This took place on the morning of June 18th, a crowd of 50-100 people from the Bajrang Dal gathered near Sham Masjid, close to the Police Chowki, upon hearing about the incident. The local MLA Geeta Jain, former MLA Narendra Mehta and Shiva Sena (Eknath Shinde) Corporator, Vikram Singh were also present at the scene.

The crowd surrounded the truck chanting Jai Sri Ram slogans, remained until the police intervened to calm the situation. As per reports, an FIR has been filed in relation to the case of cow slaughter, and the meat has been sent for forensic examination. Three people have been taken into custody.

Sadiq Basha, an activist, spoke to Sabrang India about the incident, narrated, “Around 10:30 or 11 am in the morning, I got a call from Naya Nagar that some truck has been reportedly caught with cow meat. I learned that around 50-100 people from Bajrang Dal had surrounded the truck at Sham Masjid, which is located near the local police chowki.” Sadiq narrates that BJP’s local MLA Geeta Jain and ex MLA Narendra Mehta were also present there as slogans of Jai Sri Ram were given. However, the police had calmed the situation and prevented anything further from happening.

Video | Tension at Naya Nagar in Mira Road over a tempo allegedly carrying Cow’s meat | 3 persons taken into custody & meat sent for forensic examination, DCP Gaikwad said. Report by City News Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/0MUTxzTxDO

— MUMBAI NEWS (@Mumbaikhabar9) June 19, 2024

Vikram Pratap Singh, who is a local Corporator of the Shiva Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), spoke to Mira Bhayandar Live, a local news channel, as the mob shouted slogans, saying “Yeh desh Rashtrawadi, Hinduwadi, Sanatan Dharmwadio ka sarkar hai yahan per, yeh sabh nahi chalega.” This country belongs to nationalists, Hindus, Sanatan Dharmis, this won’t work here.

In January, 2023, Mira Road locality of Mumbai had seen a continued violence which saw homes and vehicles of local Muslims were burned and vandalised by a Hindutva mob. This incident had occured when the country was seeing a rise in mob violence against Muslims in the wake of the inauguration of the Ayodhya Temple in Faizabad, UP. The incident at Mira Road then too had seen the incendiary participation of BJP MLAs Geeta Jain and Nitish Rane. Jain were seen leading a mob.

Several incidents of violence against Muslims, involving allegations of cow slaughter, have been reported across the country. In a recent incident in Himachal Pradesh, The Observer Post reported that a Muslim-owned textile shop in Nahan was looted and vandalised by a large mob after the shopkeeper had shared a picture of an animal sacrifice on his WhatsApp status.

Please embed: https://x.com/TheObserverPost/status/1803361865235673412

A video of the incident shows the mob destroying and throwing out the contents of the shop as a crowd cheers under police presence. Police however took steps and managed to close the shop’s shutters to prevent more damage. After this, the crowd marched to the district collector’s office, chanting slogans such as “Goli maaro saalon ko” and “Jai Shri Ram.”

Related:

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Mira Road: Muslim youth allegedly beaten in custody, denied food as Nitesh Rane tells supporters, “The Government is with you.”

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How and why the Ram Temple is just a political tool for the BJP

Vigilante violence against Muslims continues without rest

The post Tension flare as mob alleges cow slaughter in Mumbai, Himachal Pradesh too witnesses similar mob action appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The five petitioners who have moved the said plea are residents of Mumbai, including two who were themselves victims of the violence that had taken place in Mira Road on January 22. (Full details can be read here.)

The petition has emphasised upon filing of FIR against the aforementioned three for allegedly delivering hate speeches by providing in the petition that “if action is not taken against individual like MLA Nitish Rane, MLA Geeta Jain, and Legislator T. Raja for spreading hate speech and inciting violence, the same may embolden them as well as other political leaders to resort to hate speech and incitement with the sole aim of polarizing the citizens for votes. It is submitted that the same may not only result in widespread violence, but shall also hamper free and fair elections, which are part of the basic structure of the Constitution of India”.

The main contention raised by the petitioners through the said writ petition is that the state police had an obligation to file the suo-moto FIRs against those making hate speeches, as had been necessitated by the Supreme Court for India in its October 2022 and January 13 order. In the said orders. Notably, the said orders had directed all State and Union Territories to take suo-moto action against hate speeches that are in contravention to the secular character of the country. The bench had directed the police officer to invoke their powers and file cases against those hate speakers without giving any regards to their religion (the details of the said order can be read here).

The petition states, “The said orders further state that such action is to be taken irrespective of the religion of the maker of the speech or the person who commits such act, so that the secular character of India is preserved and protected”.

In the petition, it has been highlighted by the petitioners that even after making multiple attempts to get the authorities to take action against the accused for hate speech, no action was taken by the authorities. It is pertinent to provide here that on February 3, over a dozen residents of Mira Road had submitted a written complaint to the senior PI of the Naya Nagar Police Station, Vilas Supe in Mira Road demanding registration of an FIR, thorough and fair investigation and prompt legal action against MLAs Geeta Jain and Nitesh Rane. The residents had sought action by the police by alleging that both the MLAs were to be held responsible for unnecessarily stoking communal fires over the Ram Temple event at Ayodhya on January 2.

Action against multiple hate speeches:

The petitioners have sought directions to the police to register FIRs against MLAs Nitish Rane, Geeta Jain, and T. Raja under sections 153, 153A, 153B, 295A, 504, and 505 of the IPC for allegedly having delivered hate speeches in Mira Road, Govandi, and Ghatkopar on various dates.

Hate speech 1: The petitioners have demanded for the High Court to direct the police to register FIRs against MLA Nitish Rane for delivering multiple hate speeches.

It is essential to highlight here that a total of three hate speeches were highlighted by the petitioners in the writ petition. The first hate speech against which action was sought had been delivered by MLA Nitish Rane and MLA Geeta Jain at Mira Road on January 23, 2024. On January 22, motorcycles adorned with saffron flags converged upon Naya Nagar, Mira Road, with the intent to incite fear and inflict harm upon local residents. Despite efforts by law enforcement to contain the situation, instances of vandalism and violence persisted, as evidenced by reported vehicular damage and other acts of aggression. The dissemination of hate speech and incendiary rhetoric by elected representatives, notably MLA Geeta Jain, further exacerbated tensions and contributed to the breakdown of law and order.

Furthermore, on January 23, false narratives perpetuated by MLA Geeta Bharat Jain regarding barricades purportedly erected by Muslims and discriminatory practices against Hindus only served to inflame communal tensions. Her misleading remarks and baseless assertions during interviews with media outlets, wherein she falsely alleged that Muslims were demanding “10-15 minutes (freehand),” only added fuel to the fire. Moreover, her statement claiming, “We are greater in numbers, if they need 10-15 minutes, we only need 5 minutes which will be good enough for them,” lacks any substantiation and further aggravates the situation.

Following her hate speech, on the next day, January 24, mobs on bikes with saffron flags went on a spree and vandalised shops of Muslim establishments. She demanded that the barricades, which were put up by the police administration to ensure law and order, be removed.

Notably, Rane had made incendiary posts on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), by making the statement “chun-chun ke marenge”.

The petitions claims that multiple major and minor clashes broke out after their speeches, which makes it crucial to take action against these two for incitement through hate speech.

Hate speech 2: In the petition, two other speeches delivered by Rane at Govandi on February 10 and March 10 had been highlighted. On February 10, Rane was seen participating in Govandi’s Shivaji Nagar at Hindutva rally which was marked with reports of aggressive anti-Muslim slogans such as “Band karo, band karo, Love-jihad band karo,” and “Tu Durga ban, tu kali ban, kabhi na burqe wali ban.”

Addressing the media, Nitesh Rane had delivered an incendiary statement and promised a similar result to what happened in Mira Road for the people of Shivaji Nagar. He asserted, “Shivaji Nagar will also have the bulldozer. The Hindu here is also not safe. All of our Mankur-Shivajinagar area is becoming a mini-Bangladesh. Today our Hindu samaj stepped on the streets. Today here, a huge number of ‘illegal’ Masjids and madarsa are created by land jihad, these should be removed. Otherwise, we will do whatever we can – with the government. What happened in Mira Road, will happen here too, the bulldozer will be deployed.”

