The complaint brings together incidents from diverse regions to highlight a recurring pattern rather than isolated excesses. CJP has emphasised that these acts, frequently recorded and circulated on social media, operate as public demonstrations of intimidation that erode constitutional guarantees of equality, dignity, and religious freedom.

Vigilantism and physical violence

One major cluster of incidents documented in the complaint concerns vigilante violence carried out in the name of cow protection, moral policing, or religious assertion. These include assaults on cattle transporters, attacks on vendors selling non-vegetarian food, and instances where individuals were beaten or publicly humiliated while being forced to chant religious slogans. In several cases, the violence was carried out in public spaces and filmed by the perpetrators themselves. Despite the visibility of these acts, information regarding prompt police action against those responsible was often unavailable or unclear at the time of reporting.

Economic intimidation and livelihood disruption

The complaint also highlights repeated instances of economic harassment targeting minority livelihoods. Muslim shopkeepers, street vendors, and contractors were confronted at their places of work, accused of religious or ideological wrongdoing, and pressured to shut down businesses or comply with identity-based demands. Such actions, undertaken without any lawful authority, effectively imposed informal economic boycotts and restrictions on the right to carry on trade, raising concerns about the unequal access to public spaces and livelihoods.

Raids on prayer meetings and religious disruption

Another set of incidents detailed in the complaint involves the disruption of Christian prayer meetings held in private homes and community spaces. Organised groups entered prayer gatherings alleging unlawful religious conversions, leading to intimidation, physical violence, and the destruction of religious texts. In some cases, police action followed complaints made by these groups, resulting in questioning or detention of worshippers rather than action against those who initiated the disruption. CJP has pointed out that such incidents reflect a pattern of interference with the peaceful practice of religion, accompanied by selective enforcement of law.

Identity policing and forced compliance

The complaint further records incidents of coercive identity policing, including demands for documentation, accusations of being “illegal” or “foreign,” and the forced chanting of religious slogans. Elderly individuals, clerics, migrant workers, and vendors were stopped in public spaces and subjected to threats or humiliation when they refused to comply. CJP has noted that these acts function as mechanisms of public intimidation, reinforcing exclusion and fear among targeted communities.

Evictions, demolitions, and state-led actions

In addition to vigilante actions by private actors, the complaint draws attention to large-scale eviction and demolition drives carried out by state authorities that disproportionately affected Muslim communities. While these actions were officially justified on grounds such as encroachment or administrative necessity, the scale of displacement, the manner of execution, and the absence of adequate rehabilitation measures raise serious concerns regarding due process, proportionality, and the protection of vulnerable populations.

What the complaint underscores

In the complaint submitted to the NCM, CJP has underscored that the situation reflected in these incidents is neither episodic nor accidental. As the complaint states:

“The incidents documented herein, when viewed cumulatively, disclose a disturbing and recurring pattern in which private individuals and organised groups assume the role of self-appointed enforcers of law, identity, and morality. These actions, ranging from physical violence and public humiliation to economic coercion, religious disruption, and large-scale displacement, have frequently unfolded in the absence of timely or impartial state intervention. Such patterns risk normalising vigilantism, eroding constitutional guarantees, and fostering an environment of fear and exclusion for minority communities.”

CJP has further pointed out that in several instances, police action appeared to follow pressure or complaints from vigilante groups, while unlawful acts by private actors went unaddressed. This, the complaint argues, not only emboldens vigilante behaviour but also undermines public confidence in the impartial application of law.

What CJP has urged the NCM to do

Through its complaint, CJP has urged the National Commission for Minorities to take cognisance of the pattern emerging from these incidents and to exercise its statutory mandate to seek accountability from state authorities. The complaint calls for the Commission to seek detailed action-taken reports from concerned state governments and district administrations, particularly with regard to the registration of FIRs, investigations conducted, and steps taken to prevent further incidents.

CJP has also urged the Commission to emphasise the obligation of states to ensure impartial enforcement of criminal law, so that victims are not criminalised following vigilante complaints while perpetrators evade accountability. The complaint seeks directions to prevent economic intimidation, protect the right to peaceful religious practice, and ensure that eviction and demolition drives comply with due process and provide adequate rehabilitation.

