1. Provocative and instigating speeches:

Hyderabad, Telangana

BJP MLA T. Raja Singh delivered a provocative speech during Ram Navami procession. He used anti-Muslim slurs, promoted conspiracy theories and called for building temples over some historic mosques.

The speech transcribed from the first video is below-

“I want to tell them all that seeing Babri-Ayodhya has itself scared you, Kashi and Mathura remain till now. A total of 40,000 temples are yet to be claimed till now.”

“You say that you will not let the future generations forget about the destruction of Babri. Don’t worry, we will teach the coming generation Kar Seva.”

“The chief minister of Uttar Pradesh has said that this time, the karseva by all the followers of Ram, Krishna and Shankar will be met with flowers and not guns. That day is not far when we will take over Kashi and Mathura just like we took over Ayodhya.”

“All the temples that have been destroyed by the Mughal in India, we will take all those temples back and re-construct our holy temples.”

The video can be viewed as follows:

‘We will teach the coming generation Kar Seva and will reclaim Kashi and Mathura.’#BJP MLA #TRajaSingh made provocative speech during #RamNavami Procession in #Hyderabad and stated 40,000 Masjids will be reclaimed along with #Kashi and #Mathura. pic.twitter.com/O5wc8m9v6Q

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) April 18, 2024

In a separate longer video of the speech, Raja Singh can be heard saying the following:

“Whenever the colour of saffron is established, even the best of these L***e (derogatory word for Muslims) gets scared. Whenever the saffron flag is seen flying, the chest of these anti-nationals is about to burst. Whenever the saffron flag is seen flying, those opposing Hindus hide in their rat holes.”

“Since 500 years, we had been asking for our temples but those who oppose Ram, Krishna and Shiv did not give it to us. But today, we have taken back one of our temples. In India, every Sanatan believer knows about only 3 temples, but the Mughals have destroyed more than these 3 temples.”

These people destroyed the Kashi Vishwanath temple and constructed that Gyanvapi Mosque. In Varanasi too, they destroyed one temple and made their Mosque. I am telling you about our history, recording it on your phone and listening to it again and again. I may or may not be there, but this history of ours should remain with you forever.”

“We have watched a Saraswati temple in Ajmer having been destroyed. 40,000 other such temples are there.”

“We took one temple and look how miserable you all have become, wait till we convert India into a Hindu nation.”

The video can be viewed as follows:

Hyderabad, Telangana

Another inflammatory speech targeting Muslims and urging for violence and re-claiming of temples was delivered by cow vigilante Kalu Singh while addressing Shobha Yatra participants in the state. Here too, the speaker can be heard making inciteful statements regarding Mathura’s Shahi Idgah Mosque and Kashi’s Gyanvapi Mosque.

The video can be viewed as follows:

Thane, Maharashtra

Hindu Rashtra Sena chief Dhananjay Desai delivers an anti-Muslim provocative speech during Shobha Yatra in Mira Bhayandar area of Thane.

“Lord Ram is the only thing that will ensure that India remains to be India. Every area that let go of Ram was converted to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. We have to ensure that our Lord Ram and Chhatrapati Shivaji remain in India.”

“In the land of Lord Ram, an illegal Babar came and built the Babri Mosque. We got that Mosque demolished and established our Lord Ram once again.”

“The situation that arose in Bhiwandi, the situation that arose in Mira Bhayander, the funeral of the people who carried out the 1993 bomb blasts in Mumbai, the funeral of Yakub Menon was taken out in Mahim is a disgrace to our India.”

“The police whose blood has been spilled on this land of India, the soldiers whose blood has protected this land of India. They are insulted that a traitor named Yakub Menon and Dawood were buried with such great honour.”

“But today, on the day of Ram Navami, let us take an oath that by awakening Ram in your heart, Ram is always awake, we should become Ram. “

“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj himself awakened in the midst of Ram, and within Ram himself. And on the occasion of this Maharashtra, the saffron flag of Kashi Vishwanath was flown across the river Attak across Afghanistan.”

The video can be viewed as follows:

2. Flashing of swords and arms during Shobha Yatras:

Many videos of participants of religious processions displaying swords, stick, hockey sticks and arms during the Shobha Yatras emerged on social media.
 