Hate speech 3: The petitioners have also sought for action against Singh’s speech at Mira Road on February 25. On February 25, a ‘Hindu Jan Aakrosh Morcha’ was taken out in Mira Road area of Thane, Maharashtra. The chief speaker at this event was BJP MLA T. Raja Singh. Singh, who had granted conditional permission to deliver a speech at the said rally, could be seen using anti-Muslim slur and provocative words. Through his speech, Singh spread misinformation and disinformation in the name of Maharashtrian revered Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The issue of temples being demolished and mosques being built over them was raised again and again by the habitual hate-speaker to incite his audience. Referring to the recently inaugurated Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, and the violent act of demolition of the Babri Mosque, the BJP leader called for repeating the same in mosques present in Kashi and Mathura towns. The full details of the 40 minute speech by Singh can be accessed here. 

Action sought through the petition:

The petition provides that as the Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force. Hence, the petitioners underscore that if action is not taken against these individuals, it may embolden them and other political leaders to resort to hate speech and incitement with the sole aim of polarizing the citizens for votes.

The petition states “The Petitioners apprehend that if action is not taken against individual like MLA Nitish Rane, MLA Geeta Jain, and Legislator T. Raja for spreading hate speech and inciting violence, the same may embolden them as well as other political leaders to resort to hate speech and incitement with the sole aim of polarizing the citizens for votes. It is submitted that the same may not only result in widespread violence, but shall also hamper free and fair elections, which are part of the basic structure of the Constitution of India.”

The petitioners have also emphasised that communal harmony, religious freedom, and the rule of law are part of the basic structure of the Constitution of India and if hate speech is not prosecuted, it puts all three of them at risk. Emphasising a delay of eight weeks in filing cases against the hate speakers, the petitions states “Because, the proclamations / speeches made are widely available on the internet and qualify as both extreme hate speech and also as violent speech inciting targeted killings of citizens from a minority community, which would pass the ‘spark in a powder keg’ test laid down in in Ragarajan v. P. Jagjeevan Ram and Ors. (1989) 2 sec 574”.

In addition to ensuring action and filing of FIRs, the petitioners have also sought directions to the police to file regular status reports on the investigation’s progress before the court. Notably, the case is likely to be heard on March 27, as per LiveLaw.

Related:

Sharp increase in violence against Christians, 161 incidents of violence in 75 days of 2024

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

Report: 668 incidents of hate speech in 2023; BJP major player

The post Bombay High Court: Plea seeking FIR against three BJP legislators for delivering hate speeches, highlights inaction by police even after Supreme Court guidelines appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In the 40-minute-long speech, Singh also referred to other contentious topics such as the law on Citizenship Amendment Act and Uniform Civil Code. In order to paint the Muslim community as a suspicious enemy, topics of ‘Love-Jihad’, forced religious conversions, cow slaughter and illegal religious conversion were referred to by the speaker. The BJP MLA from Telangana also openly targeted Asaduddin Owaisi, who is the Chief of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) party and also an MP from Hyderabad, Telangana. It is essential to note here that such inflammatory words were used by the hate offender after having submitted a court ordered undertaking to the Deputy Commission of Police of Zone-I, Mira Bhayander that Singh and the organisers will abide by all the terms and conditions imposed on them by the court and the authorities, and no hate speeches will be delivered at the rally.

A division bench of Justices R.P. Mohite Dere and Shivkumar Dige of the Bombay High Court had imposed the condition of videotaping of the event in its order, by stating that “Needless to state that the Police to video record the entire procession that will be taken out by petitioner as well as the speeches that will be made at the said congregation/rally.”

Details of the Bombay High Court hearing and the conditional permission granted to him can be read here.

However, the videos that have emerged from the rally show how Singh has indulged in stoking communal fires once again. Below are the extracts from his 40 min speech delivered at the said rally, organised to commemorate the birth anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj. We have identified the Hindutva encouraged issues that were touched upon by the BJP MLA during the said rally, in an area which saw communal incidents of large scale only a month ago, in which court ordered video-tapping was also taking place.

Problematic aspects of Raja Singh’s speech

Distorting the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji, encouraging violence under his name: “Today, on the birth anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj, all of us will take a pledge that till the time we are alive, we will fight for the establishment of a Hindu nation. We will take a pledge to keep fighting against Love Jihad, cow slaughter and forced religious conversions.” (Time stamp- 1:42- 2:17)

“Before the rule of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Aurangzeb used to rule India. They used to frequently indulge in the forceful conversion of Hindus and demolition of temples. There is this story from the times of Aurangzeb that I will tell you. Aurangzeb and his followers wanted to demolish every temple in India. In one village of Maharashtra, the villagers had hidden a temple. One day, as people were worshipping there, Aurangzeb and his army reached the spot and were astonished to see the temple. They declared that they will destroy every temple in India. Before destroying this temple, they urinated on the temple and threw pieces of cow meat on the Shivling inside.” (Time stamp- 2:53- 4:25)

“One day, as a butcher is planning to slaughter a cow and the villagers are helplessly waiting for someone to come and save their mother cow, Shivaji Maharaj reaches there. Shivaji Maharaj then asks that L****e (anti-Muslim slur) butcher to tell him where he is taking that cow. That L****a (anti-Muslim slur) butcher tells Shivaji that guests are coming to his home so he was to slaughter the cow and eat it. Shiavji gets angry upon hearing this and he slits the throat of that butcher with his sword. This is how much Shivaji was committed to cow protection at the age of twelve.” (Time stamp- 6:20- 7:25)

“Shivaji Maharaj has not only saved Maharashtra, but he has saved the whole Hindu community. Today, Kashi would have had a Mosque had it not been for Shivaji Maharaj. Hindus would have Sunnat had it not been for Shivaji Maharaj.” (Time stamp- 10:14- 10:41)

Painting Mughal leaders, and by extension Muslims, as enemies: “When Afzal Khan went to see a Mullah before attempting to catch Shivaji Maharaj, that Mullah told Khan that you are trying to fight a tornado and nobody who has ever fought with this tornado has lived to tell the tale. Just like that, you too will die.” (Time stamp- 11:56- 12:25)

“Afzal Khan knew that the heart of Shivaji lies with his Hindu brethren. So, in order to draw Shivaji out, he started looting the Hindu villagers and demolishing the temples of Maharashtra. When Shivaji got to know of all this, he conspired to kill Khan. With the guise of meeting him, Shivaji Maharaj tore the chest of Afzal Khan and ensured that the saffron flag flew high.” (Time stamp- 13:15- 14:16)

“Today, when this story of Afzal Khan is told through plays and speeches, many take offence to that. Those who take offence while living in Maharashtra, I want to tell them that this is the land of Shivaji and if you follow Afzal Khan, you know of the consequences.” (Time stamp- 14:25- 14:50)

“Shivaji Maharaj had committed a surgical strike with Sahist Khan, when Khan had brought his army to capture Shivaji Maharaj. For three years Khan tried to catch Shivaji but was unable to, after which Shivaji resolved to teach a lesson to that L****a lesson. Within the duration of a night, Shivaji and his army attacked the Palace that Khan was staying at. It is told that once Khan saw Shivaji, he tried to run away but Shivaji used his sword in such a way that 3 fingers of Khan were cut off. You people say that you are not afraid of a fight, then why did you run away wearing a Burkha?” (Time stamp- 15:49- 17:50)

“Many of our kings committed the mistake of leaving our enemies alive, but Shivaji never did this mistake. If an enemy had been caught by them, they always tore them apart from the middle and killed them.” (Time stamp- 18:43- 18:59)

“Shivaji Maharaj had displayed the slaughtered head of Afzal Khan at the top of the Pratapgarh fort to ensure that no Mughal or Mullah in the coming times could dare to look at Shivaji Maharaj.” (Time stamp- 19:06- 19:46)

