The statement released on Wednesday, May 28 was in clear solidarity with Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad who was arrested over his posts on Operation Sindoor.

“We are greatly distressed by the grave criminal charges levelled against Mahmudabad and his subsequent arrest,” the statement said, calling the charges “outrageous and absurd.” “The main burden of his posts was to make eloquent and heartfelt calls for peace,” it noted.

Calling the charges against Mahmudabad reminiscent of the colonial-era sedition law, the statement said that it “be a crime to seek justice for victims of lynching and bulldozer demolitions, or to call for peace and restraint.”

The statement in full may be read below:

CCG Open statement on the Ali Khan Mahmudabad case

We are a group of former civil servants who have served in various capacities in the central and state governments. We owe no allegiance to any political party; our only loyalty is to the Constitution of India.

We are greatly distressed by the grave criminal charges levelled against Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad and his subsequent arrest. Professor Ali Khan was charged for two of his social media posts related to Operation Sindoor. His posts were thoughtful and measured. In these he praised the restraint of the Indian Army. He noted the importance of the “optics” of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi as a face of the Indian armed forces during the press briefings at the time that the hostilities were underway, but added that the symbolism of this would be hypocritical if lynching and bulldozing of homes continued.

But the main burden of his posts was to make eloquent and heartfelt calls for peace. He described the loss of civilian lives on both sides as “tragic” and warned against warmongering by civilians who have never experienced war. Denouncing the “blind bloodlust for war” displayed by some people on social media, he declared that warmongering “is actually disrespecting the seriousness of war and dishonouring the lives of soldiers whose lives are actually on the line.”

For these posts, Professor Ali was charged under stringent sections of India’s new criminal law code, the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita. These include Section 152, which penalises acts “endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India”. This closely echoes the language of the colonial-era sedition law under the now repealed Indian Penal Code. Other crimes for which Professor Ali Khan is charged include Section 196(1) (b), which penalises acts that disturb communal harmony and public tranquillity; Section 197(1) (c), which targets “assertions likely to cause disharmony” and Section 299, which criminalises “deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings.”

We regard the criminal charges against Professor Ali Khan as outrageous and absurd. It cannot be a crime to seek justice for victims of lynching and bulldozer demolitions, or to call for peace and restraint. It is noteworthy that despite the orders of the Supreme Court for  taking suo moto action, even rampant hate speeches that openly call for violence and ethnic cleansing of Indian Muslims have rarely attracted these criminal charges of disloyalty to the  nation and fostering religious hate. In the most recent case, after a minister from Madhya Pradesh (MP), Kunwar Vijay Shah, described Colonel Sofia Qureshi as the sister of terrorists, it required the MP High Court to direct the police to register an FIR against the minister. The High Court described the statements of the minister as “cancerous and dangerous”.

Many students and faculty members came forward in heartening solidarity with Professor Ali Khan, even though the management of Ashoka University remained conspicuously silent about the unjust criminal targeting of their faculty. Faculty members took turns to sit outside places where the professor was detained. We were particularly touched by  a statement by Professor Ali Khan’s students, who described him as compassionate and  thoughtful, a teacher who loved his country and taught his students respect for the values of  secular democracy spelt out in our Constitution.

After his arrest and police remand, we were relieved that the Supreme Court granted him interim bail. But, with due respect, we are dismayed by some of the comments made by the bench and the conditions of bail that were laid down. The bench made mystifying allusions to “dog-whistling” in the professor’s social media tweets, criticising his “choice of words” and charging him with seeking “cheap publicity”. The bench ordered the surrender of the professor’s passport and the appointment of a Special Investigation Team to “holistically understand the complexity of the phraseology employed and for proper appreciation of some of the expressions used in the two posts.” It is beyond our comprehension how three police officers could be equipped to extract hidden meanings from a post written in elegant and straightforward English.

The Supreme Court disapproved of public displays of solidarity with the professor, handing out a stern warning to academics and students who supported Professor Ali Khan with the words “we know how to handle them also”. The learned judges also directed the professor to make no further statements about the India-Pakistan hostilities. At a time when the country is deluged with social media posts and speeches of hatemongering and warmongering, it is a matter of painful irony that calls for peace by a political scientist are silenced. It is noteworthy that despite the orders of the Supreme Court for taking suo moto  action, even rampant hate speeches that openly call for violence and ethnic cleansing of Indian  Muslims have rarely attracted criminal charges of disloyalty to the nation and fostering  religious hate.

We are quite disturbed by the deviation from defence of free speech, which has been  upheld by the Supreme Court in numerous cases, including Arnab Goswami vs. Union of India  and even recently in the case of Imran Pratapgarhi vs. State of Gujarat. In the latter case, Justice Oka pronounced that “in a healthy democracy, the views or thoughts expressed by an individual or group of individuals must be countered by expressing another point of view”.  Even if such speech is opposed by many people, it must still be “respected and protected”.  That judgment notably offered advice to judges who might personally dislike certain articulations. Even in such cases, it was their “duty to uphold” and “zealously protect” the fundamental rights under Article 19(1) of the Constitution.

The perils and consequences of suppressing free speech by unjust application of criminal law can be profoundly corrosive for a society. Young journalist Saurav Das aptly describes the treatment of Professor Ali Khan by the police and courts as “a perfect example of how you make a nation of intellectually dead citizens, where critical inquiry is replaced by  rote repetition and progressive voices are muzzled to make space for conformist, mediocre  opinions. This is how a society dies, where the proliferation of free thought is choked, through a slow, judicially sanctioned suffocation of intellectual life”.

Satyameva Jayate

Constitutional Conduct Group (79 signatories, as below)

The post ‘Seeking peace, calling out hate crimes not a crime’: Former Civil Servants Group on Mahmudabad appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In our complaint dated July 10 to the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), a statutory body mandated with the duty to protect the rights of the minorities, we flagged 8 episodes of hate crimes committed against weaker sections of the society across the states of Orrisa, Jharkhand, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh in the months of June-July this year. The hate crime incidents listed in our complaint includes cases of mob lynching, ransacking of the shop, physical assault, and house trespassing on the occasion of Eid al-Adha to prevent consumption of meat. We addressed our complaint to Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the NCM, Iqbal Singh Lalpura and Kersi Kaikhushroo Deboo, respectively, under Section 9(d) of the NMC Act, which mandates that the minority body to “look into specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of the minorities and take up such matters with the appropriate authorities”.

For each listed incident, we have provided a detailed account of the facts, including date, location, particulars of the incident, and actors involved therein (wherever identifiable). In addition, CJP has specified the applicable criminal laws under both Indian Penal Code and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to the incidents in question. To further strengthen the complaint legally, we have also cited binding court judgements on the subject matter, international conventions, and the relevant executive or police orders (wherever applicable). Importantly, while addressing the issue of hate crime, CJP has also urged the NMC to look into societal and long-term effects of hate crimes on the overall wellbeing and safety not only of the minorities but all sections of the society, accentuating the debilitating effects of hate crime on individuals, groups, and the country as a whole.

Finally, we pressed the National Commission of Minorities to take several concrete measures on the complained cases, including directing police/investigative agencies to identity and track down the culprits, ensuring registration of FIRs, and further encouraged the Commission to closely monitor the probe in the listed incidents.

Details of the incidents

1. Date: July 1

Location: Koderma, Jharkhand

Details: As per journalist Meer Faisal, an Imam named Maulana Sahabuddin from Basramo Turkabad in the Barkatha area was lynched by a mob in Koderma district on July 1st. A resident of Raghuniyadih, Sahabuddin was returning home on his bike when a mob surrounded him and accused him of hitting a woman on the road. After this accusation, they brutally beat him to death, hitting his viciously.