Reiterating that the complaint is not directed against any religion or community, CJP has stated that its concern lies with the misuse of public platforms, private coercion, and state inaction that threaten constitutional values, communal harmony, and the rule of law. The organisation has urged the NCM to intervene to prevent further normalisation of such conduct and to safeguard the rights of minority communities across the country.

The complaint may be read here:

(The legal research team of CJP consists of lawyers and interns; this resource has been worked on by Risha Fathima)

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CJP calls for action by NCM against hate speeches at Dharam Sansad and Trishul Deekha events, files 2 complaints

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CJP complains to NCM over Uttarakhand Muslim exodus; seeks urgent action

CJP moves NCM against Shiladitya Dev for targeting the ‘Miya Muslim’ community of Assam

The post CJP moves National Commission for Minorities over vigilante violence, identity policing, and targeted evictions across states appeared first on SabrangIndia.

These events have seen the propagation of hate speech targeting minority communities, particularly Muslims and Christians, with calls for violence, economic boycotts, and the promotion of harmful conspiracies. The CJP’s complaints underscore the critical need for urgent action from the NCM and other authorities to curb the spread of such rhetoric and ensure the protection of vulnerable communities. As the situation escalates, it is increasingly evident that there is a pressing need to reaffirm India’s commitment to secularism, social harmony, and the safeguarding of minority rights.

Complaint over hate speech at Trishul Deeksha events

On January 29, CJP had filed a formal complaint with the NCM, raising alarm over a series of Trishul Deeksha events held in December 2024 across Punjab, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Organised by far-right groups such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal, and Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP), these gatherings featured openly inflammatory rhetoric, hate speech, and mobilisation against minority communities, particularly Muslims and Christians.

The complaint details multiple instances where speakers at these events propagated divisive narratives, including baseless conspiracies like ‘love jihad’ and ‘land jihad,’ while calling for economic boycotts and vigilantism. At a Delhi event, senior VHP leaders declared their intent to “liberate” religious sites such as the Gyanvapi and Shahi Idgah mosques, while also targeting Ajmer Sharif Dargah, a revered Sufi shrine. In Himachal Pradesh, hate-filled speeches likened Muslims to “monsters” and falsely accused them of contaminating food, stoking economic and social discrimination. In Rajasthan’s Sirohi district, an event saw explicit calls for violence, with one leader urging attendees to “pick up weapons and be ready for war.”

Of particular concern is the complicity of law enforcement, as highlighted by a uniformed police officer in Sirohi who publicly participated in a Trishul Deeksha procession alongside far-right leaders. This raises serious questions about institutional bias and the failure of authorities to act against hate speech.

CJP has urged the NCM to take immediate cognisance of these incidents, investigate the organisers and speakers, and ensure legal and administrative action against those responsible for spreading hate and inciting violence. The organisation has emphasised the need for proactive measures to prevent the further normalisation of communal rhetoric, safeguard minority rights, and uphold India’s constitutional commitment to secularism and social harmony.

The complaint may be read here.

Complaint against hate speeches at ‘Dharma Sansad’ events

On January 22, CJP filed a complaint with the NCM regarding a series of hate speeches delivered at ‘Dharma Sansad’ events on December 20, 2024, led by Yati Narsinghanand and other right-wing figures. Despite being denied permission to hold the event in Haridwar, the gathering proceeded at another location, where inflammatory and violent rhetoric was once again espoused, targeting Muslims and calling for a Hindu-only nation. The speeches at the event included derogatory language and explicit calls for physical violence against Muslims, promoting a vision of a society devoid of religious diversity.

Narsinghanand, a known figure for his controversial views, reiterated his demand for a “Hindu Rashtra” and expressed a vision of a society with no room for Muslims, mosques, or madrasas. He also issued veiled threats against political leaders, further stoking communal tensions. Other speakers, including Kalicharan Maharaj and Shrimahant Raju Das, echoed similar sentiments, accusing Muslims of destroying Hindu temples and calling for violent action against them. The event also featured a monk who advocated for armed self-defence against Muslims and secular Hindus, calling for the prevention of Azaan and Muslim events in mosques.

These speeches have a grave impact on social harmony, further polarising communities and fostering an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among minorities. The hateful language used during the event has emboldened those with similar views, contributing to the rising tide of religious intolerance and making it more difficult to achieve peaceful coexistence. The impunity with which these individuals have acted and the lack of strong legal action against them has only worsened the situation, with social media platforms becoming breeding grounds for such harmful narratives.