“Today we see that a lot of Maharajs in villages are converting their religion for small amounts of money or pressure. Our Hindu brothers are being converted in every village. We need to tell the story of Shivaji Maharaj and the sacrifice of Sambhaji Maharaj to these people and these families.” (Time stamp- 20:13- 20:35)

“What Aurangzeb did to our Sambhaji Maharaj should not be forgotten by us or our coming seven generations. They used to cut one part of Sambhaji’s body each day to force him to convert to Islam. Sambhaji had refused to do so and had died doing so.” (Time stamp- 21:35- 22:19)

A couplet is recited by Singh post this:

“देश धरम पर  मिटने वाला शेर छवि महाराजा था

महा पराकर्मी परम प्रतापी एक ही संभु राजा था

तेज अंग तेजस्वी ऑंखें निकल गयी पर झुकी नहीं

दृष्टि गयी पर हिन्दू राष्ट्र का दिव्या सपना छूटा नहीं

दोनों हाथ काटे पर क्या हुआ संकल्प कभी छूटा नहीं

जीभ काटी खून बहाया, धरम का सौदा किया नहीं

शिवाजी  का बेटा था वो, गलत राह पर  चला नहीं

गर्व से हिन्दू कहने मै कभी किसी के बाप से डरा नहीं

कभी किसी के बाप से डरा नहीं

वर्ष ३०० बीत गए, अब तक उनके बलिदान को

कौन जीता कौन हारा पूछ लो संसार को

कोटि कोटि कंठो मै तेरा  आज जय जय कार है

2अरे शंभु तू अमर हो गया, तेरी जय जय कार है, तेरी जय जय कार है” (Time stamp- 22:30- 23:48)

(Shivaji was the lion who died for his country and his religion

There was only one Sambhu King, the most powerful and the most glorious one.

His limbs were cut but he did not bend

The sight was lost but the divine dream of the Hindu nation was not lost.

He was Shivaji’s son, he did not follow the wrong path.

I am proud to be a Hindu and have never been afraid of anyone’s father.

300 years have passed since their sacrifice

Ask the world who won and who lost.

Today I am chanting ‘Jai Jai’ for you in millions of hearts.

Hey Shambhu, you have become immortal)

The Hindutva promoted agendas of ‘Love Jihad’, illegal encroachment, cow slaughter and forced religious conversions: “You need to visit the memorial of Sambhajii Maharaj and bow down in front of that to take a pledge to keep on working towards our religion and society. We will also give the same sacrifice in the coming times that you gave.” (Time stamp- 23:59- 24:23)

“Shivaji Maharaj had occupied and safeguarded at least 370 forts from the army of Aurangzeb. I want to ask you today, out of these 370, how many forts remain safe today? I want to ask the government regarding the 100 forts that have been taken over by these people to build a Mosque or a shrine. I want to urge our Chief Minister and Home Minister to make the forts encroached upon free and liberate them.” (Time stamp- 24:32- 25:47)

“India is moving forward. Once a law on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is brought in, then this nation will have only one law and no one would be able to follow the Sharia law. Everyone will follow Ambedkar’s law. Soon CAA-NRC will also be employed and the Hindus who are tortured in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran will be given citizenship under these new laws.” (Time stamp- 26:12- 27:18)

Unsubstantiated claims of illegal immigration: “Illegal Rohingyas from Myanmar and Bangladesh are hiding all over India. Even in the state of Maharashtra, Rohingyas are there. The incident that took place in Mira Road, I have heard that a lot of Rohingyas were involved. I would like to request the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the home minister to find all these people who are hiding in the state. Our Amit Shah has said a very good thing, he said that we will not even leave one of them. Wherever these people have come from, we will send each one of them back. These Rohingyas are harmful for our country and for the security of our country.” (Time stamp- 27:18- 28:20)

Targeting AIMIM leader Owaisi for his religion: “To make our dream of having a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya come true, many Karsevaks had to sacrifice their lives. Despite this, a few days ago, in the Parliament, our brother Owasi said that Babri Mosque was there and will always be there. He has also raised slogans hailing Babri Mosque. I want to ask that goat to tell me who made such an illiterate person a politician?” (Time stamp- 28:27- 29:47)

“Those who do not respect the Constitution of India and do not say ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’, such people do not have the right to live in India. Even if one terrorist is killed in any corner of India, Owasi cries like his father’s son has died. He gets riled up as if a relative of his has died. He doesn’t even follow the orders of the Supreme Court.” (Time stamp- 29:47- 30:20)

“Hey Owaisi, listen to me son, till now we have only reclaimed Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura are still left. All those 40 thousand temples are left that were destroyed by Aurangzeb and structures have been built over it. You say that you will tell about the Babri Mosque to your next generations, listen to me as I say this- we will teach our coming generations Kar seva. We will teach our coming generations how to reclaim those 40 thousand temples.” (Time stamp- 30:20- 31:32)

Encouraging violence: “Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has made an amazing promise that whoever does Karseva in Mathura, they will not have to face guns but will be showered with flowers. For Kashi, Hindus are ready to dance Tandav and for Mathura, we are ready to blow the flute. If required, Hindus are also ready to fight the battle of Mahabharat.” (Time stamp- 31:32- 32:26)

“Those who are present here and attending this rally, I want to tell them that they need to be prepared to fight for the protection of our country and religion. When the Babri Mosque was demolished in Ayodhya, no minister had the audacity to stop us. Every Minister had kept quiet. There was this one Minister in Maharashtra who had openly declared that the Babri Mosque had been demolished by my army. When that lion used to roar, people would piss in their pants. And the name of that lion was BalaSaheb Thackrey.” (Time stamp- 32:26- 32:52)

“Whether the issue was of Ayodhya, or offering Namaz and loudspeakers, or illegal immigrants, Thackeray would openly threaten people that if they do not mend their ways then they would have to suffer fatal consequences. In an interview, Balasaheb was asked regarding the first thing he would do if he becomes the Prime Minister of India. Thackeray had replied that he would clear the land in Kashi and other places that Hindus have claimed to belong to them. This is why, even though Thackrey was not made the PM or the CM, people worship him as he ensured that the saffron flag flies high.” (Time stamp- 33:55- 35:40)

The speaker then urges the audience to take an oath with him. Notably, alongside him, another BJP MLA known for her vitriolic, Geeta Jain, can also be seen taking repeating the pledge.

Pledge: “We pledge today that till the time I am alive, I will protect my country. We pledge today that till the time I am alive, I will protect my religion. In my Hindu society, I will keep fighting against ‘Love Jihad’, forced religious conversions and cow slaughter. I will not let any wrong thing enter my body. I will learn how to use weapons. I will work for the establishment of a Hindu nation. I take my oath upon Shivaji Maharaj.” (Time stamp- 36:50- 38:10)

The complete 40 min video can be viewed here:

As per a report of the Indian Express, the police in Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar have asserted that the officials are going through transcripts of the speech made by the BJP leader at Mira Road. As per the officials, there are suspicions that Singh had made some communal remarks. The report provided that according to a senior police officer, after analysing the speech, they will take legal opinion on whether action should be taken against him. 

The IE report provided that as per the senior officer, “The entire speech was video recorded and we will be going through it again and seek legal opinion on whether he has violated the undertaking. Prima facie, it appears that at certain points he has used some words and phrases that could violate his undertaking but we will decide after going through the video again.” Notably, on February 21, Singh had been denied police permission for taking out the said rally in Mira Road.

Video of the speech delivered by BJP MLA Geeta Jain also showed the leader delivering instigating speeches. The minister who has been accused of unnecessarily stoking communal fires during the Mira road incident by delivering hate speeches, could be heard gloating over the violence that had taken place in the month of January. She proudly deemed the communal violence incident to be a result of Hindus showing Muslim their position. Her speech is as follows:

“With our population size, we can do in five minutes what they would take 20 minutes to do”

“Some people are still trying to say that I am a woman, I will not be able to do it. To them, I want to say that I have done more than you could ever do in your life. I did not hide in my house, I was there on the roads with you all when the stone pelting incident was taking place.”