Bihar:

A video from the Shergati area of Bihar can be viewed here:

A video from the Dehri, Rohtas area of Bihar can be viewed here:

A video from the Gaya area of Bihar can be viewed here:

Jharkhand:

A video from the Jharia, Dhanbad area of Jharkhand can be viewed here:

A video from the Laxman Tunda, Dumri, Giridih area of Jharkhand can be viewed here:

West Bengal:

A video from the Birbhum District of West Bengal showing Debasish Dhar, former IPS officer and BJP Lok Sabha candidate, emerged on social media. In the video, the said BJP candidate can be seen flashing a sword while participating in a Shobha Yatra.

The video can be viewed as follows:

3. Provocation by offensive acts at religious place of worship

Bikaner, Rajasthan:

A video from Dungargarh area of Bikaner district, Rajasthan showed participants of Vishwa Hindu Sangathan organised Shobha yatra raising slogans of ‘Jai Shree Ram’ in front of a mosque. Police officials can also be seen accompanying the processions in the video.

The video can be viewed as follows:

Hyderabad, Telangana

A video showing a BJP candidate from Telangana, namely Kompella Madhavi Latha symbolically directing arrows at a Mosque during Shobha Yatra also emerged on social media.

The video can be viewed as follows:

Here, @BJP4India candidate from Hyderabad, Kompella Madhavi Latha is seen symbolically directing arrows at a Masjid on the occasion of Ram Navami. Meanwhile @ECISVEEP @SpokespersonECI @CEO_Telangana are yet to wake up. pic.twitter.com/3JUy2oNbtP https://t.co/F4RlsOIJAX

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) April 18, 2024

Related:

Report says 30 Muslim sports coaches and trainers fired without reason in Gujarat

Mob attacks Christian school in Telangana, principal gets beaten and is forcibly applied tilak

Attempts to create communal tension reported during Ram Navami celebration in parts of Bengal and UP

The post Ram Navami 2024: Provocative speeches advocating for desecration of Mosques, display of swords, slogans in front of Mosques mark the Hindu festival appeared first on SabrangIndia.

There are similar other tragic accounts in the report.

One of the eyewitnesses, narrates that the incidents at Kiradpura happened between 1 am to 4.00 am. She narrated that on April 30 (night of April 29-30), at around 1 am, there were futile attempts by the police to disperse the crowd. Two Maulanas also announced maintaining law and order from the Police Jeep, but since there was hardly any police protection, they got injured.

In terms of background, the team recorded that in previous years, during the Ram Navami celebrations, the communities have lived peacefully celebrated their festivals in this area in the past few years. On one side of the lane, there used to be Ram Navami Celebration, and on the other side, the market used to be lit with Iftar shops. This time, however, there was some sloganeering outside the temple. She narrated how those people who gave slogans of ‘Jai Shree Ram’ and incited violence in the area do not figure in the police’s chargesheets.

According to her, the crowd was not from the Kiradpura area. They were all wearing masks and hoodies, and everyone was wearing similar caps. Unlike the news reports claimed, it was a mob of around 50 people, not 500-600. She also claimed that these were all people from outside and not from Kiradpura as she had never seen those people in that area.

Ohar, a village around 10-12 kilometres from Aurangabad was not spared. According to the 2021 census, Ohar has a population of 2631[1] constituting the caste Hindus, Muslims, people from scheduled castes, and scheduled tribes. The team visited Ohar village. Interviewing a group of Muslim women whose tales were full of tragedy recounting the incidents after the Ram Navami celebrations. The women narrated that on March 31, some Hindus organised a procession outside the mosque with loud music and provocative lyrics related to Aurangzeb, the so-called new name Chattrapati Sambhajinagar calling for violence against Muslims. This procession also tore apart the ‘Tipu Sultan’ poster at the village entrance. Some of the Muslim men asked them to stop the DJ, but they refused to do so.

According to this version recorded by the team, the next morning at around 8.30 am, when most of them were sleeping after the Sehri, and no one was anticipating the tensions. But tensions were triggered, and it was believed that this tension would be resolved within the village by having discussions with each other like had happened in the past few years. However, there was stone pelting from both sides. Hindu women were also in the clashes. They were also pelting stones and attacking the men from the Muslim community. These women narrated that they were people from outside in the crowd, so they started calling the police, but there was no response. The Muslim women also stated that many men “mishandled Muslim women in these clashes” and “many people from the Muslim community got injured.”