In the complaint, CJP calls on the NCM to take urgent action, including initiating investigations, ensuring FIRs are registered against those responsible for inciting hate speech, and holding them accountable under relevant Indian laws. The complaint also urges the Commission to monitor the progress of investigations, compel authorities to take action, and issue further directives to prevent the spread of such dangerous rhetoric. This intervention is vital to safeguard the secular fabric of India and uphold the rights of religious minorities, preventing further escalation of communal violence.

The complaint may be read here:

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The post CJP demands NCM action on hate speeches at Dharma Sansad and Trishul Deeksha events, files two complaints 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:

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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.

The said complaint highlighted that a Hindutva organisation, namely the Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan, had published posters –prominently displayed–demanding that Muslims in the area flee their residences on threat of violence. This organisation was then joined by local community leaders like Swami Darshan Bharti and Rakesh Uttarakhandi, who also called for the forced eviction of Muslims while delivering strident hate-speeches against the community.

The complaint analysed the events leading to the exodus, the hate speeches, threats of violence boycott and abuse, led to the deterioration of communal harmony in the area and listed the sections of the criminal law and Constitution that stand violated. Following directives by the National Commission of Minorities (NCM) on the said complaint, an action taken report was sought from the superintendent of police, Uttarkashi.

The inception: In its reply, the police began by providing information that that the matter began with a case being lodged by the father of a minor Hindu girl in the Purola police station. In the complaint, it was alleged that two men, namely Uvaid Khan and Jitendra Sainihad, had kidnapped his daughter on the pretext of marriage.

The FIR had been lodged on May 26, 2023. The police had invoked sections 363 and 366A of the Indian Penal Code as well as section 16/17 of POCSO Act against Uvaid Khan and Jitendra Saini. The accused were also presented before the court and were sent to judicial custody. On June 10, after completion of the investigation, a charge sheet had been filed.

Communal disharmony: The report by the police further provided that since “the matter was inter-religious, local people/Hindu(tva) organisations, became enraged, took out a rally in Purola area and boycotted people of a religion.” Notably, the said rally was taken out on May 29, 2023, as provided in the CJP complaint to the NCM. On this, the police action taken reports states that, on the same day, “police PAC forces were deployed under the leadership of Badkot area officer and Badkot traffic area officer to ensure safety of people of a particular community and maintain law and order situation and a flag march was organised.” The CJP complaint,  based on substantiated media reports, had stated that the rally had turned violent, with mob violence against homes and shops belonging to the minority community in the area. Reportedly, the District General Secretary of ruling party, Prakash Kumar Dabral, had made anti-minority statements and said, “We will not let them do business here, will not let them open shops. Then they will leave on their own.”

The ATR from the Uttarakhand police had provided that in connection with the May 29, 2023 incident, a case had been filed at Purola Police station on June 15 under sections 147/149/427 of the IPC, against 100-150 unknown persons. This matter is still being investigated.

Posters targeting minorities: Among the worst aspects of the targeted violence was the stigmatised marking of Muslim homes with an ‘X’ symbol, a development that had found widespread condemnation. The police stated that that “some unknown persons/anti-social elements pasted posters on the shutters of shops belonging to Muslims.”

The ATR also stated that the objectionable posters that stated, “Love Jihadis are being informed that they should vacate their shops before the Mahapanchayat of June 15, if you do not follow will be dealt with time Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan” were also pasted by “unknown miscreants.” A case under IPC sections 153A/505/(1)(G)/506 had been lodged by them against unknown persons and is under investigation says the ATR.

The Mahapanchayat: A Mahapanchayat had been scheduled to be organised on June 15, which had been called by Hindu right-wing groups against alleged incidents of ‘love jihad’. The police ATR states that, “Due to the proposed Mahapanchayat in Purola on June 15, 2023, the undersigned, realising seriousness of the situation and to maintain law and order and communal harmony as well briefed his subordinates on regular basis and instructed them to keep an eye on situation and be alert and on June 15, 2023 necessary police forces were deployed. To maintain peace and law and order, deputy collector, Purola, passed an order to enforce section 144 in Purola police station area from June 14, 2023 to June 19, 2023 and the same was publicised via various mediums. On June 15, 2023 sufficient police PAC forces were deployed in the area under Purola police station to maintain law and order situation as well as for the safety of people of a particular religion in the wake of proposed Mahapanchayat by various organisations. Because of the efforts of district administration, police, the proposed Mahapanchayat could not happen and peace prevailed in Purola Kasba Bazar area.”