2. Date: June 30

Location: Sadulpur, Churu, Rajasthan (close to Lasedi village on NH52)

Details: A group of around 20 cow vigilantes brutally assaulted a driver and his companion in Sadulpur, late on Sunday night (June 30). The victims, identified as Sonu Bishnoi (29) and Sundar Bishnoi (35), were transporting lemons from Jaipur to Punjab when they were intercepted by vigilantes on suspicion of cattle smuggling. A video of the incident shows the mob armed with sticks thrashing the victims even as they lay on the ground, hitting them in the face with shoes and kicking their heads. Vigilantes even took away their mobile phones, rendering them helpless. The victims were initially taken to a local hospital in Churu and later referred to a private hospital in Haryana for better treatment. Sonu Banshiram sustained multiple fractures in both legs, while Sundar Singh suffered injuries to his arms and head. Reportedly, the victims heard the names Sonu, Sonia, Varun, and Dinesh during the attack.

Rajasthan: Cow vigilantes brutally thrashed Sonu Bishnoi and Sundar Bishnoi from Haryana over false allegations of transporting cattle, while in reality, the pickup truck was loaded with lemons. pic.twitter.com/5MdDyy7ujJ

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) July 2, 2024

3. Date: June 19 

Location: Chhota Chowk, Nahan, Himachal Pradesh 

Details: On June 19, a mob of 400-500 people looted the textile shop of the Muslim man in Chhota Chowk, Nahan, Himachal Pradesh, over false allegations of cow slaughter. The shop was vandalised after the shopkeeper had shared a picture of an animal sacrifice on his WhatsApp status. Article 14 reported that even though there is a video of the men inciting the mob before the attack on Muslim shops, the police have not arrested them till date. After the attack, some of the Muslim shopkeepers fled from the area and have since lost their livelihood and erstwhile home. A video of the incident shows the mob destroying and throwing out the contents of the shop as crowd cheers under police presence. After this, the crowd marched to the district collector’s office, chanting slogans such as “Goli maaro saalon ko” and “Jai Shri Ram.” The threats of violence were further repeated at a gathering of people on 26 June.

A Hindutva mob in Nahan, Himachal Pradesh, looted and vandalized a Muslim man’s shop in front of the police after he posted a picture of an animal sacrifice on his WhatsApp status. pic.twitter.com/KQndpp0fZU

— The Observer Post (@TheObserverPost) June 19, 2024

4. Date: June 18

Location: Mamu Bhanja, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh

Details: A 35-year-old Muslim man, named Mohammed Farid alias Aurangzeb, was lynched by a mob on the night of June 18. As per the police, he was beaten to death over suspicion of a theft attempt. However, Mohammed Zaki, the victim’s brother, has stated that Farid was just coming back home from work when he was attacked by a mob in the locality. The incident reportedly took place around 10:15 PM on June 18. As per Hindustan Times, the complaint alleges that the accused ‘gathered together’ with the intention to kill Farid as he was a Muslim, “They (accused) gathered with the intention of killing brother Aurangzeb. They had lathi, stick, hockey (stick) and iron rod in hand and attacked my brother after identifying him as a Muslim, they killed him,” the complainant has alleged in the FIR.” The family of the victim has demanded compensation and strict punishment for the accused.

 5. Date: June 16 

Location: Khordha, Orrisa 

Details: A mob arrived and forced their way into a house and seized meat from a fridge in the home on June 16. This incident had taken place only shortly after Eid al-Adha and a viral video has surfaced showing a group of cow vigilantes forcefully entering a Muslim household. The mob, chanting slogans of “Jai Shri Ram,” as they entered and raided the family’s refrigerator, seizing all the meat and the refrigerator itself on mere suspicion that it contained beef.

6. Date: June 12 

Location: Jagdalpur, Chattisgarh 

Details: As per Maktoob Media, on June 12, Christian families in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, were reportedly attacked by a Hindutva mob. They were also given an ultimatum to denounce their religion within 10 days. The violent incident took place in Bade Paroda village, under Badanji Police Station. Three victims were hospitalised after the incident. As per Maktoob Media, the lawyer of the injured has stated that all the attacks happening in the area since 2023 were aided by local police, and has also been forcing the families to flee their village. One of the injured suffered a broken leg, according to the lawyer. Since 2023, Bade Paroda has been reportedly a tense area for violence against Christians, with Christian minorities often targeted by violence and intimidation.

 7. Date: June 10 

Location: Kaithal, Haryana 

Details: In Haryana’s Kaithal, a Sikh man was beaten by unknown people who also called him a Khalistani, as per Times of India. The Haryana Police have so far arrested two people in connection with the assault. Following the incident on June 10, the Kaithal police created a five-member Special Investigation Team to investigate. The arrested men have been identified as Ishu who is a resident of Singwal village in Jind, and Sunil who is from Shergarh village, according to Superintendent of Police Upasana.

8. Date: June 7 

Location: Raipur, Chhattisgarh 

Details: In Raipur, Chhattisgarh, two Muslim men, Chand Miya and Guddu Khan, were beaten to death by cow vigilantes on June 7 while transporting buffaloes in a truck. Their bodies were found in the Mahanadi River. A third man, Saddam Khan was also critically injured and receiving treatment in a hospital, only to succumb to his injuries a short while later. The incident took place when a group of youths began following it, eventually surrounding it on the Mahanadi bridge. Reports indicate that the attackers laid spikes on the road to stop the truck, then forcefully pulled out the occupants and assaulted them. In a desperate attempt to escape, one of the victims jumped into the river.

Copy of our complaint to the National Commission for Minorities can be found here:

Related:

Repeat offender among suspects in lynching of Muslim man in Gujarat

Cow vigilantes chase truck, tie up Muslim truck driver, and associate 

Jharkhand: Another case of mob lynching of Muslim man 

June 2024: 10 violent attacks against cattle transporters and 14 cases of communal violence in various states across India 

Mob beats to death a young Muslim, hostilities had been rising as locals were not happy with Muslims doing well in cricket 

The post CJP flags 8 incidents of hate crime including lynchings to National Commission for Minorities appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

A horrifying incident took place in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, when a Muslim man who was looking for donations for a mosque was reportedly assaulted and beaten.  Reports indicate that the attack occurred on the afternoon of March 19 in Salarpur village, which is under the jurisdiction of Sector 39 police station. A \crowd had gathered at the scene to see the attacker, who was reportedly drunk, beating the victim. Soon after, the police arrived and stopped the situation from getting worse.

The victim is a man named Abdul Aziz from Bihar’s Kishanganj and he was attacked reportedly by a local resident named Neeraj Bhatti. The DCP (Noida) Vidya Sagar Mishra has stated to the media about the incident, saying “A 35-year-old man, who had come to Salarpur from Bihar to collect donations, was assaulted by a 45-year-old local resident today afternoon. The accused also made objectionable remarks towards the victim.” He also stated that a complaint has been filed based on the victim’s statements, and an investigation has been going on after taking the accused in custody.

A man collecting donations for a mosque was allegedly beaten up by a drunk man in #UttarPradesh’s #Noida on Tuesday.

While a crowd gathered at the incident spot in #Salarpur village, under Sector 39 police station limits, around 12.20 pm, the local police and senior officials of… pic.twitter.com/upF2MEfrCE

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) March 19, 2024

Hate Detectors, an online platform on X documenting hate crimes, has reported that the attacker forcibly grabbed the victim by his beard as he beat him. This action attracted the attention of numerous locals, who further intervened and called the police.