One of the Muslim women who runs a small shop in the village got stabbed on the neck by a Hindu man. Several women received stitches and sutures after suffering serious wounds and were poorly injured. An injured woman Around the 30 people who were arrested were all Muslims from the village. These families also submitted the suggestion form at the collector’s office against the change in the name of the city Aurangabad to Chattrapati Sambhajinagar. These women, whose family members got arrested, still ask why the police came half an hour late to the site of violence? Why did the Police arrest the majority of the Muslims from the village? The incidents of such brutal assault, stabbing in the neck, being manhandled, and facing abusive slurs have impacted these women’s lives.

News of the nature of the violence and role of the police did not make it to any newspaper, and what happened to them remained within the bounds of that village.

Paldhi, a village in Jalgaon: around 14 km from Jalgaon, a small town Paldhi witnessed similar patterns of communal tensions that broke out on the night of 28th April. The team visited Paldhi and met women who shared their experiences; they recounted the horrors of the night of April 28.

Paldhi is a Muslim-dominated area. Many Muslim-owned shops were razed to the ground says the report, and for most families, this was the only source of livelihood. Rioters even broke down the board of the cemetery.[2] These women in Paldhi described how even the police attacked them after the violence. Police stormed their houses, broke the doors, dragged the residents, and gave abusive slurs to Muslim women resisting their entry. The police, according to what women have stated and that has been put in the Bebaak report, were in a drunken state and donning civil clothes, entered to search for lethal weapons in the houses of farmers and labourers.

All these houses of the Muslim community are either charred or damaged. The damaged doors of Muslim residents due to the Police crackdown Police dragged several Muslim youths out of their homes at midnight. These family members were in a state of immense despair while narrating these incidents. They have not slept for days.

A survivor of the 1992 riots in Paldhi recounted the horrible incident of a Hindu mob killing a Muslim man. The 1992 riots were permanently etched in the memory of a 70-year-old woman who did not step out of her house after this recent violence in her area. Each of these incidents made them conscious of their Muslim identity and brought flashbacks of loss and pain.

A Recurring Pattern of these Riots:

The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) led by Uddhav Thackery on the last day of its cabinet (June 2022) decided to rename Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar and Osmanabad as Dharashiv. The Shinde-Fadnavis led state government also approved the renaming of Aurangabad as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Osmanabad as Dharashiv. The politics of renaming of the cities through which these political parties have envisioned their political prominence and electoral power has resulted in the site of ethnic conflict and violence, states the report.

“There is undoubtedly a broader recurring pattern. The script is to provoke a community by attacking the religious and worship spaces, specifically taking processions with loud music and provoking slogans in front of Muslim neighbourhoods and Mosques during the time of prayer (Namaz), inciting stone-pelting and then further targeting Muslims by indiscriminate arrests and destroying their businesses and properties.”

The Role of the Police:

“The role of the police has been highly disappointing, whether in a big city like Aurangabad, a small town of Paldhi, or a rural village like Ohar. Police were nowhere seen to be taking any actions against those who incited this violence. It is infuriating and shameful that the provocateurs are always sheltered with state impunity. The arbitrary and indiscriminate arrests of Muslim youth suggest the state’s complicity and apathy.

“The police administration has displayed a bias as there have been no actions taken against those persons belonging to the Hindu community who incited the violence by shouting provocative slogans. There is no accountability from the police regarding the death of a civilian in this violence and the firing conducted in a residential area such as Kiradpura Lane.

“The attempts by the police to disperse the mob directly through firing of bullets without preceding and laid down procedures like release of tear gas or lathi charge to disperse a mob has been habitual, even in the past.The state is mandated to provide protection and monetary compensation to victims of such violence, but the police filed a chargesheet against the victim.

“The police has refused to hand over the CCTV footage in front of the Ram Mandir in Kiradpura and take action according to the evidence. On the other hand, under the pretext of 40,000 calls made during the time of violence in Kiradpura, police have picked several innocents who were not even present in the vicinity. There is no accountability for the arrests of minors in this violence.