It is essential to highlight here that between the night of June 13 and June 14, an urgent petition by the Association for the Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) had been filed in the Supreme Court seeking urgent intervention to prohibit the proposed Mahapanchayat from taking place. By the morning of June 14, two other legal interventions in the form of letter petitions to the Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud were also sent by academics Apoorvanand and People’s Union for Civil Liberty. Notably, the Supreme Court had refused to entertain the said plea, but had allowed the petitioner to approach the High Court or any other authority. Notably, by it was only by 11.30 a.m. on June 14 that news of 144 being imposed in Purola and the proposed controversial Mahapanchayat being disallowed had become public.

Later, on June 15, the Chief Justice of Uttarkhand High Court, Vipin Sanghi, had heard the APCR petition moved against the Mahapanchayat and stated that it was the paramount duty of the State to ensure that law, order and peace is maintained and that there is no loss of life and property of any person in the state. The court had also the directed all respondents (state, police) to take whatever steps necessary to fulfil their Constitutional obligation to maintain law and order and protect the lives of all.

Lastly, the police ATR states that that since June 17, all the shops of people belonging to the minority religion in Purola Kasba Bazar opened peacefully. Furthermore, sufficient police forces had been deployed for the safety of people belonging to a particular religion and maintain communal harmony and law and order. The report further states “Presently, there is peace in Purola and anti-social elements are being monitored constantly by local police. The investigators in cases filed in the connection with the above matter have been given necessary instructions to legally proceed on merit.”

The complete reply of the police can be read here:

The complete complaint sent to the NCM can be read here:

Related:

One dead, over 8 injured after violence over alleged social media post in Maharashtra

Month after targeted violence, Muslim families return to Purola: Uttarakhand

Family of Purola minor denies religious motive, says it never was a ‘love jihad case’, Uttarakhand

Paramount duty of the State to ensure that law and order is maintained in all parts: Uttarakhand HC

Uttarakhand HC must stop the June 15 Mahapanchayat and assure protection to all citizens

SC orders petitioners to move HC on ‘Mahapanchayat’ immediately, also write to authorities: Uttarakhand Communal Tensions

Uttarkashi: Cross marks, “leave” threats on Muslim shops, hatred spreads to other towns: Uttarakhand

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The provocative speeches made at Delhi’s “Virat Hindu Sabha”, calling for aboycott of the Muslim community and even threatening violence,have been the subject matter of public debate, even outrage. The event, organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), was held in North East Delhion October 9, 2022and witnessedsome self-professed religious leaders and members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), espousing a hard, right-wing, exclusionist ideology delivering incendiary speeches that have the potential to incite hate and violence.

In order to ensure that a serious inquiry takes place in this matter, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has approached the National Commission of Minorities (NCM) to exercise its adjudicatory jurisdiction, initiate its own inquiry and monitor the police investigation as well. 

The most concerning fact about the impunity concerning the said instances of hate speech is that the Delhi Police have not taken any action against these perpetrators (till the time this complaint has been sent). As per news reports, and as mentioned in the complaint, an FIR that has been filed only under Section 188, that is, for lack of permission for holding the event. Some news reports suggest that the political leadership of the BJP has ‘admonished’ its leaders like Parvesh Verma for their role in delivering hate speeches.

CJP, in its complaint to the NCM, has detailed the hate speeches and call to targeted violence made by the following people:

• BJP MP Pravesh Sahib Singh Verma

• BJP MLA Nand Kishore Gurjar

• Religious leader Mahant Nawal Kishore Das

• Jagat Guru Yogeshwar Acharya

The complaint details excerpts of these speeches and has also shared with the NCM, the videos that were widely circulated on social media, which become proof that these speeches that were delivered. The complaint also details the various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Indian Arms Act that should be invoked in this case.

Videos of the speeches made at the event went viral on social media. In the present video, Verma can be seen and heard saying, “Jahan jahan yeh aaapkodikhaee de, maikehtahun, agar inkadimaagthikkarnahai… toh ek hi ilaajhai, wohhaisampurnabahishkar… Aap is baat se sehmat ho?” (If you want to set their minds right, if you want to cure them, there is only one solution – complete boycott.)