“We are Hindus. We are very tolerant, but we are not cowards.”

“Till the time an undivided Hindu nation is not established, I will neither sit quietly nor let anyone sit quietly. Do not mess with us.”

The complete video can be viewed here:

In #Mumbai‘s #MiraRoad, #BJP MLA #GeetaJain said “With our population size, we can do in five minutes what they would take 20 minutes to do”.#Telangana MLA #RajaSingh and other #Hindutva speakers made hate speeches and incited violence at the event on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/Mrt9w1LWiy

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) February 26, 2024

In the IE report, an officer stated that the said rally was attended by a few thousand people, primarily youngsters. As per the report, the rally ended at 7.30 pm, just a few hours before the commencement of Shab-e-Baraat, when Muslims spend the night praying in mosques. A video also circulated on social media that showed the objectionable anti-Muslim slogans that was raised during the rally. In the said video, a group of young men donning saffron scarves or saffron caps could be heard using provocative and violent slogans. The wordings of these slogans were too vile to be written in words.

The video can be viewed here:

लोकेशन : मीरा भायंदर,महाराष्ट्र
दिनांक 25 फरवरी

टी राजा सिंह की रैली के दौरान मुसलमानो के खिलाफ आपत्तिजनक नारो का इस्तेमाल किया गया ।

लांड्या (मुस्लिमो के खिलाफ कहे जाने वाला अपमानजनक शब्द) को भगाओ इत्यादि भड़काऊ नारे लगाए गए। pic.twitter.com/oGBgzBE2wZ

— The Muslim (@TheMuslim786) February 26, 2024

Related:

Mira Road to see Hindutva rally tomorrow after HC grants permission, citizens approach police to ensure peace

Conduct Fair Inquiry, take action against MLAs Geeta Jain and Nitesh Rane: Citizens of Mira Road-Bhayandar

Mira Road: Muslim youth allegedly beaten in custody, denied food as Nitesh Rane tells supporters, “The Government is with you.”

Mira-Road Bhayander Police rejects permission to BJP MLA T Raja Singh for rally on February 25, cites hate speeches

CJP to Maharashtra Police: Halt BJP MLA Raja Singh’s rally in Mira Road, citing potential for public disruptions

The post BJP MLA Raja Singh uses anti-Muslim slurs, targets Muslims, encourages violence at rally permitted by Bombay High Court appeared first on SabrangIndia.

During the hearing that took place on February 23, a division bench comprising Justices R.P. Mohite Dere and Manusha Ajay Deshpande has granted permission to Singh to conduct the proposed rally on the conditions that no hate speeches are made and that the said event is videotaped by the police in order so that required action can be taken post the event takes place and suo-moto FIRs can be filed, if necessary. The said conditional permission is in lines with the directions issued by the Supreme Court in the case of Shaheen Abdullah v Union of India, which directs the police officers to ensure that no hate speeches take place and the event is videotaped. As per the directions of the Supreme Court, the police are required to take suo-moto action against those found to be making any inflammatory statements and delivering any provocative hate speeches.

In its order, the division bench noted that “Needless to state that the Police to video record the entire procession that will be taken out by petitioner as well as the speeches that will be made at the said congregation/rally.”

In addition to this, the Bombay High Court bench has also directed the police officials to grant permission to Singh for the rally “on such terms and conditions as they may be deem fit and proper.” It is essential to note that Singh has also been necessitated to file an undertaking to the Deputy Commission of Police of Zone-I, Mira Bhayander that he and the organisers will abide by all the terms and conditions imposed by the authorities and will follow the route provided by the police authorities.

The complete order can be read here:

While the high court bench has urged the Maharashtra police to ensure that no hate speech takes place and directed for the recording of the whole event, which celebrates the birth anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj, there is a high probability that the habitual hate speaker will once more deliver an anti-Muslim hate speech and get another FIR added to his name. On Saturday, February 24, Citizens for Justice and Peace has approached the Mora-Road Bhayander Vasai Virar Police with as additional petition urging full precautions and adherence to the directives of the Supreme Court in January 2024.

Singh, who is known for his divisive supremacist stance, was recently reinstated to the BJP after he was expelled in 2022 for making incendiary comments against Muslims. According to a report by Sabrang India, Singh is facing more than 100 criminal cases. In the current year itself, he has had a case filed against him in the state of Maharashtra for delivering a violent anti-Muslim hate speech. Last year, he had a total of ten FIRs filed against him across various states for delivering provocative speeches. These FIRs book the BJP legislator for “outraging religious feelings”, “promoting enmity between groups and communities”, and “making statements that amount to public mischief”. It is essential to note that while ten FIRs had been filed against him, no arrests have been made till now.

An updated list of the FIRs filed against him since the beginning of 2023 has been provided below. It is essential to note that the team of Citizens for Justice and Peace tried to contact the five police stations that had filed cases against Singh in the state of Maharashtra to follow up on the action taken against the offender. These police stations are Jail Road police station (Solapur), Dadar police station (Mumbai), Kranti chowk police station (Aurangabad), Ahmednagar city police station (Shrirampur) and the Shivaji Nagar police station, Latur. In all the 5 police stations, the CJP team was unable to gather any information owing to many reasons, including transfers, new joinees, lack of information, stated by the police officers. In some cases, the officers even refused to share any information related to the Investigating Officers in charge of the matter. 

Ongoing FIRs against T. Raja Singh since 2023:

The team of Citizens for Justice and Peace has been meticulously documenting the speeches being delivered by Raja Singh and has also been filing complaints against the habitual hate offender for years. From police officials to statutory authorities, CJP has approached many authorities to bring action against Singh for delivering, with impunity, violent hate espousing speeches. Even for the proposed ‘Hindu Jan Aakrosh Morcha’, CJP had filed a complaint with the Maharashtra police for not granting permission for the rally on February 20.

It is essential to note that after permission for the said rally was granted by the Bombay High Court, CJP had filed a follow up complaint with the Maharashtra police officials emphasising upon the conditions that were being imposed on Singh. Through the said follow-up complaint, the complainant had urged for the police to ensure that no hate speeches take place and that the event is folly videotaped, as necessitated by the High Court. The organisation also urged for the officials to take the necessary action against Singh if he is found to be in violation of the conditions that are imposed on him by the court.

The complete complaint can be read here:

Details of the previous complaints filed by CJP against Raja Singh since the year 2023 has been provided below:

 Complaints sent by CJP against Raja Singh

Related:

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Mira-Road Bhayander Police rejects permission to BJP MLA T Raja Singh for rally on February 25, cites hate speeches

CJP to Maharashtra Police: Halt BJP MLA Raja Singh’s rally in Mira Road, citing potential for public disruptions

Mumbai: Hate offender, T Raja Singh plans to come to Mira Road, as citizens file a complaint against politicians who stoked hate

Chhattisgarh & Maharashtra: SC directs police to ensure no hate speech by BJP MLA Raja Singh & Hindu Jan Jagruti Samiti rallies

Notorious hate speech offender T Raja Singh has another case filed against him

Conduct Fair Inquiry, take action against MLAs Geeta Jain and Nitesh Rane: Citizens of Mira Road-Bhayandar

The post Bombay HC grants conditional permission to BJP MLA Raja Singh for Feb 25 Mira Road-Bhayander meet, orders videotaping and ‘No Hate Speech’ appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Six people have been asked to come to the police station after they submitted complaints regarding the events at Mira Road after the BJP MLAs Nitesh Rane and Geeta Jain made reportedly provocative statements. The police have asked them to submit proof of their claims, as per a report by Times Today. A written complaint had been filed earlier by more than a dozen residents of Mira Road with Vilas Supe, the senior PI of the Naya Nagar Police Station. The residents are asking for the registration of a FIR, an unbiased investigation, and legal action against Geeta Jain and Nitesh Rane.