Ahmedabad, Gujarat

In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, a Muslim journalist who has reportedly called Avesh Ali Khan was reportedly assaulted by traffic police officers, according to a video released by Hate Detectors. He was hospitalised after the incident for the injuries sustained during the beating. The journalist can be seen writhing on the floor and narrating how he was beaten brutally as per the video.

In #Gujarat‘s #Ahmedabad, a #Muslim journalist Avesh Ali Khan was allegedly thrashed by the traffic police. He has been admitted to hospital. pic.twitter.com/yqAcN6e8gW

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) March 19, 2024

Badaun, Uttar Pradesh

The UP police fatally shot one accused in the murder of two children in Badaun. The accused had reportedly committed a double murder in Baba Colony. One 22-year-old Sajid barged into a house and beat three brothers aged 12, 8, and 10. Two siblings, including 12-year-old and 8-year-old succumbed to the fatal beatings, while the third brother sustained severe injuries and was soon rushed to a nearby hospital. Sajid, a barber by profession, was shot down after the incident by the police.

#budaunpolice
थाना सिविल लाइन क्षेत्रान्तर्गत सुंदरनगर बाबाकालोनी मे हुई 02 मासूम बच्चो की हत्या के संबंध मे पुलिस द्वारा की गयी कार्यवाही के संबंध मे पुलिस महानिरीक्षक महोदय @rakeshs_ips द्वारा दी गयी बाइट। #UPPolice pic.twitter.com/sbbgG03dra

— Budaun Police (@budaunpolice) March 19, 2024

According to a report  by India Today, authorities have now also arrested the father and uncle of the accused from their home. During interrogation, the family of the accused has mentioned that they do not feel any remorse for their son, Sajid, but do feel loss for the tragic murder of the innocent children. According to Sajid’s father, his son was present at home on March 19, Tuesday, and left after receiving a phone call past 7 pm. Describing Sajid, the uncle mentioned he was extremely aggressive and reserved.

Related:

Ground report: Protests erupt in Assam after portrayal of Muslims as criminals in rally by Bodoland University

Parents and students protest in Gujarat after girls asked to remove hijab before board exam

Hate crime committed against foreign students in Gujarat University

The post As the date for the general assembly election approaches, hate crimes in India continue appeared first on SabrangIndia.

“We cannot exclude any community,” the usually reticent C.K. Padmanabhan, 75, told the Malayalam channel Media One, answering a question about Muslims being denied the Citizenship (Amendment) Act’s benefits.

“Hatred of Muslims will not do any good to us. In no way will it help our nation’s all-round progress and brotherhood among the people,” he said.

He added: “My Hindutva is that of Swami Vivekananda and (Kerala social reformer) Sree Narayana Guru. I don’t need anyone else’s (Hindutva). Our nation’s strength is our unity and its beauty is our multiculturalism.”

Asked about what the reporter/interviewer described as the BJP’s tendency to spread communal hatred, especially before elections, Padmanabhan avoided a direct answer. Instead, he described the change/evolution of his attitude towards Muslims.

He stated that when the then Left government in Kerala had formed the Muslim-majority district of Malappuram in 1969, a young Padmanabhan had joined the Jana Sangh agitation against the move. “I was imprisoned for protesting against the formation of the Malappuram district,” he said.

However, all the fears about a Muslim-majority district were later disproved, he said.“The people of Malappuram will die for you. I have personally experienced it. I don’t have to make things up. They are such loving people,” he said.

“I have hundreds of young Muslim friends. We can totally depend on them and trust them…. Muslim hatred will be of no use other than destroying the brotherhood in our state. I know that very well.”

He also added: “Where is the need to view them under a lens of suspicion? This is not north India. Here we live among Muslims and Christians.

“Our Kerala society celebrates Ramzan, Onam and Christmas together, and (people from different religious communities) exchange food on these days. Whoever tries to bring in any ideology to hurt this beautiful system will fail.”

The saffron ecosystem continues to malign Malappuram as a hotbed of terrorism and “love jihad”. Padmanabhan, who was Kerala BJP president from 1998 to 2003, has largely been viewed as a moderate leader.

Related:

Hate crime committed against foreign students in Gujarat University

Hate Speech in India: How to Promote Amity?

Conspiracy or Coincidence? Mosques defaced in March after spate of hate speeches provoking the crime weeks before

The post Hatred towards Muslims will not do any good to us or the nation says Kerala BJP leader C.K. Padmanabhan appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The incident, which occurred on March 16 around 10:30 PM in the night when some foreign students from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka, and African countries had gathered to offer Taraweeh (night prayer offered during Ramadan) close to their hostel in Block A of Gujarat University, which is located in Ahmedabad has caused an international uproar.

A serious and embarrassing incident of hate crime has emerged from Gujarat University where five students from overseas have been attacked for offering namaz and also found their rooms vandalised by the mob. Pertinently, Sri Lankan and Tajik student, one each, were badly injured in the attack, and had to be hospitalised. As bad as the violence on the person was the fact that the mob vandalised AC, phones, laptops, and motorcycles of the students and several videos of the incident has seen been doing rounds on X (formerly Twitter).

In one of the videos that emerged the mob can be seen pelting stones and other material from the ground while verbally abusing foreign national and shouting “Jai Shree Ram”. The nature of the hate crime in the present case suggests not only communal hatred but also xenophobia and racism, as apparent from the sloganeering and curses hurled at the foreign students, which is captured on record.

According to other students from overseas, who witnessed the episode, the incident happened when some foreign students were offering the Taraweeh in the open area near their hostel in Block A of Gujarat University around 10: 30 PM in night when few people started objecting to them and kept shouting “Jai Shree Ram”. Thereafter they left briefly following the argument before returning back with the huge mob of around 25 people, equipped with knifes and iron rods, which started vandalising the hostel rooms, motor cycles and also attacked some of the foreign students, in which the two students were hospitalised. The five students from African countries, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Sri Lanka were injured in total.

When the mob first arrived the security guard tried to stop them but soon found himself overpowered by the mob who went on the rampage, destroying the property and attacking the students. In another video, the student can be heard saying that though the police arrived later (around 5 minutes after it received the call at 10:51 PM, as per the Commissioner of Police G S Malik) on the scene they did not detain the members of the mob who could be seen running away at the time in the full presence of the police.

Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police G S Malik has given the statement in which he said that the incident involved around 20-25 people, who were outsiders, and it began after the argument ensued between the two groups. He informed that the FIR has been register against 25 people and the state government is cognizant of the matter. The Hindustan Times reported that the FIR has been registered under Indian Penal Code provisions for rioting, unlawful assembly, voluntarily causing hurt, damage to property and criminal trespass, among others.

On March 17, Ahmedabad Police tweeted that it has arrested two accused in the matter, namely, Hitesh Mevada and Bharat Patel. Ahmedabad City Police Commissioner, G S Malik is on record stating that nine teams have been formed to conduct a probe into the incident. Along with Hitesh Mevada and Bharat Patel, other accused arrested by the police include Shitij Pandey, Jitendra Patel and Sunil Dudhirua. Notably, the accused have not been identified with any political or socio-religious group as of now.

Shockingly, the GU VC Neerja Gupta instead of downrightly condemning the incident was quoted by NDTV suggesting that cultural sensitivity must be inculcated in foreign students! “These are foreign students and when you go abroad, you must learn cultural sensitivity. These students need an orientation. We will sit with them, provide cultural orientation and discuss how to strengthen their security” NDTV reported.