This is not the first time Verma has made comments targeted at Muslims. In January 2020, in the run up to Assembly Elections in Delhi, Parvesh Verma had in an interview to the news agency ANI, made disparaging remarks about the Muslim community in connection with the Shaheen Bagh protests. In the said speech, Verma had also openly threatened Shaheen Bagh protesters as he addressed a rally in Delhi. Parvesh Verma said if the BJP is voted to power in Delhi, it will only take an hour to ‘clear off protests in Shaheen Bagh’.

In another purported video that has been attached to the complaint, Nawal Kishore Das was heard saying that a knife fight cannot be fought with words. He said that Hindus have to take both Shastra (scriptures) and Shastra (weapons) together. He then suggested violence and asked the public to “get guns, get license. If you don’t get licenses, don’t worry. Those who come to kill you, do they have licenses? So why do you need a license?”

The complaint underscores how these statements “have now gone beyond being just hate speech and have become brazen calls for genocide and encouragement to pick up arms against the minority community.” The complaint further says, “Hate speech has not been dealt with an iron hand in the past few years and these makers of hate speech have not faced any serious legal action till date which has resultantly given them a free hand and has pushed them to make worse statements than they may have made before. The impunity with which they have been dealt with until now has made the social media a breeding ground for such public figures who have a wide audience who comment on their hate speeches, gets inspired by them and commit more illegal acts.”

The complaint urges NCM to take appropriate action saying, “The importance to act strictly and earnestly in this matter cannot be stressed upon enough and we are certain that you understand the magnitude of the situation. It poses a serious threat to the secular fabric of our country and need to be acted against at every instance so that it acts as a deterrent. If appropriate action is taken by this Commission, it will not only give a sense of security to the minority community but will also strengthen the values of fraternity, secularism that our Constitution upholds.”

The complaint may be read here:

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Concerned with the overall atmosphere being generated through the systematic and perpetrated use of hate speech in the country, CJP wrote to the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on June 7, 2022, bringing their attention to the brazen statements made by Swami Jitendranand Saraswati calling for the lynching of pregnant women and unborn babies in what seems to be a religious conclave at an unidentified location.

Here is the hate instigating video uploaded by him on his Youtube Channel called ‘Swami Jitendranand Saraswati Ji Maharaj’ dated 17.02.2022: 

The complaint highlights how Swami Jitendranand Swami in the hate speech video called “देशधर्मपरआघातहमचुपक्यूँहै” (Why is the country silent on the attack on religion?) on his Youtube channel says, “Aisa singhnad karo ki desh virodhi mahila ki kokhmein koi gauhatyara, koi rashtravirodhi pal raha ho to kokh phaadkar gir jaaye. (Translation: Roar like a lion, so that if there is a ‘cow killer’ or an anti-national, being nurtured in the womb of an anti-national woman, your slogans should result in the unborn baby falling out of the ripped open womb.)” In the video he invokes his fantasy of an ‘Akhand Bharat’ or undivided India, and claims, “Our forefathers have made a lot of mistakes and we are bearing the fall out… Afghanistan etc was all akhand bharat then it disintegrated and we were left with this small piece … and secularism.”

The complaint describes how he goes on to explain his supposed encounter with a Jewish woman at Mumbai Airport who allegedly confessed to him that she has come to seek refuge in India and claimed that her mother was gang raped until death while her 13 year old sister was sold for $2. Equating all people following Muslim religion with the Taliban, he says that these people are so cruel that I do not even have the words to describe. He claims that these people who marry and rape 2 year olds will enter your house also tomorrow. He warns the crowd that they are in danger and asks them to say, Ab humko bolna hai watan ki fikra kar naadaan, museebat aanewaali hai. Tere barbaadiyon ke mashware asmaano mai…. Naa samjhoge toh mit jaoge hindustaanwaalo…. Tumhaari dastaan tak nahi hogi daastano mai. Toh aap sabhi log jaagruk ho jaiye. Aap sabhi log khade ho jaiye dharma ke prati. Apna dharam sikhata hai ke maa ko maa maan. Dusro ke beti ko behen maan. Duniya mai ek stri ke alawa sab teri maa aur behen betiya hai. Lekin who kya sikha rahe hai? Chaar shaadiya karo, dusro ke patniyo ko loot lo, dusro ke betiyon ko cheen lo, dusro ke dharam ka ant kardo, dusro ke pooja karnewaali guy ko kaat ke fek do.(Translation: Now we have to worry about the country, trouble is about to come. Be aware. All of you should stand up for our religion. Our religion teaches that consider mother as mother, daughter of others as sister…. In the world except one woman, all mothers are your mother and other’s daughters are your sisters. But what are they teaching? Do four marriages, rob the wives of others, take the daughters of others, put an end to the religion of others, cut and throw away the cows worshiped by others.)