“In Ohar, the police administration took no immediate action despite the police being informed of mobs on the rampage. The media has remained silent and hence compliant by not reporting on reports of police intimidation and brutality and also the plight of Muslim women.

Violence against Muslim women and the Impact on Mental Health:

“The anti-Muslim violence during the Ram Navami festivals in Kiradpura, Ohar, and Paldhi has severely impacted the lives of Muslim women living in these areas. The impact of these religious extremists’ violence on Muslim women and their mental health often goes unacknowledged. People have spoken about the emotional trauma they have gone through during this time.

“The Muslim community is in a state t shock after witnessing such violence and hatred in their neighbourhood. The routine interaction with the police officials and visits to the jail to undergo these legal processes have resulted in burnout and loss of hope for a better future.

 “ मारेहदल मेंबहुत खौफ , मारेकारोबार सब बिंद  गए, रमजान के हदन …. पुलीस का बहुत डर – we are scared, our businesses and errands are now shut, these are the days of Ramzan and we are scared of the Police”

“मेरेो बच्चें वो अब ऐसेभागतेहफरतेरे तें  – My children are running here and there.” “ मारेआदहमयोंको उठाके लेगए, म अके लेऔरतेंथी, मको डर था की पुहलस मको उठा लेाएगी, इसहलए म गांव छोड़कर ररश्तेदारोंके य चलेगए थे– they took our men, we were all alone, we were scared that police will take us too, that’s why we left our village and went to our neighbour

“The nature of the investigation carried out by the police authorities the next day of violence has humiliated Muslim women. They were intimidated and threatened to submit their family members to police for questioning. In Paldhi, the police personnel verbally abused them and even made communal and sexual slurs. Due to the Police crackdown at midnight, damaging the property of the Muslim residents, the children, and other family members are still traumatised. After the police crackdown, many families started sleeping under the same roof.

“The loss of social and financial security because of these riots has put enormous burdens on women from the Muslim community. This also has impacted the mental health of the women and the children. Muslim youth are compelled to change their career paths and aspirations because of biases about their Muslim identity.

“बच्चेंघर के बा र नी, आदहमयांघर पर बैठेंहुए , औरतोंनेक्या करना, कै सेहिदिंगी पालना? – Children have stopped going outside, the men are sitting without any job, how will women sustain their family?”

“The police administration in Kiradpura, Ohar, and Paldhi have enjoyed complete impunity for the crackdown and violence against Muslim women. The routine violation of a Muslim person’s rights has aggravated feelings of isolation and immense fear among Muslim youth and women. The Muslim women from Rahmaniya colony, Ohar village and Paldhi all speaks of injustices committed by the administration.

“They demand justice and speaks of collective struggle and resilience during these times. “इन्साफ मांगता” – “We want Justice” 21 Muslim women in Paldhi sharing their experiences of the clashes Muniruddin used to sell parts of automobiles with some meager income to sustain his family. After the lockdown, their work got severely affected.

“Hina’s mother is a domestic worker, and her father is a plumber. Sohail and Javed were used to assist them with work. People in Ohar and Paldhi are small-scale traders, farmers, and daily wage labourers. These families come from a marginalized working-class socio-economic background. “The community living in these neighbourhoods and villages face food insecurity, job insecurity, and inaccessible healthcare services.

“Most of the affected have been labourers, and daily wage earners, who could not get their education and were forced to work at an early age. There are many families whose children and family members got arrested. Among the detained are primarily young men of around 20–30- year-olds; children 14-17 are also accused of rioting. Most of these families do not have money to hire a lawyer to release their children. Their families do not know how to proceed with legal matters or the loss of daily earnings when these families have to visit the jail. They do not know what to say to their children when they meet them inside the prison about what the future awaits them.

“A team of lawyers in Aurangabad is taking up these false cases and giving the family free counselling. Many of the Muslim youths who were framed with false claims have emerged as innocents. People never anticipated that they would grieve for their own in the month of Ramzan. These people were robbed of their festival and were made to suffer in a most hostile way. Families got separated, Roza- fasting turned into visits to jail, and with every dawn of Sehri, they saw their hopes dwindle.