On February 3, the citizens approached the senior police inspector. According to local residents, the senior PI accepted the complaint with some reluctance and provided an acknowledgment after conversing with them.

Sabrang India spoke to Sadique Basha, activist and citizen on ground, who stated that they have gotten a message from police to get proof, “Yes I got a message from the police. They have called us on February 21st and want us to get proof of the incidents regarding my complaint.”

The complaint detailed that on January 22, a gathering of motorcycles with saffron flags assembled in Naya Nagar, Mira Road, arrived with the purpose of creating fear. Following this, despite security measures by the police, incidents of vandalism and violence continued. The complaint details how the situation was worsened by the hate speech and inflammatory language by elected representatives, especially MLA Geeta Jain. The signatories of the complaint include Sadique Basha, Adv. Sanjay Pande, ⁠Sukhdev Banbanci, ⁠Saboor Ansari, Jhulmi Ram Yadav (Writer), ⁠Vinod Chand and ⁠Saroja Rajeshwari.

Geeta Jain and Nitesh Rane were seen urging for a Hindutva rally at the Mira Road residential area after the place was hit with anti-Muslim violence. Jain was even seen giving police an ultimatum. Furthermore, a report by The Wire has also revealed that when Rane came to Mira Road after the violence, he gave a press conference at the police commissioner’s office which was restricted to media personnel who were Hindutva supporters only. In the conference, he made various anti-Muslim statements and urged the Hindu community to ‘retaliate’, as per the report. The report also stated that another set of violence broke out after Rane’s speech where several Muslims were injured and arson and vandalism took place.

Meanwhile, earlier today the Muslim police issued notice under section 148 of the CrPC to AIMIM party spokesperson and former MLA from Byculla Waris Pathan, according to his X account he has now stated that he has been “illegally” arrested by the Mira-Bhayandar police. He has reportedly been on his way to meet the Police Commissioner to submit a memorandum against those who have given hateful speeches. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has called the action by the authorities in the area as “one-sided.”

Despite being almost a month since the violence at Mira Road took place, the atmosphere refuses to calm down. Another BJP leader, now all the way from Telangana, wants to come and hold a ‘sabha’ at the tense neighbourhood. Telangana MLA T Raja Singh, who is notorious for giving anti-Muslim hate speeches, has stated that he is going to take out a rally in the Mira Road area on February 25. Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh has cancelled his Mira Road visit. He was going to plan it earlier on February 19, but now has postponed it for the 25th of the month. He has stated to his viewers, “Chalo, let’s introduce people to our power on the 25th”, and has requested the police to not delay granting permission for the gathering.

Sadique Basha has further stated civil society in the area is also going to file a complaint to not let T Raja Singh enter the vicinity, and the people are hoping the police doesn’t allow him. He further seems to share little hope that the Singh will be prevented from reaching the tense neighbourhood, “Considering that Nitesh Rane came and gave a media address from inside the commissioners’ office, where the police give address the media, people are­ seeing this and think that the rally might happen. We are going to draft a complaint in this regard, and further approach the courts if our complaint is not accepted.”

Related: 

Conduct Fair Inquiry, take action against MLAs Geeta Jain and Nitesh Rane: Citizens of Mira Road-Bhayandar

Mira Road: Muslim youth allegedly beaten in custody, denied food as Nitesh Rane tells supporters, “The Government is with you.”

Mira Road remains tense after violence outbreak

The post Mumbai: Hate offender, T Raja Singh plans to come to Mira Road, as citizens file a complaint against politicians who stoked hate appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The complaint has been signed by Sadique Basha, Adv. Sanjay Pande, ⁠Sukhdev Banbanci, ⁠Saboor Ansari, Jhulmi Ram Yadav(Writer), ⁠Vinod Chand and ⁠Saroja Rajeshwari.

The detailed complaint states that on January 22, motorcycles adorned with saffron flags converged upon Naya Nagar, Mira Road, with the intent to incite fear and inflict harm upon local residents. Despite efforts by law enforcement to contain the situation, instances of vandalism and violence persisted, as evidenced by reported vehicular damage and other acts of aggression. The dissemination of hate speech and incendiary rhetoric by elected representatives, notably MLA Geeta Jain, further exacerbated tensions and contributed to the breakdown of law and order.

Furthermore, on January 23, false narratives perpetuated by MLA Geeta Bharat Jain regarding barricades purportedly erected by Muslims and discriminatory practices against Hindus only served to inflame communal tensions. Her misleading remarks and baseless assertions during interviews with media outlets, wherein she falsely alleged that Muslims were demanding “10-15 minutes (freehand),” only added fuel to the fire. Moreover, her statement claiming, “We are greater in numbers, if they need 10-15 minutes, we only need 5 minutes which will be good enough for them,” lacks any substantiation and further aggravates the situation.

Following her hate speech, on the next day, January 24, mobs on bikes with saffron flags went on a spree and vandalised shops of Muslim establishments. She demanded that the barricades, which were put up by the police administration to ensure law and order, be removed.

It is deeply troubling that despite arrests made in connection with the initial altercation on January 21st, no substantive action has been taken against those responsible for subsequent acts of violence and vandalism on January 22 and 24. The individuals behind these reprehensible acts, including MLA Geeta Jain and MLA Nitesh Rane, must be held accountable for their role in inciting communal strife and perpetuating hate speech.

The complaint demands that the police must:

1. Conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents of violence and vandalism on January 22 and 24 and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
2. Initiate legal proceedings against MLA Geeta Jain and MLA Nitesh Rane under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including but not limited to:

• Section 153A: Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony.
• Section 295A: Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.
• Section 505: Making, publishing, or circulating any statement, rumour, or report with intent to incite, or which is likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community.
• Section 427: Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees or upwards.
• Section 186: Obstructing public servants in discharge of public functions.

Provide reassurance to the residents of our community that their safety and security are paramount and that measures are being taken to prevent further incidents of communal tension and lawlessness.

Finally drawing a distinction between free speech and hate speech, residents of Mira Road have quoted substantively from several judgements of the Supreme Court of India on the issue, including recent directives to ensure that guilty politicians are prosecuted.

The entire complaint may be read here:

Date : February 3, 2024

To,

Senior PI, Nayanagar Police Station, Vilas Supe

CC: Commissioner of Police
Mira-Bhayandar Vasai Virar

Subject: Urgent Demand for FIR against MLA Geeta Jain and MLA Nitesh Rane

Respected Sir,

We write to you with great concern regarding the distressing series of events that have recently unfolded in our city, particularly the concerning incidents of communal tension and lawlessness that occurred on January 21, 22, and 24. It is imperative that immediate action is taken to address the root cause of these events and ensure justice for the affected community.

On January 21, 2024 an altercation between two groups escalated into a situation of heightened communal tensions, resulting in vehicular damage and minor injuries. While the prompt response of the police administration in barricading and sealing off the affected area was commendable, it proved insufficient in quelling the subsequent wave of violence and unrest.

Subsequently, on January 22, motorcycles adorned with saffron flags converged upon Naya Nagar, Mira Road, with the intent to incite fear and inflict harm upon local residents. Despite efforts by law enforcement to contain the situation, instances of vandalism and violence persisted, as evidenced by reported vehicular damage and other acts of aggression. The dissemination of hate speech and incendiary rhetoric by elected representatives, notably MLA Geeta Jain, further exacerbated tensions and contributed to the breakdown of law and order.

Furthermore, on January 23, false narratives perpetuated by MLA Geeta Bharat Jain regarding barricades purportedly erected by Muslims and discriminatory practices against Hindus only served to inflame communal tensions. Her misleading remarks and baseless assertions during interviews with media outlets, wherein she falsely alleged that Muslims were demanding “10-15 minutes (freehand),” only added fuel to the fire. Moreover, her statement claiming, “We are greater in numbers, if they need 10-15 minutes, we only need 5 minutes which will be good enough for them,” lacks any substantiation and further aggravates the situation.