At the end of the speech he also claims to set a flag on fire and at the end of the video he expresses his wish to turn India into a ‘Hindu rashtra’ while seeking support from his viewers. The complaint then draws a link between Swami Saraswati and his close aid of Haridwar, hate offender and genocide monger ‘Yati Narsinghanand’ who got away when he gave genocide calls at the Dharma Sansad in Hardiwar, Uttarakhand in 2021.

The complaint informs the Commission that presently the matter is in the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and presses upon the fact that CJP’s experience with tracking hate demonstrates how this could have been contained if Yati Narsinghanand had been first acted upon, when in 2018 he started mis-using the social media (facebook etc) to threaten violence and urge the arming of ‘Hindu society.’

The complaint also brings to light that this is not the first time Swami Saraswati has engaged in such act of hurting religious sentiments of Muslims. Two months ago in March, he had brought a trishul to The Kashmir Files screening in March where he openly issued calls to violence, and made hate speeches. His words were aimed to incite communal violence and anti-Muslim hate among his audience that included children and women as seen at the movie screening. In the video, he can be heard saying, “You think that you are safe here but you are not. You have no preparation… They’re everywhere, not just in MP. They’re a threat to the whole world.”

Haridwar genocide monger, Yati’s aide, Swami Jeetendranand says THIS IN FRONT OF KIDS:
“You think that you are safe here but you are not. You have no preparation… They’re everywhere, not just in MP. They’re a threat to the whole world.” pic.twitter.com/vMfL38nhNq

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) March 22, 2022

Concerned with the blatantly abusive behaviour of Swami Jitendranand Saraswati is spearheaded with impunity by right-wing extremists and socio-culturally influential members of the majority community, the complaint further lists down the legal provisions violated by Swami Jitendranand Saraswati and relies upon the judicial precedents set out by the courts excluding the hate speech from the purview of freedom of speech and expression.

Sadly, Muslims are subject to an orchestrated right-wing campaign which is made worse with the tacit complicity of the government of the day that harbours a hate-filled ideology and holds undisputed sway and power. CJP has already reported this hate speech to YouTube, as soon as it was spotted but more calls have gone out on social media for his arrest and many users shared his hate speech videos tagging the handles of government authorities, asking that the hate offenders be put behind bars.

The Complaint may be read here: 

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CJP moves NCM over Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul’s anti-Muslim genocidal speech

The post Hate Offender Swami Jitendranand calls for lynching of pregnant women, CJP moves NCM appeared first on SabrangIndia.

On May 12, 2022, CJP brought to the attention of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) the genocidal speech made by BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul from Bihar to news reporters brazenly calling for the mass burning and in effect, a genocide of members of the Muslim minority.

The complaint points out the video uploaded by News 24 where Bachaul was caught openly calling for violence against Muslim minorities, comparing them to demons like Ravan (the chief antagonist of the Hindu epic Ramayan). “We need Hanuman ji so that our youth can be strong, and the people of our country can be strong. Just like Ravana’s Lanka was burnt by Hanuman ji, the demon-like Ravanas, who are hovering over Bihar and the country, should also be burnt,” says Bauchal to the reporters.

When asked where are these Ravanas in Bihar, he says, “You go and see what’s happening in Kishanganj, Purnia or Jokihat for that matter.” As per the National Herald, the said districts belong to the Seemanchal region in Bihar where 47 percent of teh population hails from the Muslim community. The region accounts for 24 State Assembly seats. Moreover, he compares the situation in these areas with those incidents recorded in the movie The Kashmir Files.

The video maybe viewed here:

The complaint also highlights the derogatory remarks made by Bachaul in February this year stating that Muslims living in India should be stripped of voting rights and treated as second class citizens. He said, “In 1947, the country [India] was divided in the name of religion and they got another country [Pakistan]. They should go to another country. If they are living here, then I demand from the government that their voting rights be withdrawn. They [Muslims] can live in India as second-class citizens.”