Response from the Authorities

The injured students reportedly came to study in India under the Indian Council for Cultural Research (ICCR) scholarship, which comes under the Ministry of External Affairs. The MEA in the statement has acknowledged the incident and noted that the “State government is taking strict action against the perpetrators.” It further informed that one of the students has been discharged from the hospital after receiving medical attention.

Gujarat University (GU) has informed that international students will be shifted to another hostel meant for NRIs in three days, and will strengthen its security arrangements for the hostels. Additionally, GU VC Neerja Gupta was reported saying that the university has replaced the coordinator of its study abroad programme and NRI hostel warden with immediate effect. She also suggested that “there was some tension between those in the mob and some overseas students, and yesterday’s events led to an escalation”. BBC quoted the Vice Chancellor as saying, “’As per the information available with me, this (prayers) is not the main issue’”. The VC seems to deny that the incident had anything to with player.

In the past similar incidents have occurred in the University was confirmed by one foreign student. Noman, a student from Afghanistan, told BBC Gujarati that similar incidents have happened before. “There is a lot of risk here for students from other countries,” he alleged.

Rising instances of intolerance in Gujarat

Earlier in December 2022, the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda’s Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya was in the news when two students had offered namaz on the premise. The university authorities suggested counselling of the students to make them understand that religious worship should not be conduct in the educational institutions. Right-wing group Vishwa Hindu Parishad had gone to the place and sprinkled Gangajal to purify the place and performed ram-dhun, alleging Islamic conspiracy behind offering the namaz.

Similarly, in June 2023, two men from Nagaland were attacked for selling ‘North Eastern’ food in Ahmedabad. Reportedly, 10 men attacked them saying how could they sell non-vegetarian food items and north-eastern food in a place like Gujarat which is dominated by Hindus, reported Times of India.

In October 2023, Kalorex school teacher was beaten by protestors for teaching students to offer namaz as part of religious activity. The school had even clarified that it did similar activities for different religions for all students.

Perhaps, today the extent of hate has reached such a threshold that simply exchanging different values and traditions itself has become intolerant. With its long history of communal violence, the state of Gujarat has presented one more instance of hate crime in its troubled relationship with establishing communal harmony.

(The author is part of the CJP’s Legal Research Team)

Related:

Escalating violence sparks concerns as attacks targeting Christians surge in Chhattisgarh

Hindu Jan Akrosh rally in Mumbai sees conspiracy theories being peddled against Muslims

Study reveals 668 hate speech cases in 2023, BJP major player

The post Hate crime committed against foreign students in Gujarat University appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In addition to the significant disparity in the frequency of hate events occurring in BJP-governed states, there is a notable contrast in the nature of these incidents when compared to non-BJP-ruled states. While approximately 80% of hate speech events took place in BJP-ruled states and territories, roughly 75% of events involving calls to violence occurred in these regions. Similarly, about 60% of events involving calls to arms took place in BJP-ruled states. Around 81% of the events involving conspiracy theories and 78% of the events including a call to boycott Muslims also took place in BJP-ruled states and territories. In contrast, when examining categories not explicitly related to violence or calls to arms, the proportion of events involving conspiracy theories, speeches by BJP leaders, and calls for boycotting were relatively similar in both BJP and non-BJP-ruled states.

The report states that, even according to official data, cases registered under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code rose by more than 500% between 2014 and 2020. Hindutva Watch’s extensive research spanning several months reveals that in the first six months of 2023 (181 days), there were 255 recorded instances of hate speech gatherings or rallies targeting Muslims across 17 states in India, which includes the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This alarming statistic highlights an average of over one anti-Muslim hate speech event occurring daily.

As detailed in the analysis below, most hate events occurred in states governed by the BJP. Furthermore, a significant proportion of these incidents occurred in states scheduled to hold legislative elections in 2023 and 2024, highlighting the potential use of anti-Muslim hate speech events for voter mobilization. Disturbingly, the majority of these hate speech events also propagated dangerous conspiracy theories targeting Muslims, along with explicit calls for violence, calls to arms, and demands for socio-economic boycotts of the Muslim community.

Some learnings from the report that may be read here:

• 255 documented incidents of hate speech gatherings targeting Muslims in the first half of 2023.
• Overwhelmingly, 205 (80%) of these hate speech events occurred in BJP-ruled states and union territories.
• Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat witnessed the highest number of hate speech gatherings, with Maharashtra alone accounting for 29% of such incidents.
• Seven out of the top eight states with the highest hate speech events are governed by the BJP and its coalition partners.
• Around 52% of hate speech gatherings in BJP-ruled states and union territories were orchestrated by entities affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Bajrang Dal, the Sakal Hindu Samaj, and the Bharatiya Janata Party. Overall, 42% of all hate speech gatherings in 17 states which includes two centrally controlled territories were organized by groups affiliated with the RSS.
• Approximately 64% of the events in BJP-ruled states and union territories incorporated references to popular Hindu far-right anti-Muslim conspiracy theories.  Overall, 51% of all the hate speech gatherings in 17 states which includes two centrally controlled territories featured anti-Muslim conspiracy theories.
• A concerning 33% of all the gatherings explicitly called for violence against Muslims.
• About 11% of events included explicit calls for Hindus to boycott Muslims.
• Disturbingly, 4% of all the events featured hate-filled and sexist speeches explicitly targeting Muslim women.
• Nearly 12% of events featured calls to arms.
• Notably, 33% of hate speech events took place in states that have already conducted or are set to conduct state legislative elections in 2023. Furthermore, over 36% of these events occurred in states slated to hold legislative elections in 2024. In total, nearly 70% of these events were reported in states with legislative elections either in 2023 or 2024.

Geographical spread of hate speech events

In the first half of 2023, hate events took place across the country, from Gujarat in the West to Assam in the East. However, as the map below demonstrates, there are apparent geographical disparities in the number of hate speech events in each state.

The group monitored anti-Muslim hate speech events in 15 states and two territories where the police and law enforcement fall under the direct jurisdiction of the BJP-led central government. The states with limited or no such events were predominantly located in the southern and eastern regions of the country, where the BJP’s electoral influence is relatively lower. Conversely, hate speech incidents were predominantly concentrated in India’s northern, western, and central regions, where the BJP wields significant electoral and ideological influence.

Regarding individual states, approximately 29% of hate speech incidents occurred in the state of Maharashtra, despite it constituting only about 9% of India’s total population. Maharashtra serves as an illustrative case, highlighting how the BJP leverages state power to propagate anti-Muslim hate speech in regions with fragile electoral support. In June 2022, the BJP managed to engineer a split in the ruling alliance, allowing it to assume power without a corresponding electoral mandate. With a state election scheduled for 2024, there appears to be a deliberate effort to disseminate anti-Muslim sentiments in the state. Similarly, BJP-ruled states such as Karnataka (under BJP rule for most of this period), Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat witnessed a high number of hate speech incidents, with each of these states hosting 20 or more hate speech gatherings. The sole exception was Rajasthan, a Congress-ruled state, which is slated for elections at the year’s end. A particularly alarming trend emanated from the small state of Uttarakhand, which recorded 13 hate speech events in the first half of the year. This translates to 5% of hate events in the first half of 2023 in India occurring in Uttarakhand, despite the state comprising less than 1% of India’s total population. This disproportionate share of hate speech culminated in the widespread displacement of Muslims from Uttarakhand.

Categorising anti-Muslim hate speech events

Based on the categories discussed in the methodology section, one can see the sheer range and variety in the forms of anti-Muslim hate speech employed by Hindu far-right organisations and individual leaders. About 131 events, or about 51.3% of the dataset, included the propagation of prominent anti-Muslim conspiracy theories. Some of the most popular theories included Love Jihad, Land Jihad, and Hindutva adaptations of the Great Replacement Conspiracy. As is true of many xenophobic movements, Hindutva mobilization is highly dependent on spreading the fear of the “other,” primarily taking the form of Muslims.