Following her hate speech, on the next day, January 24, mobs on bikes with saffron flags went on a spree and vandalised shops of Muslim establishments. She demanded that the barricades, which were put up by the police administration to ensure law and order, be removed.

It is deeply troubling that despite arrests made in connection with the initial altercation on January 21st, no substantive action has been taken against those responsible for subsequent acts of violence and vandalism on January 22 and 24. The individuals behind these reprehensible acts, including MLA Geeta Jain and MLA Nitesh Rane, must be held accountable for their role in inciting communal strife and perpetuating hate speech.

Therefore, we urge you to take immediate action to address the following demands:

1. Conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents of violence and vandalism on January 22 and 24 and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
2. Initiate legal proceedings against MLA Geeta Jain and MLA Nitesh Rane under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including but not limited to:

• Section 153A: Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony.
• Section 295A: Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.
• Section 505: Making, publishing, or circulating any statement, rumour, or report with intent to incite, or which is likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community.
• Section 427: Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees or upwards.
• Section 186: Obstructing public servants in discharge of public functions.

Provide reassurance to the residents of our community that their safety and security are paramount and that measures are being taken to prevent further incidents of communal tension and lawlessness.

Sir you must be aware of recent judgements and jurisprudence from the Honourable Supreme Court that clearly distinguish between hate speech and free speech.

Free Speech is not Hate Speech, Sir as the latter (Hate Speech) often misuses positions of power and privilege to further marginalise and stigmatise a section that is structurally, socially and politically disadvantaged. Unchecked proliferation of such telecasts by the electronic media have the deleterious impact of misinforming and prejudicing public discourse, often as a precursor to social ostracization and even violence.

Honourable Supreme Court on Hate Speech:

1. In the case of Amish Devgan vs. Union of India and others [Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 160 OF 2020 decided on December 7, 2020], the Supreme Court held thus,

“The unity and integrity of the nation cannot be overlooked and slighted, as the acts that ‘promote’ or are ‘likely’ to ‘promote’ divisiveness, alienation and schematism do directly and indirectly impinge on the diversity and pluralism, and when they are with the objective and intent to cause public disorder or to demean dignity of the targeted groups, they have to be dealt with as per law….Such threats not only insidiously weaken virtue and superiority of diversity, but cut-back and lead to demands depending on the context and occasion, for suppression of freedom to express and speak on the ground of reasonableness. Freedom and rights cannot extend to create public disorder or armour those who challenge integrity and unity of the country or promote and incite violence.”

“In this context, it is necessary to draw a distinction between ‘free speech’ which includes the right to comment, favour or criticise government policies; and ‘hate 10 speech’ creating or spreading hatred against a targeted community or group….The object of criminalising the latter type of speech is to protect the dignity (as explained above) and to ensure political and social equality between different identities and groups regardless of caste, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, linguistic preference etc.” (Para 54)

1. In Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan v. Union of India (writ petition (c) no. 157 of 2013) decided on March 12, 2014, (Para 7), the Supreme Court had unambiguously stated:

Hate speech is an effort to marginalise individuals based on their membership in a group. Using expression that exposes the group to hatred, hate speech seeks to delegitimise group members in the eyes of the majority, reducing their social standing and acceptance within society. Hate speech, therefore, rises beyond causing distress to individual group members. It can have a societal impact. Hate speech lays the groundwork for later, broad attacks on vulnerable that can range from discrimination, to ostracism, segregation, deportation, violence and, in the most extreme cases, to genocide. Hate speech also impacts a protected group’s ability to respond to the substantive ideas under debate, thereby placing a serious barrier to their full participation in our democracy. (Para 7)

• The Law Commission Report, 2017 stated that “hate speech has the potential of provoking individuals or society to commit acts of terrorism, genocides, ethnic cleansing etc. Such speech is considered outside the realm of protective discourse. Indisputably, offensive speech has real and devastating effects on people’s lives and risks their health and safety. It is harmful and divisive for communities and hampers social progress. If left unchecked hate speech can severely affect right to life of every individual.” (Chapter VI, Para 6.5)

1. In the Sudarshan News case (Firoz Iqbal Khan v UOI – WP[CIV] NO. 956/2020]), the Supreme Court had observed that, “the edifice of a democratic society committed to the rule of law under a regime of constitutional rights, values and duties is founded on the co-existence of communities. India is a melting pot of civilizations, cultures, religions and languages. Any attempt to vilify a religious community must be viewed with grave disfavour by this Court as the custodian of constitutional values constitutional values demands nothing less.”

We would be happy to provide these Orders to you if so required/needed.

We trust that you will give due consideration to these urgent matters and take appropriate action to uphold the rule of law and ensure the well-being of our community. Thank you for your attention to this pressing issue.

Sincerely,

1. Sadique Basha
2. ⁠Adv. Sanjay Pande
3. ⁠Sukhdev Banbanci
4. ⁠Saboor Ansari
5. Alim Shaikh
6. Ahesan ISAF
7. Chand Shaikh
8. ⁠Jhulmi Ram Yadav
9. ⁠Vinod Chand
10. ⁠Saroja Rajeshwari

The post Conduct Fair Inquiry, take action against MLAs Geeta Jain and Nitesh Rane: Citizens of Mira Road-Bhayandar appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In light of these events, on Mid-Day reported on January 29th that the Panvel police have taken out precautionary steps to address concerns about a potential visit by Nitesh Rane to Kachhi Mohalla, in light of his recent speeches. Three people had been injured out of communally charged incidents last week at the area. An officer has stated, according to a report by Mid-Day, “There are discussions that Rane might visit Panvel. So, we have contacted MBVV police and learned how to prevent the large convoy from disappearing in lanes and rampaging in Panvel, where the situation is under control. We will take all measures to uphold peace and will not allow any politicians to disturb communal harmony for political benefit.” 

This is not without precedent. In a recent incident, Rane had visited Mira Road accompanied by a sizable crowd. Mid-Day’s report states that there were goons in this crowd that emerged to harass the people. Last week, Rane had posted a seemingly incendiary post on X, where part of his post had stated, “Chun chun ke marenge !!! Jai Shri Ram.”  

He has also recently given a speech which has spread across the internet. He can be reportedly seen saying that the government is ‘with’ them as long as ‘boss’ is in the ‘bunglow.’

“Do anything you want (trouble Muslims) and if police come your way, just call me for help, I’ll assure your safety. Police won’t do anything to me because our boss is sitting at ‘Sagar’ bunglow.  If any officers come your way don’t forget to give him or her a tight slap. You don’t need to worry about anything, we’re with you. The government is with you.”

पोलीस माझं काहीही वाकडं करु शकणार नाहीत. आपला बॅास बसलाय सागर बंगल्यावर ( गृहमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांचं निवासस्थान ) काहीही होत नाही आपल्या लोकांना… नितेश राणेंचं पोलीसांसमोर वादग्रस्त वक्तव्य. #NiteshRane #MaharashtraPolitics pic.twitter.com/AR8SqWZFhc

— Abhijit Karande (@AbhijitKaran25) January 28, 2024

Sabrang India spoke to citizen on ground, Sadique Basha, who has stated that the situation on ground is normal now. Basha was also one of the organisers of a peace petition last week which reached over 2000 signatories. He has also shared that on January 29th there is going to a public session of reading the Preamble as a means of bringing back normalcy and harmony in the area. 

In other news, news of 19 people, including 4 minors, have been arrested by the authorities on charges related to rioting and the sharing of provocative content across social media platforms had arrived last week. These people were produced in Thane Court. A report by Siasat News stated that no Hindus have been arrested, leading to the conclusion that all those prosecuted remain to be Muslims. The Indian Express had earlier reported that the Mumbai police had accepted the complaint of the Muslim residents of Mira Road after great negotiation, however, no arrests so far have been made on the basis of that complaint. Furthermore, reports have emerged online that the arrested Muslim youth were allegedly beaten in custody and even denied food and treated cruelly. 