In the complaint, CJP also brings to light another incident from last year where he makes remarks on Muslims fertility rate. The legislator was caught saying, “Muslims want to convert India into an Islamic state. Law should be brought to control the population in the country. The resources in the country are very limited but some people want to increase the population and capture and turn India into an Islamic country. Muslim community is indulging into this. It is important to control the population in order to make India into a developed country from a developing country.”

In light of the above, CJP, in the complaint, lays out the charges that should be invoked against Bachaul under the Indian Penal Code:
 

• Sec 153B (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration)
• Sec 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs)
• Sec 503 (Criminal intimidation) Sec 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace)
• Sec 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief).

CJP believes that if open intimidation and speeches instigating violence are allowed to continue unabated, then such miscreants will be encouraged to create tension and cause mischief that disturb public order. Especially so, in view of the sensitive and hypercharged atmosphere today wherein aggression is being unleashed, unchecked, with impunity, on vulnerable and marginalised sections of our population.

Keeping in mind the magnitude of the situation, CJP has also stressed upon the importance to act strictly and earnestly in this matter, as it poses a serious threat to the secular fabric of our country.

CJP has urged the Commission to take immediate action in order to provide a sense of security to the minority community and strengthen the values of fraternity, secularism that our Constitution upholds.

The Complaint may be read here:

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The post CJP moves NCM seeking action against Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul for anti-Muslim genocidal speech appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has forwarded the complaint filed by Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) against BJP MP Tejasvi Surya to the Bengaluru Director General of Police (DGP). Surya and three others had visited a Covid-19 war room for inspection in Bengaluru and made communal remarks against the Muslim community, accusing them of “blocking beds” in hospitals providing Covid-19 care. The NCM forwarded the complaint on December 29 and has asked the DGP to take necessary action in the matter.

In May 2021, CJP had approached the Commission about the incident that took place on May 4, 2021 where Bhartiya Janta Party’s Bengaluru (South) Member of Parliament, Tejasvi Surya listed out sixteen names all belonging to people from the Muslim minority community, linking them with an alleged bed blocking ‘scam’ in the south Municipal Zone.  He was accompanied by Chickpet MLA Uday Garudachar, Bommanahalli MLA Satish Reddy and Basavanagudi MLA Ravi Subramanya (who also happens to be Tejasvi Surya’s uncle). During his inspection of the Covid-19 war room in south Bengaluru, he chose to read out only the 16 names (all clearly Muslim-sounding) out of the 214 persons employed at the centre, asking their qualifications. In a video, Ravi Subramanya can be seen and heard asking, “Are you hiring for a corporation or a Madrassa? How can he appoint 16 members like a Haj committee?”

Tejasvi Surya was suggesting that 16 Muslim volunteers of the BBMP’s south zone unit may be responsible for the lack of beds in the city. Like his uncle, even Surya was heard asking if “they (Muslim volunteers) were recruited for a corporation or a madrasa?”

After this incident, a controversy erupted after WhatsApp forwards claimed that BBMP Joint Commissioner for Covid Care Centres and Solid Waste Management, Sarfaraz Khan, was involved in the bed allocation scam.

Sarfaraz Khan said he was extremely ‘pained’ to see a message being shared on social media accusing him of being involved in the alleged scam. The WhatsApp message listed 16 names of Muslim volunteers with the title: “List of terrorists working in BBMP war room killing thousands of Bengalurians.”

After a probe was launched, all volunteers were suspended but were eventually reinstated as the Bengaluru Police found no evidence against them. But five of them are still too traumatised to go back to work. 

The complaint

The complaint states that such statements not only instill hatred among other communities towards the minority community, but also demoralise them, creating a fear psychosis among the targeted community. “In the midst of this fierce, raging pandemic that is claiming thousands of lives every day, Indians are collectively working together to help people in need. But some leaders are indulging in unnecessary communalisation of the issue. Choosing to highlight only the Muslim names out of over 200 contractual employees is highly discouraging and demotivating for all those people who are clocking extra hours to help in whatever way they can,” the complaint says.