Perhaps most alarmingly, 83 events (almost 33%) included direct calls to violence by Hindutva groups. This includes calls for ethnic cleansing and genocide against Muslims and calls for the destruction of Muslim places of worship. Such violent rhetoric primarily went unpunished and instead regularly contributed to physical violence. There were also 30 events (12%) of calls to arms, where Hindutva leaders asked members of the majority community to buy and keep weapons. A particularly prominent form of this was through “Trishul distribution” events, where Hindutva leaders distributed weapons to Hindu youths. These events also often included hate speeches against Muslims, hence their inclusion in this list.

There were also 27 instances (11%) of hate speech events which involved a direct call for the socio-economic boycott of Muslims. This included attempts to exclude Muslims from the state and calls for Hindus to stop purchasing goods and services from Muslims. Thirty-four events (13%) involved speeches by BJP leaders, including former Karnataka chief minister KS Eeshwarappa, Kapil Mishra, the Vice President of BJP Delhi, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Member of Parliament Pragya Thakur. Of the 255 incidents, 11 directly targeted Muslim women, which included sexist and misogynistic speeches.

The majority of these events (70%) unfolded in states scheduled for legislative elections in 2023 and 2024. Specifically, 85 (33%) incidents occurred in five states holding or slated to hold elections this year, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Telangana. Likewise, approximately 93 events transpired in states set to conduct legislative elections in 2024. This trend suggests early indications of Hindutva mobilization through hate speech events and gatherings. It raises the possibility of a strategic approach by Hindu far-right groups aimed at fomenting hatred and inciting violence, potentially with an eye on bolstering the BJP’s electoral prospects.

Note: One hate speech event can fall under multiple categories. For instance, some hate speech events featured conspiracy theories such as Love Jihad or Land Jihad, while also including explicit calls for violence or calls to arms.

Organisations behind hate speech events

As the above chart demonstrates, many hate speech events were organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal. They organized 62 anti-Muslim hate speech events in the first half of 2023. These are clubbed as one organisation because the Bajrang Dal is the youth wing of the VHP, and lately, they have been organizing most of their public events jointly. Both entities have a notorious history of spreading anti-Muslim hate speech and helping engineer anti-Muslim violence across India. The organisations are part of the broader Sangh Parivar or the Sangh Family. The Sangh Parivar, an umbrella term for several Hindu nationalist organisations led by the paramilitary group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), consists of the RSS, the BJP, the VHP, the Bajrang Dal and dozens of other organisations. While the RSS is at the heart of the Sangh, the VHP and the Bajrang Dal are part of its muscular wing. The existence of these independent organisations helps ensure that BJP leaders can maintain plausible deniability about their actions, even though the organisations remain deeply connected.  Prime Minister Modi fiercely defended the organisation when the Congress proposed a ban on the Bajrang Dal as part of its election campaign in Karnataka. As the BJP has been further entrenched within the Indian state, evidence suggests that the Bajrang Dal and the VHP have even worked with the police to break up interfaith couples and help spread the anti-Muslim conspiracy of love jihad.

As the above pie chart indicates, the BJP itself was responsible for numerous hate speech events, with a notable upsurge during the Karnataka elections. During this period, several BJP leaders played a crucial role in stoking anti-Muslim hate sentiments.

Another organisation prominently involved in organizing hate speech events in Maharashtra was the Sakal Hindu Samaj. The organisation, primarily based in Maharashtra, is a coalition of several Hindu nationalist outfits in the state. Its leaders claim to be part of the wider Sangh umbrella and are affiliated with organisations like the RSS, the VHP, and the Bajrang Dal. The Samaj has played a major role in spreading the conspiracy theory of Love Jihad and Land Jihad. A frequent speaker at its events is Suresh Chavhanke, a notorious hate monger and the chairman of a TV news channel Sudarshan News. Chavhanke is responsible for several hate speech events in our database.

Another frequent speaker at gatherings organized by the Sakal Hindu Samaj is T Raja Singh. Singh, initially elected as a BJP legislator in the state of Telangana, faced suspension from the party due to his objectionable remarks against Prophet Muhammad. Singh has been actively involved in numerous hate speech events, promoting the conspiracy theory of love jihad and threatening violence against Muslims. Despite his suspension, Singh remains closely affiliated with the BJP, and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy has indicated that the suspension will likely be revoked soon. Recent news reports have even suggested that Singh has held meetings with top BJP leaders, indicating that he may stand as a nominee or proxy for the party in the upcoming Telangana legislative elections.

Other organisations involved in organizing hate events included the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and the Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP). The HJS was responsible for helping organize an “All India Hindu Rashtra Convention” in Goa, where multiple speakers called for violence against Muslims, helped propagate dangerous conspiracy theories, and demanded the repeal of the Right of Equality in the Indian constitution. The AHP is led by Praveen Togadia, the former international working president of the VHP. Togadia, who had a falling-out with the Sangh Parivar, was particularly hateful for the first half of 2023, focusing on the propagation and spread of an Indian version of the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, with misinformation about the growth in the Muslim population of India.

High level of hate speech through early 2023

Hate speech targeting Muslims remained a persistent issue in Indian politics throughout the first half of 2023, with every month witnessing over one hate speech incident daily. Notably, there was a surge in hate incidents during March, coinciding with the Hindu festival of Ram Navami on March 30th. In the final week of March, both leading up to and during the festival, there were 18 hate speech events nationwide, suggesting a possible coordinated effort to incite violence on this specific day. As previously discussed, these efforts unfortunately succeeded, resulting in outbreaks of violence in at least six states. Tragically, this violence led to the loss of two lives and injured many others, a direct result of attempts by Hindu far-right organisations to orchestrate violence on Ram Navami.

Hate speech events concentrated in BJP-ruled states

The above graph illustrates that hate events are predominantly concentrated in states governed by the BJP. This report documents approximately 205 events in BJP-ruled states, including an additional 15 events in NCT of Delhi and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, where the police and law and order fall under the control of the BJP-led central government. Nearly 80% of the hate speech events were held in BJP-ruled states or territories controlled by the BJP-led central government. This statistic is particularly striking, considering that only 45% of India’s population falls under BJP rule. Notably, among the eight states with the highest number of hate speech events, seven are governed by the BJP. Taken together, this evidence suggests that hate events are significantly less likely to occur in non-BJP-ruled states. This disparity could be attributed to the willingness of non-BJP states to take proactive measures against hate speech, in contrast to the BJP’s utilization of state power to organize and endorse events in states under their governance. The sole exception to this trend is the state of Rajasthan, governed by the Congress party, which recorded 25 hate speech events and is scheduled to hold legislative elections at the end of 2023.

 (Raqib Hameed Naik is a Kashmiri-American journalist and founder of Hindutva Watch. Aarushi Srivastava is an early career journalist based in Paris. Abhyudaya Tyagi is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Political Science at Columbia University.)

The post Maharashtra tops states in anti-Muslim hate speech, 80 % of hate in BJP ruled states: Hindutva Watch appeared first on SabrangIndia.

This is another incident of violence and humiliation by upper castes against tribal people. On September 18, Bhoma Singh, a 60-year-old individual, was involved in a fatal accident while riding his motorcycle. The accident occurred when his bike collided with a pickup truck, and it led to his death. Barnu Singh Marawi, aged 57 on the other hand was the passenger on the bike riding with the now deceased Bhoma Singh, survived the accident only to become the target of an assault by the accused. He was beaten viciously with slippers as he tried to recover from the accident. The accused is identified as Jaiganesh Dixit, who held the position of Anuppur (rural) Mandal president within the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha.