Sabrang India tried reaching out to authorities, however, they could not be reached despite several calls.  

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Payment denied for hiring a Muslim server: Tide of hatred against India’s Muslims continues

The post Mira Road: Muslim youth allegedly beaten in custody, denied food as Nitesh Rane tells supporters, “The Government is with you.” appeared first on SabrangIndia.

A report by The Quint reveals that the security arrangements are still strongly at place, with over 1,000 police officers deployed in the area. This includes six platoons from the State Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and three platoons from the Rapid Action Force (RAF). Authorities had earlier issued stern warnings to administrators of various groups, warning them against the sharing of incendiary posts on social media networks.

Reports had earlier emerged that BJP MLAs Nitesh Rane and Geeta Jain were making attempts that could lead to escalation of tensions at the Mira Road area. Since security had been amped at the place, the two leaders had made attempts to enter the area, with Jain even having stated an ultimatum to the authorities if the rally were not allowed to pass through the area, they would come without permission. Nitesh Rane too had posted on X a tweet which reportedly talked of violence.

However, as the week unfolded law and order, it seems, has taken due course.  Further, according to the Free Press Journal, a meeting of all parties and police officials along with the district authorities had taken place in Mira Road. Representatives of both print and electronic were also present for this attempt at a peace-making gathering on January 25. This  gathering was held behind closed doors and sought to devise a  strategy for reinstating normalcy following the recent clashes at Mira Road. Some of the figures in attendance included local legislators Pratap Sarnaik, former legislators Narendra Mehta, Muzaffar Hussain, Police Commissioner Madhukar Pandey, Civic Chief Sanjay Katkar, and local MNS and RPI chiefs Sandip Rane and Devendra Shelekar. The meeting also reportedly included BJP’s local MLA Geeta Jain.

However, along with this, several citizens and political leaders have been taking steps to ensure that communal harmony is set at a balance. The National Congress Party’s (NCP) MP Jitendra Awhad spoke  on the recent incidents and urged for peace, “I request that both the communities should stay calm; everyone suffers. Those who spark the fire (of hatred) stay somewhere else in bungalows and apartments. Their houses are not burnt, houses of poor people are burnt.”

Similarly, Ranvir Bajpai a BJP spokesperson and activist who is reportedly also resident of Mira Bhayandar also released a video of himself online in which he is seen urging people from both religious communities to maintain caution and stay away from rumours,  and is seen requesting the people of both the communities to maintain peace in Mumbai’s Mira Road.

Similarly, more stories to bring about communal harmony sprung up as a report by a media portal called City Headline was featured on a page called Hate Detectors on the social media site X. It brings to us visuals of a very old temple dedicated to the deity Ganesh which is situated in the Mira-Bhayandar area. The temple caretaker named Inderjeet says that Muslims come and clean the temple and he has been peacefully carrying out his duties without any fear. Another staff member working at the temple for 20 years says that he has never felt afraid while working at the temple contrary to what many right-wingers claim on social media, “If I had felt unsafe, would I have worked here for 20 years?” He asks. Another individual, named Suraj Kannojia stated that he had been working there for 15 years however he has never encountered any incident where he felt afraid in the temple.

Politicians have also called out “hypocritical” behaviour of political parties and the attempt to sway youth. Ram Kankonkar, a TMC politician from Goa, spoke out on the heavy polarisation taking place at the hands of Hindutva parties. He presented a Bahujan perspective, and points out to what he calls the hypocrisy of the ruling powers and their monopoly over the Hindu religion, “I’m telling you one thing, in the name of the Hindu dharma you can’t fool people (I am also a Hindu). I am a proud Hindu but today this “natak” (drama) you are breaking statues. Hinduism runs in my veins but I am not like you. You are only using Ramas name for elections. Just for this and nothing else.” He addressed the youth who are involved in violent rallies, “You are who are roaming the streets shouting (loudly).  you are spoiling god’s name. We don’t do that, we don’t shout “Jai Shree Ram”.” He states that the BJP is spoiling our god’s name, and asks where Ram has said that we must incite violence?

“We will not stand for this. Christians, Hindus, Muslims live together, and we like living together. Your politics is of divide and rule, why not focus on unemployment, petrol prices, education, fatal accidents and increase in crimes? But instead all you are doing is using Ram’s name. Does Lord Ram sit for elections? Shouting this on the streets doesn’t make us Hindus. Ram is in our hearts always, do the work like lord Ram did.  I feel this is a complete collapse of democracy. God must be worried because of your behaviour. Today we have to build love more than hate. The immediate need is for us to educate ourselves. I want to tell our Bahujan Samaj, all of you who are sitting at home, for what are you being used?”

He addressed the people of the Bahujan Samaj, “Our children are made to fight and cases are lodged against us while their children study abroad. BJPs agents are measuring  Bahujan Samaj people. I am telling you clearly, they are using you in the name of religion. Post elections they will forget about you.”

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The post Maharashtra leaders call for peace amidst Mira Road violence appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Sabrang India spoke to Sadique Basha, an activist on the ground, who have been trying to bring about peace in the area, and they have stated that the situation is normal now, relatively speaking. Their attempts at diffusing tensions and rallying for harmony have garnered more attention. Certain citizens have also created a petition urging for harmony and peace. As of now it has gotten over 2000 signatures.

Furthermore, a report by The Wire claims that people who went to file FIRs from the Muslim community found the police refusing to file FIRs despite the production of relevant evidence. Locals, according to the report by Wire, have claimed that the incident was a well-planned incident and also claim that the police failed to stop the attacks. A report by the Indian Express reveals that people believe there was an inadequate presence of police in “sensitive areas.” Furthermore, a senior police officer told Indian Express, the police had been prepared to deploy heavy security in Muslim-populated areas, however, he has also said, “We anticipated it but missed deploying heavy security in the area. Intensifying patrolling in the area may have prevented the first incident and it’s further snowballing.”

BJP MLAs, Nitesh Rane and Geeta Jain, both have been accused of stoking communal fires as they have been persistently demanding the police commissioner to allow them to hold a rally through the conflicted area. Rane has made incendiary posts on X, by making the statement “chun-chun ke marenge,” and Jain had released a video statement urging the administration to grant her five minutes of freehand and had given an ultimatum to the police that if they did not open the gates of the colony for their rally, they would come back with a crowd and rally without permission.

मीरा रोड मद्ये जे काल रात्री झाल..

एक याद रखना..

चुन चुन के मारेंगे !!!

जय श्री राम

— nitesh rane (@NiteshNRane) January 22, 2024

Journalist Nikhil Wagle has claimed today that the situation in Mira Road continues to remain “tense.” He has also urged the police to arrest MLA Geeta Jain for allegedly inciting riots. As of now, there are no reports of any FIR being registered against either Jain or Rane.

Mira road is still tense. Arrest BJP MLA Geeta Jain for instigating riots. @mieknathshinde @Dev_Fadnavis @DGPMaharashtra @CMOMaharashtra @PawarSpeaks @OfficeofUT

— nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) January 25, 2024

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The post Mira Road remains tense after violence outbreak appeared first on SabrangIndia.

What happened at Mira Road?

On the night of January 21st, tensions ran high between two groups as a group which consisted of more than 50 people pelted stones and vandalised four cars and 10 motorbikes adorned with “Jai Shri Ram” flags near Hyderi Chowk. This reportedly took place after a rally of bikers went through the neighbourhood shouting religious slogans.

On January 22^nd, evening, people reportedly affiliated with Hindutva groups targeted a couple of parked auto rickshaws in the area, resorting to stone-pelting, as reported by the police. In light of these events, security measures were heightened at Mira Road station on Tuesday, and were accompanied by a police march in and around Naya Nagar. The Bajrang Dal had voiced slogans outside the railway station on Tuesday evening, only to be dispersed by law enforcement. This rally was reportedly live streamed by the participants. Maktoob Media posted a video where a group of people can be seen vandalising an auto rickshaw and beating a young man in a truck after forcing him to come out. Maktoob Media further spoke to the father of a young man who was forced to come out of the truck, Abdul Haqq Chaudhary who said that the mob was planning to burn the truck with the people inside as well which is why his son was forced to come out. All three who were in the truck, according to Chaudhury, have been grievously injured.

