India appeared first on SabrangIndia.

A video message of sarpanch Usha Devi from Kablana and sarpanch Kavita from Mundakheda surfaced on social media where they can be heard redacting their statements. In the video, Kablana’s sarpanch said, “This panchayat respects all religions, communities and castes. We don’t have any enmity with anyone and welcome all to our village irrespective of their religion”.

“Our intention was never to offend anyone’s religious feelings. The issuance of these letters was solely a precautionary step in response to a surge in cases of theft,” the sarpanch also said in the video message.

Pursuant to this, Mundakheda’s Sarpanch stated, “If it was portrayed as though we were side-lining a particular community, we are withdrawing the letter with a written statement.”

The video can be viewed here:

A #Jhajjar Panchayat announces withdrawal officially after Jhajjar DC takes cognizance upon #TimesOfIndia phone call and report of them issuing boycott letters against #Muslims.#HaryanaViolence #NuhVoilence pic.twitter.com/hdCh2R5L63

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) August 10, 2023

The boycott notices, issued after communal violence gripped the state of Haryana on July 31, attracted widespread criticism. Following communal clashes in Haryana’s Nuh and Gurugram, over 50 villages spanning Mahendargarh, Jhajjar, and Rewari had announced boycott of Muslim businesses and traders. It is also essential to note that on August 8, a plea was also moved in the Supreme Court against the calls of social and economic boycott of Muslims in multiple districts of Haryana.

What did the resolution entail?

On August 3 and 4, as selective targeting of Muslims expanded from Nuh, Haryana, to other districts, about 50 village panchayats from three different districts joined forces to sign the boycott letters. In the identically worded letters, prohibitions against Muslim shopkeepers and other members of the community from entering the separate areas were mentioned. Additionally, the aforementioned letters demanded that Muslims living in the areas provide the police with identification documents. It is essential to note that in majority of these villages, there is hardly any Muslim population.

As provided by the report of The Quint, a letter written by the gram panchayat of Mahendergarh’s Saidpur, dated August 3 provided, “In view of the communal violence in Nuh, the panchayat as well as villagers have taken a decision that ‘mischievous elements’ or ‘anyone from the Muslim community’ will not be allowed to conduct any trade or other activities in Saidpur”.

As reported by The Quint, copies of almost identical resolutions passed by village panchayats of Silapur, Bahila, Tajpur villages in Mahendragarh and Zainabad, and Chimnawas in Rewari district, besides other panchayats.

The Quint reported, one common line in all the letters was: “Woh log (Muslims) din mei gaon me recce karne ke liye aate hai or raat ko chori ko anjaam dete hai… (During the day, they (Muslims) come and do a recce and at night they come and steal)”

A change of heart as authorities stepped in

On August 9, Haryana Minister of State Social Justice & Empowerment Om Prakash Yadav had assured the media that strict action will be taken those who have issued the said boycott resolution.

On August 8, the divisional commissioner of Jhajjar had issued show cause notices to the sarpanch of Kablana and Munda Heda villages for issuing boycott calls against Muslims. Before the withdrawal surfaced, Jhajjar deputy commissioner Shakti Singh said that such boycott calls were against constitution. The DC also said the move seemed to be the handiwork of ‘fringe elements’ bent on spreading communal hatred following violence in Nuh and nearby areas.

 “We received the letter from Kablana and issued a show cause notice. They redacted the statement and apologised,” said Captain Shakti Singh, DC, Jhajjar.

More villages withdraw boycott letters

According to a report of the Times of India, another village head from Saidpur in Mahendargarh withdrew the boycott letter after getting legal counsel that singling out a community based on religion is illegal and unconstitutional. 

The village of Saharanwas in Rewari had also issued a boycott call exhorting local to not conduct business with, and rent out houses to Muslims. It is essential to note that not even one single Muslim resident lives in Saharanwas. On August 9, the sarpanch issued a letter withdrawing her earlier statement, as reported by the Indian Express. 