According to a senior police officer, a crowd had gathered at the accident site, and they began questioning the injured Marawi, who, in his state of shock, was unable to provide coherent responses. Jaiganesh Singh, accompanied by another individual named Jitendra Kushwaha, allegedly confronted Marawi and, in light of his inability to answer their inquiries, reportedly resorted to physical assault. The accused individuals have subsequently been detained, and legal proceedings are underway.

The incident gained significant attention after a video of the altercation went viral. It led to Jaiganesh Dixit’s removal from his position. In a formal communication addressed to the accused, Ravindra Rathore, the district BJP Yuva Morcha president, stated that Dixit’s actions constituted “gross indiscipline.”

“The said act done by you, which has gone viral on social media (and) due to which the image of the party has been tarnished, comes in the category of gross indiscipline. Therefore, you are relieved from responsibility of the party’s board president with immediate effect,” Rathore’s letter declared.

The incident has triggered vehement condemnation from the opposition, which has accused the ruling BJP government of fostering an “anti-tribal” environment. Taking to social media, Congress leader Kamal Nath directed a pointed message at Chief Minister Chouhan, declaring, “You cannot ignore this gruesome video. Next to the dead body of a tribal man in Anuppur district, a BJP leader is seen beating another tribal man with a slipper. When you cannot stop atrocities on tribals, at least resign from the post of CM. The hypocrisy of washing feet cannot atone for your cruel rule. You have not only made Madhya Pradesh number one in atrocities against tribals but have also made the state number one in the level of cruelty in such incidents.”

Nath continued, “Have you given a licence to BJP workers to commit atrocities against tribals? A tribal daughter and five family members are buried alive in Nemawar. In Neemuch, a tribal youth was tied to a vehicle and dragged to death. A tribal youth in Sidhi was urinated upon. And every time, the person committing atrocities against tribals is either a leader of BJP or someone associated with it.”

शिवराज सिंह चौहान जी आप यह वीभत्स वीडियो देखकर अनदेखा नहीं कर सकते। अनूपपुर जिले में एक आदिवासी व्यक्ति के शव के बगल में भारतीय जनता पार्टी का नेता दूसरे आदिवासी व्यक्ति को चप्पल से पीट रहा है। मध्य प्रदेश में भारतीय जनता पार्टी, आदिवासी अत्याचार पार्टी बनती जा रही है।

आखिर आप… pic.twitter.com/tb9PENDuNr

— Kamal Nath (@OfficeOfKNath) September 20, 2023

The All India Trinamool Congress to spoke on the event, asking if the BJP government has given a licence to BJP workers to assault a tribal.

Jaiganesh Dixit, a @BJP4MP leader, brutally assaulted a 57-year-old tribal man with slippers in Madhya Pradesh. The victim was severely injured & is currently undergoing treatment.

CM @ChouhanShivraj, have you given license to BJP workers to commit atrocities on tribals?

From…

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) September 20, 2023

Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh

In the state of Madhya Pradesh, specifically in Shahdol, a young tribal girl was beaten violently at the hands of a group of assailants while she was on her way to college. In the video that was posted on social media on September 16th, one can see the assailants repeatedly come to try and beat her again despite there being others present with a camera recording going on.

Madhya Pradesh – Shahdol, tribal girl beaten badly by gang members while going to college.

Keep in mind that Madhya Pradesh is a BJP ruled state.pic.twitter.com/CZN6l8aa7c

— Mohmmad Zubair (@zoo_bear123) September 16, 2023

Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh

Once again in Madhya Pradesh’s Shahdol a horrifying incident occurred where a 55-year-old elderly tribal woman was brutally assaulted at the hands of three women. This attack was reportedly fuelled by suspicions of witchcraft against the victim. Incidents of violence against tribal women have seen increasingly less coverage except by alternate media.

Warning: mind distracting visuals

In MP’s Shahdol, a 55-year-old elderly tribal woman was brutally thrashed by three women on suspicion of witchcraft.

Our progress is meaningless if we are still practicing casteist & atrocious beliefs. pic.twitter.com/X80rZUquwt

— Mission Ambedkar (@MissionAmbedkar) September 16, 2023

These horrifying incidents against tribals come from the BJP-ruled state even as top BJP leaders visit the state every now and then. Just in July this year in fact, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state and held special sessions with tribal women in Shahdol itself.

According to an analysis by CJP, the surge in anti-tribal violence has become an alarming concern. There is also a significant backlog of cases that are awaiting investigation. As of the year 2021, there were a staggering 70,818 reported cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes and 12,159 cases against Scheduled Tribes pending investigation. According to data sourced from the National Crime Records Bureau report of 2021, a total of 2,63,512 cases involving SCs and 42,512 cases involving STs had been brought before the courts for trial.

Furthermore in in 2020, the Citizens for Justice and Peace initiated action by approaching the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes in response to the injustice faced by members of the nomadic Van Gujjar tribe within the jurisdiction of Rajaji National Park in Dehradun. Starting from June 16, 2020, forest officials had reportedly been subjecting the community residing in the Asharodi Forest of Rajaji National Park to continuous harassment. This relentless persecution culminated in the arrest of several members of a particular family, as well as injuries sustained by others who were subsequently admitted to hospitals. Tribals in India suffer from increasing marginalisation and violence. There is a dire need for these issues to be addressed robustly in order to ensure violence against the marginalised group stops.

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Uttarakhand

In Amit Gram, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, members of the Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan were captured on viral videos demolishing two Muslim shrines, known as mazars, using hammers while chanting Jai Shri Ram slogans. These videos showed individuals from the right-wing group shattering headstones on the graves within the mazars. Additionally, a bulldozer is also seen in another clip behind clearing the debris left behind by the demolished shrines. At one shocking moment, a person can be heard stating, “We have thrown out the dead person inside the grave,” as a JCB machine removes the remnants of the destroyed shrine. He goes on to say, “All the dead residing in these mazars will be thrown out.” The Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan, identified as a right-wing Hindutva organisation, has been conducting an anti-encroachment drive in various parts of the state, resulting in the demolition of several mazars as part of their efforts, according to India.com.

Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan president Swami Darshan Bharti has alleged claimed that they had obtained permission from the landowners on which these mazars were situated to carry out the demolitions. Authorities such as the Rishikesh Kotwali SHO Khushi Ram Pandey has reportedly taken action by lodging a case under section 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against unidentified individuals in connection with this incident. The incident surfaced on Twitter on 28th of August, 2023.

Location: Amit gram, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Members of Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan demolish a Muslim shrine with sledge hammers while chanting Jai Shri Ram slogans. pic.twitter.com/lAWD5e0GTK

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 28, 2023

Uttar Pradesh

In Jalalabad, Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, leaders of the Antarashtriya Hindu Parishad were seen actively rallying Hindus throughout the state citing the Gyanvapi mosque and demanding for its conversion into a Hindu temple. At this event, the speaker also urged that the ongoing court proceedings concerning the mosque should ultimately favour the “Andolan,” or the movement demanding the conversion to temple.

Location: Jalalabad, Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh

Antarashtriya Hindu Parishad leaders are mobilizing Hindus across Uttar Pradesh to turn the Gyanvapi mosque into a Hindu temple. pic.twitter.com/DCSqCtA3RY

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) September 2, 2023

Karnataka

In Doddaballapura, Karnataka, Pramod Muthalik, the leader of Sri Ram Sena, delivered a hate speech targeting Muslims and issued threats against interfaith marriages. This alarming incident surfaced on social media on September 2, 2023, originating from the Congress-ruled state of Karnataka.