Following the episode of stone-pelting in Mumbai’s Mira Road, the Mira Bhayander Vasai Virar police issued a directive to administrators of groups to not let inciteful forwards, jokes, or videos related to the recent clashes be shared on social media platforms in order to maintain communal harmony. The police explicitly instructed that administrators of such groups would be held accountable and face repercussions if found violating this directive.

Similarly, Indian Express reported the Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took to the social media platform X on Monday stating his no-tolerance approach. He says he has urged the police to undertake the most stringent measures against those responsible for the violence that unfolded on January 21st. “Law and order is the highest priority and concern of the state government. There will be zero tolerance against anyone who tries to take the law into their own hands and attempts to disturb the law-and-order situation in Maharashtra.”

According to the Indian Express, subsequently, the police have arrested a total of 13 people on the following day, with nine of them being formally arrested while the remaining four have been identified as minors. The 15 people arrested face charges under Section 307, including serious offences such as attempt to murder.

However, according to police authorities as per Indian Express, approximately 13 FIRs have been filed after complaints filed by people involved in the incidents. According to the IE, four of these complaints are from the Muslim community. However, no arrests have been made in connection to these four FIRs. Following the initial incidents of violence, the Mira-Bhayander municipal corporation, under police protection, have also undertaken demolition of alleged illegal structures in the area which reports reveal belong to Muslims from which some were rented out to members of the Hindu community as well, according to a report in Scroll.

BJP MLAs’ ultimatums to the authorities

As tensions persisted in Mira Road, particularly in the Naya Nagar area, the area was reportedly fortified with police presence according to reports. Students did not attend schools and coaching centres. However, what was disturbing amidst this turmoil is the reported presence and constant urging by local BJP MLAs. For instance, BJP’s MLA Nitesh Rane attempted to enter Naya Nagar in the late evening, but was prevented from doing so by the authorities.

Sabrang India spoke to Sadiq Basha, a resident of the area and a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), “After the Naya Nagar incident on Day 1, the police have arrested 19 people. Another 40-50 people are slated to be arrested as the people are looking at CCTV cameras. The police are doing their job. However, local electoral representatives such as Geeta Jain and Nitish Rane are doing the opposite. They took out a rally yesterday to remove the barricades. They are trying to spoil the environment, despite taking an oath in the constitution to uphold communal harmony, they are making attempts to spoil it. They are urging the police to tell the (police) commissioner to remove the barricade, they want rallies to pass through the area again and want to intimidate the minorities.”

Sadiq notes how he and some citizen-activists and artists are preparing to take legal action in order to prevent further violence. “We, as citizens, are planning to take legal action in order to prevent the situation from getting worse and prevent the representatives from spoiling the environment. People are being intimidated by elected representatives. Tensions are high. However, as of now, further violence is not happening, because the police have done a commendable job.”

In a video shared by Geeta Jain’s X account, she can be seen speaking to ANI, saying why are people being asked to show their Aadhar card to cross the (Mira-Bhayandar) area. She further stated that Nitesh (Rana) has also stated that if the barricades are not removed in the next 24 hours, then they will come again and remove it themselves. Geeta Jain is an MLA from the Mira-Bhayandar constituency. She and Nitesh Rane have both been observed to have engaged in rousing communal sentiments in Maharashtra in the past year.

बस अब और नहीं चलेगा…! #जयश्रीराम #miraroad #bjp #india #BJPIndia #bjpmaharashtra #DevendraFadnavis #MiraRoad #connectgeeta #MiraRoadriot #miraroad pic.twitter.com/G5gcOhyDKB

— Geeta Bharat Jain (@MLAgeetajain) January 23, 2024

Furthermore, Nitesh Rana, a BJP MLA for the Kankavil constituency in Maharashtra further posted on X a seemingly incendiary tweet, talking about beating people and picking them ‘one by one.’

“मीरा रोड मद्ये जे काल रात्री झाल..

एक याद रखना..

चुन चुन के मारेंगे !!!

जय श्री राम “

मीरा रोड मद्ये जे काल रात्री झाल..

एक याद रखना..

चुन चुन के मारेंगे !!!

जय श्री राम

— nitesh rane (@NiteshNRane) January 22, 2024

It was noted by journalist Rana Ayyub that this tweet by Rane had several people commenting and urging for the implementation of “bulldozer action”, and as noted, after this tweet demolitions took place at the Mira Road area.

The responses to this tweet ask for bulldozer action against Muslims, some ask for 92 to be repeated. Few hours later bulldozer runs in Mira road. pic.twitter.com/EzCn85Amde

— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) January 24, 2024

Coordinated online hate

The BJP IT Cell seems to be on a roll. Social media site, X, saw Mira Road trending nationally. By looking through the posts that featured in this trend, many online users of X can be seen endorsing the violence against Muslims. Many were seen justifying it and saying that this was only a matter of time as they shared several videos of the mob vandalising private property.

One account by a man named Manoj Tiwari, who has written sports journalist in his bio, wrote the following tweet. This tweet was incidentally eerily identical with another tweet posted by another account.

“Maratha’s teaching peace to peacefuls since 6th June 1674.Now watch retaliation by Hindus against riots in #MiraRoad (मीरा रोड), Thane, Mumbai.”

Maratha’s teaching peace to peacefuls since 6th June 1674.

Now watch retaliation by Hindus against riots in #MiraRoad (मीरा रोड), Thane, Mumbai.

pic.twitter.com/NrkuqP6smm

— Manoj Tiwari (@ManojTiwariIND) January 24, 2024

Another tweet, that was just as identical as the one above, was posted by an account with a woman’s display photo that goes by the name Prarambhi. The account has about 13000 followers.

“Maratha’s teaching peace to peacefuls since 6th June 1674. Now watch retaliation by Hindus against riots in #MiraRoad (मीरा रोड), Thane, Mumbai.”

Maratha’s teaching peace to peacefuls since 6th June 1674.

Now watch retaliation by Hindus against riots in #MiraRoad (मीरा रोड), Thane, Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/4n7O1n0vfe

— Prarambhi (@HBPrar) January 24, 2024

Another account by a man named Deepak Sharma, with over 37,000 followers tweeted the following, seemingly alluding to the residents of Mira Road being “Jihadis” with “heat”, “मीरा रोड मुंबई के जिहादियों में ज़्यादा गर्मी थी.”

Furthermore, there were several posts re-sharing Geeta Jain’s video statement. Many were asking, like the one below, whether India was still a majority Hindu nation.

This is BHARAT NOT PAKISTAN

It seems they are running their our own country as ” Mini Pakistan”

Barricading has been done , in whole locality entry allowed only by Aadhar Card,

Are we still a Hindu Majority Nation ?? #Miraroad #MiraRoadriot मीरा रोड pic.twitter.com/EHqnOj66or

— NAVEEN JAGLAN (@Dr_NvnJaglan) January 23, 2024

According to Times Now, in the aftermath of the communal clashes in Naya Nagar, Mira Road, on January 23rd, Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik met with the Mira Road Commissioner and reportedly issued an ultimatum where Sarnaik called for the immediate arrest of all people accused of involvement in the recent violence. He issued a warning, stating that if the accused are not arrested within the next 48 hours, Mira Road will witness a complete shutdown on January 25. Sarnaik said that the Mira-Bhayandar area is known as “mini-India” and an incident like this has never happened before. The Times of India has reported that community leaders and local politicians, such as Haji Babu (from the Shiv Sena Shinde faction) have been trying to maintain peace in the area and prevent tensions from escalating. Sabrang India tried reaching out to authorities handling the case. However, they could not be reached despite several calls.

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The post Tensions high at Mumbai’s Mira Road as local BJP MLAs give ultimatum to police appeared first on SabrangIndia.