The report of the Indian Express also provided that the village sarpanch of Chimnawas, which is around 10 km from Rewari town, had also issued a similar boycott call. Krishna, the sarpanch of Saharanwas had said, “We have no ill-will towards Muslims. We just said that those who create violence should not be allowed into the village,” as per Indian Express. On August 9, sarpanch Krishna wrote that “The letter that prohibited Muslims was written due to oversight. We retract that statement.”

Her husband Vijay Singh, the former sarpanch, had further claimed the call was in response to cow vigilantes who had asked them to ensure that Muslims were not allowed inside.

Related:

‘Ethnic cleansing by State?’ HC stops Haryana’s Nuh & Gurugram demolitions

Bail not Jail for Bajrang Dal man, Bittu who posted a provocative video on day of Nuh clash

Lives lost in Nuh violence, a failure on the part of the Haryana police and government?

Nuh Haryana: Who cast the first stone?

Nuh Clashes planned and coordinated, more such violence likely before 2024 Polls: Satyapal Malik

The post Haryana: Resolutions banning entry of Muslims traders withdrawn after authorities send show-cause notice appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Faridabad police sources however told The Times of India that Bittu (45), however, remained “under house arrest” with a team from the crime deployed at his residence.
The FIR is the latest in a long list of cases filed against Bittu in a month – 4 in Dabua, Mujesar and Saran police stations of Faridabad for controversial statements and social media posts, according to police sources. He has obtained bail in all of them.

The July 31 Facebook video, in which he is heard saying “phool mala taiyyar rakho (keep flowers and garlands ready)” and “tumhara jija aa raha hai (your brother-in-law is coming)” was, in a communally charged atmosphere, perceived as a dare and a reference to cow vigilante leader Mohit Yadav alias Monu Manesar.

All these hate posts that flowed online from members of two communities largely centred around the speculated presence of Monu at the religious yatra in Nuh. Bittu’s video was uploaded around an hour before the yatra on Monday and was widely circulated.

The day before, on July 30, Monu had also posted a video on his Instagram account, urging people to join the religious yatra in Nuh. Monu is one of the accused in the murder case registered in Rajasthan after the bodies of two men, Nasir and Junaid, were found inside a burnt Bolero in Bhiwani in February this year.

According to police sources, 22 FIRs for alleged hate speeches have been registered in Gurgaon, Nuh and Faridabad since the July 31 clashes. TOI had reported on three of these FIRs on Friday that have been filed against Shahid, Aadil Khan Mannaka alias Birjubhai and a Facebook page called ‘Shayar Guru Ghantal’. Another FIR was registered on Friday against Faridabad resident Sajid Qassar and two others for a video. The complaint was filed by a resident of Jawahar Colony who said he got the Facebook clip as a WhatsApp forward.

A Faridabad police spokesperson Sube Singh told TOI the FIR against Bittu was filed at Dabua police station on August 1 on the basis of a complaint by a cop under IPC section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious belief).

In the complaint, sub-inspector Satish Kumar said Bittu and others were “inciting religious animosity” and made statements “to hurt religious sentiments” of a community.
“He was arrested for questioning and at present he is ‘nazar band’. He has been asked not to leave the city while the investigation is under way,” the police spokesperson said.
A senior police officer said Bittu was granted bail because the offence has a jail term of less than seven years.

The 45-year-old, a bachelor, is involved in wholesale trading of vegetables at the Faridabad mandi and rents carts to vendors there. On his social media account, Bittu claims to run a ‘Bajrang Force’ that works for “cow protection”. He has earlier posted photos with Monu Manesar as well.

Speaking to TOI over a phone call on Friday, august 4, Bittu reportedly said that he posted the video on Facebook at 11.30am and had reached a temple in Nuh around 12.30pm on July 31. “How is it possible that in less than an hour of my video, thousands of people armed with deadly weapons assembled in Nuh and started rioting?” he asked, referring to the mob that attacked the yatra in Nuh.

He said his statements in the video were “answers” to clips on social media that threatened to teach him a lesson. “Many objectionable videos were uploaded from Nuh, but no one is talking about them,” he claimed.

Related:

CJP petitions NCM and DGP, Haryana as anti-minority violence spreads takes grip in the state

Lives lost in Nuh violence, a failure on the part of the Haryana police and government?