Pramod Muthalik has been a participant in RSS, Bajrang Dal, and the BJP. He was banned from entering Mangelore by BJP in Karnataka once whereafter he contested against the BJP. There have been calls to ban the organisation. Muthalik has also been accused of molestation several times. Just earlier this year, on June 14, 2023, the Karnataka High Court dismissed the legal proceedings initiated against Pramod Mutalik. These proceedings was against events in 2017 when Mutalik was accused of delivering a derogatory speech. He had been charged under Sections 153A (Promoting Enmity between different groups) and 295(A) (punishment for deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class) of the IPC for allegedly using offensive language during a public gathering according to Sabrang India.

According to an article by Times Now from 2005, he has had 45 cases of molestation pending against him at one point of times. He has been noted by observers to be an ardent Hindutva supporter. While the 2022 hijab ban crisis in Karnataka, his organisation, the Sri Ram Sena called for an economic boycott of Muslims, reported The Hindu.

In 2018, a local court had acquitted Pramod Muthalik and 30 others in the case related to the pub attack that occurred in January 2009 due to a lack of evidence. The magistrate had cleared Muthalik and the 30 others associated with the Sri Ram Sene, who had been charged by the then BJP government in the state.

Earlier this year, there was also a protest in front of the office of the Director General of Police (DGP) in Karnataka against him. The protest was primarily led by women who demanded his arrest after Muthalik had made derogatory and violent statements against women in February when he stated in his speech, Hindu men should “get 10 Muslim girls for every Hindu girl lost to Love-Jihad”. Furthermore, he had also assured that his organisation would provide security and employment to such Hindu men. Notably, no action was taken in response to these statements at that time by authorities.

Similarly, for his recent statements against minorities earlier last week, many concerned individuals took to social media, urging the authorities and tagging them to address this matter. Yet these calls remains to be heard as there appeared to be no immediate response from the authorities regarding this speech when Sabrang India searched.

Location: Doddaballapura, Karnataka

Sri Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik delivers hate speech against Muslims and threatens action against interfaith marriages. pic.twitter.com/Gif0PDrWzO

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) September 2, 2023

Delhi

In Delhi, Kanhiya Mittal, a Hindutva singer, delivered a divisive speech in which he reportedly spoke against Christian minorities. He asserted, “The Christian religion is advancing swiftly, and they are actively engaged in converting Hindus. That isn’t the case in Delhi as well, is it? Well, when you encounter a Father, show him who is the Grandfather,” gesturing behind, as he addressed a jubilant crowd that responded with roars.

He went on to cite an example where he allegedly asked the President of Uganda to place a statue of Bholenath above that of Jesus, because the former is “grandfather”. Mittal retorts to the roaring crowd, asking them not to get converted, “Listen, don’t get converted. Encouraging them not to celebrate Christmas, he further warned, “Dare you bring the plant of the British (the Christmas tree) if you are Hindu. If you get – anything get the Tulsi. They should know Hindus have awakened!”

Location: Delhi

Kanhiya Mittal, a devotional singer, delivers hate speech demonizing Christian minorities. pic.twitter.com/NSZuAvJVoi

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) September 2, 2023

In August last month, Justice Khanna expressed concerns about the need for individuals to resort to the courts to address instances of hate speech. He proposed the establishment of an internal mechanism, such as a committee under the Director General of Police, to handle complaints related to hate speech. He urged the government to consider this approach.

Similarly, according to the Times of India, the government has put forth specific provisions under the title of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to address hate speech, proposing punishment of up to three years in jail and fines for offenses that are related to religion. The newly introduced bill in Parliament aims to punish spoken as well as written words and signs that insult the religious sentiments of people. It also includes a one-year jail term for those intentionally hurting someone’s religious feelings.

Currently, hate speech is not explicitly addressed in the Indian Penal Code, and courts rely on various other provisions to prosecute offenders. Recommendations from the Law Commission had earlier highlighted the need to define hate speech as a distinct crime in the law, a step that the new bill aims to undertake. In the absence of a law specific to hate speech, such offenses are generally dealt by the Indian Penal Code (IPC) through various sections, including 153A, 153B, 295A, 298, 505(1), and 505(2). These sections, including section 153A, clearly state that any form of spoken or written expression that fosters disharmony, hatred, or insults based on factors such as religion, ethnicity, culture, language, region, caste and more can result in legal penalties.

Related:

Worship Swords instead of books or pens: Pramod Muthalik

Communally charged speeches continue across North India this week

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

IIM faculty members write an open letter to corporate India to ‘De-fund Hate Speech’

The post Hate surges across Uttarkhand, Karnataka, Delhi, and UP appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The victims can be seen tied up to a post. One of them lying helplessly on the ground, unable to even sit. The attackers, one of them even wielding a wooden bat, repeatedly rained blows upon the defenceless men, further exacerbating their injuries.

Location: Magurmari, Kokrajhar, Assam

An extremist mob tied up a Muslim and a tribal man with ropes before subjecting them to a brutal assault over suspicion of stealing cows.

This incident took place earlier this week.

Warning: Graphic Video pic.twitter.com/9ovLiU41tx

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) August 6, 2023

Despite the graphic nature of the video and the serious implications of the incident, media attention has been limited, raising concerns about the broader issue of normalisation of hate crimes. Further, a lack of updates regarding the actions taken by authorities is even concerning.

This incident is not an anomaly but comes on the heels of another disturbing video that recently went viral, showing an upper caste man, reportedly an aide of a BJP MP, urinating on a tribal man in Madhya Pradesh. These successive acts of violence raise alarming questions about the state of social harmony and the rise of hate-driven crimes in various parts of the country.

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Tribal medico ends life; faced harassment, ragging from senior

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The post Assam mob brutally tortures tribal and Muslim men appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The statement further reads,  

“In a chilling case that has shaken the public consciousness, RPF constable Chetan Singh, 33 years old, shot dead his superior RPF Assistant Sub-Inspector Tika Ram Meena (58), from Sawai Madhavpur, Rajasthan and three passengers – Abdul Qadir bhai Mohammed Hussain Bhanpurwala (64) from Nalasopara in Palghar, Asgar Abbas Ali (48) from Madhubani Bihar, and Sayed Saifullah (43) from Hyderabad, using his automatic weapon, while on duty, on the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Express on July 31, 2023 around 5 a.m.[1], [2]

“All the three Muslim passengers had typical beards clearly identifying their religion. RPF constable Chetan Singh went to different coaches, B5, B2, PC, S-6 looking for Muslim victims and killing them. He walked from B5 (where he killed Mr. Meena and Mr. Bhanpurwala) to B2 compartment and asked Mr. Saifulla his name. As soon as he gave his name, he was taken at gunpoint by RPF consable Singh to the pantry car and shot. Thereafter he travelled to compartment S8 and S7 without hurting anyone. In S6 compartment, he shot dead Mr. Asghar Abbas Ali. RPF constable Singh, who was on escort duty, fired 12 rounds from his automatic service rifle and was finally nabbed when he was trying to flee along with his automatic service rifle.

“In a video shot by a fellow passenger (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7cCczN-IDQ), the shooter Chetan Singh can be seen holding his gun and delivering an Islamophobic rant, inter alia saying “… Pakistan se operate hue ye, aur media yehi coverage dikha rahi hai, unko sab pata chal raha hai ye kya kar rahe hain… Agar vote dena hai, agar Hindustan mein rehna hai to mai kehta hoon Modi aur Yogi, ye do hain.”  (“they operate from Pakistan, and media is showing this. They all know, what they are doing. If you want to vote, if you want to stay in India, then I am telling you only two are there, Modi and Yogi”). The video clearly indicates his deep hate and motivation to murder the Muslim victims and the role that propaganda spread through media has had in influencing and instigating his hate sentiments and heinous actions.