The complaint sought the following actions from the NCM:

1. Direct the Bengaluru Police to file an FIR against the MP and his fellow MLAs who visited the centre and made such communal remarks

2. Monitor the Police investigation against the MLA and his fellow aide under section 9 of the National Commissions for Minorities Act, 1992

3. Direct Tejasvi Surya, Uday Garudachar, Satish Reddy and Ravi Subramanya to apologise for their deeply hurtful and offensive comments against the minority community

Related:

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The post Minorities Commission forwards CJP’s complaint against Tejasvi Surya Bengaluru DGP appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has sought an expedited action taken report (ATR) from the Chief Secretary of Tripura, in its letter dated November 18, 2021. This is in connection with a complaint filed by CJP against the alleged vandalisation of mosques, houses, shops in Tripura by right-wing groups.

Vide a complaint dated October 29, 2021, CJP had written to NCM in this matter detailing how several news reports suggested that mosques, houses and shops belonging to Muslims in Tripura have been vandalised, attacked and ransacked in retaliation to the anti-Hindu attacks in Bangladesh. The details of the 5 affected districts, namely, Unakoti, north Tripura, West Tripura, Sepahijala and Gomati were given.

In its complaint, CJP has also annexed videos found on social media which showed grocery and ration shops being burnt, a destroyed mosque property and some videos of mobs chanting inflammatory and derogatory anti-Muslim slogans.

Our complaint has also referred to the Tripura Police’s claim that it has provided “protection to mosques in sensitive areas” and has also warned against posting provocative messages on social media, and added “that the situation is under control.” They Took to Twitter on October 27 to state, “During yesterday’s protest rally in Panisagar, North Tripura, no masjid was burnt and the pictures being shared of burning or damaged masjid or collection of sticks etc are all fake and are not from Tripura. They may be from some countries.”

Since there are two sides to the story, we have urged the Hon’ble Commission to take cognisance of these scattered incidents and investigate these alleged attacks and targeted vandalisation. CJP had urged the commission to check the veracity of such allegations, and conduct a full-fledged investigation under section 9 of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. 

Accordingly, the NCM took expeditious action and sought a report from the Chief Secretary Tripura on November 8, 2021; however, since that letter did not draw any response from the state administration, this letter was sent on November 18, 2021 as a reminder and urging the administration to expedite and send a report within 15 days.

Related:

Anti-Muslim violence flares in Tripura, CJP writes to Minorities Commission
Tripura HC takes suo motu cognisance of anti-Muslim violence in the state

The post NCM asks Tripura gov’t to expedite report about alleged vandalism of mosques appeared first on SabrangIndia.

CJP has once again approached the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) against followers of Yati Narsinghanand, the head priest of Dasna Devi temple. Narsinghanand is notorious for making hateful speeches against women and members of minority communities. 

A few days ago, two of his followers, Suresh Rajput and Rahul Sharma, had during a live session on Facebook made a series of vile and hateful statements about the women who held the internationally documented anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest at Shaheen Bagh. In the video which was later shared across social media, the duo also supported the communal violence that ensued in Tripura in wake of the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. 

Yati Narsinghanand, who has reportedly been ordained as the mahamandaleshwar of Juna Akhara, the largest recognised sect of Hindu seers in the country, has evidently built up social capital and his followers are getting a free hand in making speeches just like their ‘guru’.

Both, Sharma and Rajput, utter some unspeakable hateful words against the Muslim community, and Muslim women in particular. They specifically target those who had bravely sat for days at the anti- CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi. They also mocked Safoora Zargar in a particularly vile manner. Zargar  was one of the many anti-CAA protesters and was arrested by the Delhi Police for allegedly playing a part in the Delhi riots of February 2020.

The complaint states, “Yati is not a sole perpetrator and has built what seems like a gang of rouge men who go around disseminating hatred against Muslim community. What it seems like is that he trains these men under his patronage, brainwashes them into spreading hatred and sets them out to fulfill what he started off doing.”

In fact, the NCM has already acted upon CJP’s complaint against another disciple of Yati, namely Vikas Vikas Sehrawat alias ‘Malik Bhai’. NCM has written to Meerut’s Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) requesting a detailed report. Sehrawat had made a series of Islamophobic speeches whereby he openly issued death threats against Muslims and said that he had declared a war against them.

The complaint also highlights why it is important to take action against Yati himself as we had highlighted in an elaborate complaint to the NCM about his nefarious acts.

The complaint may be read here:

Related:

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CJP approaches NCM against Yati Narsinghanand’s hate speech

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