Nuh Haryana: Who cast the first stone?

Communal violence erupts in Nuh, Mewat, five killed, provocations by VHP-Bajrang Dal continue

Nuh Clashes planned and coordinated, more such violence likely before 2024 Polls: Satyapal Malik

Union MOS Home questions arms allowed in ‘religious’ procession at Nuh, Haryana: Rao Inderjit Singh

The post Bail not Jail for Bajrang Dal man, Bittu who posted a provocative video on day of Nuh clash appeared first on SabrangIndia.

On August 5, several establishments in Tauru, about 20 km from violence-hit Nuh, were also razed down by bulldozers. As reported by India Today, the authorities have again confirmed that residents of these “illegal” establishments were those who were “allegedly” involved in the riots that took place on July 31. Structures and shanties near Nuh’s SKM Government Medical College have also been demolished. 

In addition to this, the authorities have also bulldozed five houses on the way to Nalhar temple, as per the Economic Times. As provided by the police, 14 youths from this community were engaged in pelting stones. 

As per the India Today report, Nuh’s SDM Ashwini Kumar provided that the demolition drives are taking place on the orders of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. “This is on the orders of the CM. All of this is illegal construction. These people were involved in the riots,” Kumar stated.

It is essential to note that no official statement has been issued by the Nuh administration regarding the bulldozer operation. Reportedly, about 40 shops in the Nuh area will also be demolished in the demolition drive as they are “illegal”, as per official reports in India Today. The shops are present at the same location where vehicles were burnt and stone pelting had taken place.

State government’s stance: “Even bulldozers have been employed as a measure for resolution.” 

On August 4, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij stat that all those who have been implicated to have a role in the clashes will suffer the consequences, as per the Economic Times. Vij provided that 202 people have been arrested so far and 80 taken into preventive detention in connection with the communal clashes in Nuh. Earlier, Vij had stated that Nuh was becoming a new Jamtara, a district in Jharkhand, known for being the India’s cyber-crime hub. He further hinted at a crackdown on cyber-crimes stemming from the area by Haryana authorities, as provided by the India Today. 

Statement of the officials at the demolition site

Contrasting statements were provided by officials present at the scene, who stated that the land occupied by illegal encroachments was under clearance and they did not draw any parallel between the demolition drive and the recently held communal tensions in the area, as per India Today. It has also been reported by the Economic Times that the pretext for the demolition drive was the encroachment of land owned by the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP).

“These 250 shanties came up as illegal encroachments four years ago and were inhabited by illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. These people were earlier living in Assam before they settled here and set up shanties on Haryana Urban Authority land,” said a police officer.

As reported by Economic Times, police officials provided that the the demolition drive in the Nalhar demolition took place as the land belonged to the forest department.

“The residents have been served notices earlier, but they did not respond. We also came to know that some stone-pelters used this house as their hideouts and pelted stones from here on the worshippers,” said Nuh police spokesperson Krishan Kumar. 

Related:

Sikhs helped trapped Muslim women and children escape mob violence

Lives lost in Nuh violence, a failure on the part of the Haryana police and government?

CJP petitions NCM and DGP, Haryana as anti-minority violence spreads takes grip in the state

Nuh Haryana: Who cast the first stone?

Communal violence erupts in Nuh, Mewat, five killed, provocations by VHP-Bajrang Dal continue

Nuh Clashes planned and coordinated, more such violence likely before 2024 Polls: Satyapal Malik

Union MOS Home questions arms allowed in ‘religious’ procession at Nuh, Haryana: Rao Inderjit Singh

The post Encroachment or rioting, what was the offence of the ones whose houses were bulldozed in Haryana? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Sandeep Siwach, state General Secretary of Pagdi Sambhal Jatta Kisan Sangharsh Samiti told TOI that farmers from Mochiwala village were taking their bulls to Nagaur when some persons stopped their vehicle and demanded protection money.