“While an FIR was registered under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), sections 3, 25, 27 of the Arms Act and sections 151, 152, 153 of Railway Act, it is shocking that both the FIR and  remand order did not make mention of the video referred to above and his selective killing of Muslim passengers.[3] They also did not include the offences attracted on account of his hate speech and action. It has been reported that during the remand hearing before the Borivali Court on August 1, 2023 where the accused RPF officer Chetan Singh was produced and remanded to police custody until August 7, 2023, the prosecution while asking for remand shockingly stated that the accused was mentally unfit[4]. Meanwhile, the Railway had released a press statement on August 2, 2023 that no mental ailment was detected in the last periodic medical examination of the RPF constable Chetan Singh, only to mysteriously withdraw it later.[5] However, it was subsequently reported that having confirmed the authenticity of the video, the Government Railway Police (GRP) would be adding the offence of promoting hate and enmity, being section 153A of the IPC, when the accused is produced for the remand hearing on August 7, 2023[6]. In the latest reports out today, this appears to have been done and the accused has been remanded to police custody until August 11, 2023[7].

“The Indian Express news report states that as per Western Railway RPF records, the accused RPF constable Singh had against him complaints of “insubordination” while he was posted in Ujjain over five years ago and that his colleagues had complained of misbehaviour and indiscipline. It is also reported that at the time of the crime no inquiry was pending against him.

“In any case, the complaints against him in no manner support the narrative sought to be created that he is mentally unstable and if anything, shows his preexisting disposition to misbehaviour. Infact, his superiors continued to trust him with his weapon, which clearly indicates that he was expected to be acting in full thinking capacity.

“The actions of the accused RPF constable Singh appear to be calculated and motivated by his hate for Muslims, as he specifically searched for and selected Muslim victims for the cold-blooded execution and not the other non-Muslim passengers, and also conveyed his motivations through his hate tirade captured on video. It was hence completely shocking to read reports that the prosecution made a statement at the remand hearing that the accused was mentally unstable without any basis rather than prosecuting this as a hate crime.

“This would amount to a subversion of law, as hate is a known motive in many cases of grave crimes such as murder. It is entirely mischievous to even suggest that harbouring hate is akin to mental instability. Any attempt to do this would constitute an abuse of the process of law and would set a dangerous precedent. Moreover, it would deny accountability and justice to the families of the victims of this ghastly crime, which must be ensured at all costs.

“This extremely terrifying incident of multiple hate killings by a public official entrusted with the security of citizens, while on duty, raises critical questions. The most important one being the extent of the influence that the unchecked communal hate propaganda has had on the minds of the public, including police officers who are entrusted with the serious responsibility of maintaining law and order in the country. So much so that even accused RPF constable Chetan Singh got influenced by the hate propaganda against Muslims to such an extent that he handpicked and killed completely innocent persons from the Muslim community, only because of their religion.

“The current situation in Manipur where multiple reports are emerging of the complicity of the police, including where police officers allegedly led the women victims of sexual assault to the mobs[8], is another indication of the danger faced by the Nation in terms of communal influence operating amongst the police and security forces. Incidents such as this have also been reported in cases in other parts of the country, with allegations of the police standing spectator to mob lynchings, protecting perpetrators indulging in communal violence and also harassing families of victims in cases of hate crimes. While it is not surprising that the police and security forces get influenced by the overall communal atmosphere in the country it becomes alarming because they are the ones who are bearers of arms and in charge of maintaining public order.

“This crime has a dire implication for Maharashtra. Since November 2022, Maharashtra, like several other states in the country, has witnessed rallies and public demonstrations organized by extremist Hinduvta groups filled with hateful, provocative and inciteful speeches against minorities, using false propaganda and communal narratives, and calling for economic boycott and violence against Muslims. Several civil society groups including Citizens for Justice and Peace and PUCL Maharashtra[9] have issued letters to the Director General of Police, Maharashtra and concerned Commissioners / Superintendents of Police to take preventive action against hate speech at the rallies and also prosecute the offenders.

“Numerous complaints have also been filed at the jurisdictional police stations for hate speech offences committed at these events. However, the perpetrators have not been arrested till date and groups/individuals repeatedly indulging in hate speech are allowed to continue holding events and spread the hatred. The Supreme Court of India has also passed orders from time to time to curb the menace of hate speech including orders dated 13th January 2023, 3rd February 2023 and 28th April 2023[10], however the inciteful hate speech and communal propaganda have been allowed to continue.

“It is no coincidence that the increasing incidents of mob lynchings and hate crimes against Muslims, communal violence during festivals and on other communally charged subjects, is preceded and incited by an atmosphere of hate created by the uncurbed hate speech and communal propaganda.

PUCL Maharashtra, hence, demands that:

1. A court monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) / independent investigating agency be appointed to investigate the case of multiple hate killings by RPF constable Chetan Singh of his superior officer RPF Assistant Sub-Inspector Tika Ram Meena and three Muslim passengers – Abdul Qadir bhai Mohammed Hussain Bhanpurwala, Asgar Abbas Ali and Sayed Saifullah, onboard the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Express on July 31, 2023. Timely reports of investigation be submitted to the court to ensure that the case is investigated fairly, thoroughly and without any external influence, also considering that the accused is a police officer.
2. Ensure that all evidence is collected impartially and included in the case against the accused, including the video taken by the fellow passenger of accused RPF constable Chetan Singh delivering the hate tirade and other such video and other evidence, witness testimonies etc. It must be ensured that the case is prosecuted properly and effectively, leading the best evidence against the accused.
3. The investigation must also look into what kind of hate propaganda the accused Chetan Singh was exposed to, whether he was part of any organization which promotes hatred based on religious identities and if he attended any such meetings. His social media accounts, media he followed / subscribed, need to be looked at to identify the sources of influence.
4. Sections 153A, 153B, 295A and 505 of IPC should be applied in this case.
5. The case must be tried on day-to-day basis, without any delay and be given the utmost priority.
6. Protection must be provided to the witnesses and safety of the families of the victims must be ensured.
7. Proper compensation should be paid and measures taken for livelihood support to families of victims by the Railways and government authorities.
8. Government authorities both at the Centre and in all the states act swiftly to prevent and stop the spread of hate speech and communal propaganda at all costs! Investigate and prosecute the incidences of communal hate speech made at the rallies and public events in Maharashtra and take all measures to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future. Arrest the known perpetrators immediately. Ensure strict implementation of the Supreme Court orders dated 13th January 2023, 3rdFebruary 2023 and 28th April 2023 in letter and spirit.
9. In light of the communal atmosphere prevailing in the State, the authorities must put in place mechanisms to ensure periodic checks on the biases, prejudices and hate among police and security forces, including the RPF. It must be ascertained if any other personnel are similarly exposed to hate propaganda and if so, immediate action must be taken to remove them from their charge to ensure such an incident does not take place again. The RPF must take steps to prevent hate crimes and to maintain the safety of the passengers.
10. There should be regular sessions held by police and security forces, including the RPF, to sensitize its officers on the values of equality, non-discrimination, secularism, unity and fraternity enshrined in the Indian Constitution, emphasizing on the plural and secular nature of Indian society and their duty as public officials to uphold Indian constitution.

Related:

RPF constables kills 3 Muslims, one senior, reports suggest killer picked victims from passengers

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