A similar revelation was made in March by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and had demanded action against these cow vigilantes, in the background of the murder of Junaid and Nasir from Rajasthan who were burnt to death allegedly by cow vigilantes on suspicion of cow slaughter. “It is unfortunate that meetings are being organised in support of those who are accused of killing Rajasthan youths Junaid and Nasir in Bhiwani. Such a meeting was held in Jind two days ago, and similar meetings have been held in Kaithal and Gurugram also,” said the leaders as reported by The Tribune. A letter was sent to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Hisar and a joint memorandum to the President demanding disbanding of the Cow Protection Task Force was also sent.

In February, The Tribune had reported that a peek inside the network of cow vigilantes revealed that there’s a loosely knit ‘force’ of about 20,000 youths with affiliation to mainly three outfits — Bajrang Dal, Goputra Sena Haryana and Goraksha Dal – which are active as cow vigilantes and are mostly unemployed youth. Rashtriya Sangathan Mahamantri of Goputra Sena Haryana Sunil Krantikari said they issued ID cards to their activists and also admitted that sometimes there were people who got themselves enrolled for the sake of procuring the ID cards just to cross the toll plazas without paying tax or to get the arms licence.

Related:

The poster boy of cow vigilantism, Monu Manesar, is back

Karnataka’s Shame: Cattle trader, a Muslim, beaten to death by cow vigilantes

Haryana: More cow vigilantism incidents were reported in April, state district-level special committees fail to act

The post Cow vigilantism is an extortion bid say Haryana farmers appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Since the start of April 2023, rising incidents have been reported from the state of Haryana where Cow vigilantes or members of extremist Hindutva outfits, such as Bajrang Dal, have assaulted drivers of the trucks transporting cattle. In most of these cases, the drivers of these trucks belonged to the Muslim community. Cow vigilantism, or Hindu-tva mob violence against Muslims who transport or slaughter cows, has becoming dangerously commonplace in the new India, especially in northern India. Despite there being an alarming spike in such violence, the union government still does not collect official statistics on the number of such crimes reported nationally. 

In April, 3 such incidents were reported from the state of Haryana. On April 1, in Panipat, Haryana, a mob of cow vigilantes allegedly assault two truck drivers for transporting cattle. A video had been uploaded where the two victims of assault were seem sitting on the road, while a mob was standing around them, raising slogans of stopping the slaughter of cows. The mob also raised the slogans of how they will not stop till the time cow slaughter is stopped. Even though the faces of the members of the mob are visible, it remains unclear if any action was taken. 

The video can be viewed here: 

Location: Panipat, Haryana

Cow vigilantes assault two truck drivers for transporting cattle. pic.twitter.com/8raCl52Uwt — HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) April 1, 2023

Another incident, dated April 9, was reported from Haryana where members of the Bajrang Dal led cow vigilante group had a high-speed chase to stop a truck that was transporting cattle. It has been alleged that the vigilante group assaulted the drivers too. Pictures of the truck drivers and burst tires of the said truck were uploaded on social media, along with a picture of the cow vigilante mob standing along with the truck. The post can be viewed here: 

Location: Haryana

Bajrang Dal led cow vigilante group led a high-speed chase to stop a truck that was transporting cattle and assaulted its drivers. pic.twitter.com/W4OaeVWfIj — HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) April 9, 2023

In a separate incident, dated April 11, reported from K.M.P Expressway, Haryana, various Cow vigilante militias, including Bajrang Dal members, brutally thrashed a Muslim driver for transporting cattle. A picture of the Muslim driver, wearing a blood stained t-shirt, along with a picture of the big mob of approximately 20-30 members standing with the truck was uploaded on the social media. The post can be viewed here: 

This is from #KMPExpressway, #Haryana.

Various Cow vigilante militias, including #BajrangDal members, brutally thrashed a #Muslim driver for transporting cattle.#HateCrime pic.twitter.com/QJaSg9qsJ7 — Hate Detector ? (@HateDetectors) April 11, 2023

In another picture, uploaded on the same day, three police officers can be seen posing for pictures with the members of cow vigilante militia who assaulted the driver. The post can be viewed here: 

Police officers posing for pictures with the members of cow vigilante militia who assaulted the driver.#Haryana #HaryanaPolice #HateCrime pic.twitter.com/Lv9TvzKt3d

— Hate Detector ? (@HateDetectors) April 11, 2023

It is shocking that such incidents of assault have been reported even after Haryana directed districts to form a special committee mandated by state law for cow protection in March 2023 to crack down on private vigilante groups. It is important to note that in all of these incidents, the mob has quite readily posted pictures of themselves with the trucks, in open impunity and defiance. It is important to note that the Hindustan Times reported on March 11, days after the deaths of two Muslim men from Rajasthan in the state sparked outrage, that the lack of such committees is one of several factors allowing vigilantism to thrive, which has resulted in groups targeting people in the name of cow smuggling, often leaving victims severely injured or even dead. The family of the two Muslim men from Rajasthan’s Bharatpur, Junaid and Nasir, who were found dead in a car in Haryana’s Bhiwani, on February 15, had accused the Bajrang Dal and a “gau rakshak” (cow protection) gang led by Mohit Yadav, who also goes by the name Monu Manesar and was said to be active in the area. A trend, unchecked by men and women in powerful positions of constitutional governance, appears to be sweeping across large parts of the country. In incident after incident, the transportation of cattle, the suspicion of possessing or consuming beef, or the transportation or possession of cattle carcasses has been enough provocation for a lynch mob to appear out of nowhere and inflict heinous violence. Those accused of these provocations, who are almost always Muslims or Dalits, have been subjected to the most brute violence. Despite the fact that the death toll in these incidents is already high—with figures touching double digits and rising, no concrete action is being taken. Image Courtesy: outlookindia.com

Related:

Junaid Khan murder case: A chronology of events surrounding the case Ujjain Horror: Muslim man allegedly burnt to death by five cops Bajrang Dal convener mastermind of Bihar Sharif violence, say police Muslims attacked while offering Namaz in Haryana Section 144 imposed in Jamshedpur; arrests made in Bihar and Maharashtra over instances of violence during Ram Navami Violence breaks out after controversial route of a procession passes Mosque in Karnataka’s Haveri, 15 detained MP: A group of 4-5 men stabbed an Imam while he was on his bike Two Muslim youth killed in Jharkhand, one by a cop, other by a mob Noida cops suspended for inaction in 2 yr-old hate crime against elderly Muslim man Curb on internet, SMS in Nuh as protests demanding justice for Junaid-Nasir escalate India Cries for Justice Junaid Nasir murder: Magistrate summons relatives, villagers of victims for breach of peace

The post Haryana: More cow vigilantism incidents were reported in April, state district-level special committees fail to act appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In Ratiya district of Haryana on August 25th a protest was staged confronting the selling of education by the BJP govt.in the name of the New Education policy. Students assembled from villages of Alika, Kelawa and Malwala.Preceding the rally the students undertook a protest campaign within the villages. They launched a dharna vociferously raised slogans outside the central University gate. Around 700 students were present.

Activists of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Youth Front addressed the gathering. They demanded the re-instatement of retrenched teachers of govt, schools, opening up of all schools closed, Filling of all empty seats prevailing in schools, ,scrapping change in syllabus in name of new education policy,

Leader of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Naujwan Sabha Harpreet Alika spoke about the policy of deliberately closing down government schools and selling education to private mercenaries, literally impoverishing the student community. He gave instances of how many students were walking out of schools. Leader of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Ambedkar Manch Jaskaran Sidhu portrayed how 300 government schools were shut down after the coming of BJP, endangering the future of teachers. He also highlighted how unemployment was reaching a soaring height with the govt.education policy

Most heartening to witness such fierce or determined resistance by the student community to challenge the ruthless education policy of the BJP,which completely backs imperialist designs. It illustrates the spiralling of political consciousness against the pro-rich agenda of the rulers. An organised movement needs to be nurtured to challenge the anti-people education policies and the communalisng of the education system. The student community should never be subdued in undertaking such a path, which do justice to Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar.It was the weakness of an organized movement to challenge privatization of education from the 1990’s in the era of liberalisation, which paved the path for the current anti-student policies.

Harsh Thakor is a freelance journalist who covers mass movements around India

Courtesy: https://countercurrents.org

The post Students in Ratiya in Haryana protest against anti-student policies of government appeared first on SabrangIndia.