“The following day (iimediately after the violence experienced), the Muslim community in Kiradpura offered Sherbet to those who came to celebrate Ram Navami outside Ram Mandir. After such violence, this act of offering peace seems more like the helplessness of a Muslim citizen in the face of such hate crimes.

“The case of Munniruddin is what any innocent Muslim citizen must pay to live in this nation ruled by the sole agenda of hatred. After 15-16 days after the violence, there is some hustle-bustle on the Kiradpura streets, and people are returning to the market for daily necessities.

“The shops in Kiradpura are now open, although police officials are still patrolling this area. Many residents hope to rebuild their lives against the hatred at every step.

Recommendations:

• We demand that the state take responsibility and necessary actions to ensure justice for the victims and survivors.
• It is the first and foremost responsibility of the state to maintain law and order, especially when two festivals of different religious groups are coinciding. The permission to organize religious rallies and gatherings should not be granted unconditionally.
• The police should review the chargesheet and remove Muniruddin Shaikh’s name as a rioter.
• Muniruddin’s family should be given monetary compensation from the state. There should be an action against the police personnel who shot Muniruddin Shaikh.
• The state shall provide legal services to the victims and persons falsely accused of this violence. It shall ensure that monetary compensation is paid to all victims.
• The state shall ensure a quick probe into those who incited the violence by provoking slogans and playing loud music in front of the Mosques. The police should review and consider the CCTV footages from the cameras installed in Ram Mandir.[3]
• The state shall take strict actions against the police administration for sexually assaulting Muslim women in Paldhi. It shall also ensure an effective legal representation to women victims of sexual assault in this violence and a committee sensitive to dealing with and assisting juveniles accused as rioters.
• The media shall behave non-partisan way and pressurize the ruling government to take necessary actions, take accountability for its actions, and control such communal clashes.
• The civil organizations in Maharashtra shall come in solidarity and raise their voices against the rising communal polarization, conflicts, and anti-Muslim violence.

The entire report of Bebaak Collective may be read here:

[1] Ohar Village Population – Aurangabad – Aurangabad, Maharashtra. (n.d.). https://www.census2011.co.in/data/village/548767-html#:~:text=The%20Ohar%20village%20has%20population,as%20per%20Population%20Census%20 2011. 14

[2] Shaikh, Z. (2023, April 5). Communal violence in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district after row over music being played in front of mosque. The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/communal-violencemaharashtras-row-over-music-played-mosque-8526246/ 16

[3] Express News Service. (2023, May 25). Akola clashes: Instagram account handler, man who complained against him held. The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/akola-clashes-instagramaccount-handler-complainant-held-8625372/ 23

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Police bandobast inadequate, uncontrolled mob in Ram Navmi procession in Shambhajinagar (Aurangabad), 1 killed: Tv9

Aurangabad badgered with hate speeches, vandalism and destroying of public property followed in protest supporting name change of Aurangabad

Aurangabad: Ram Navami procession shows respect to mosque

The post 74 Muslims including 7 juveniles arrested, peacemaker Shaikh Muniruddin shot in Sambhajinagar police firing: Report appeared first on SabrangIndia.

April 18, 2023

Dear Rama, Narpati, Lord of Men,

I do not see a reason to write you a letter; after all, you are ever present; you are Sarvajna (The All-Knowing, or the One who is aware of everything that exists). But when I write to you, I introspect about my position, hypocrisy and lack of introspection in my community. 

I once encountered the phrase “jo ramta hai wahi Ram hai” in an essay as a student. I enquired with my teacher if this had any links to the vanvas of Prince Ram of Ayodhya. Patiently, he explained that the essayist used the term “Ram” to represent purity in a nirgun (formless) sense. He discussed the idea of travel, literally and metaphorically, to denote transformation (‘ramta’). He also spoke about Kabir and Surdas. The essay and conversation left a mark on my life; I realised that the idea of Ram is not limited to a narrow concept of something singular but a human ideal of purity. 

In years to come, I have learned more about You and the ‘idea of Ram’ from my mother, sister and friends. You are dignity (Maryada) from Amma, while for Akka, You are Stoic, and my Ram was the idea of ‘Ramta‘ (transformation). 

At the same time I was discovering you, a dramatic change was occurring outside of me: in 1990, the Rath-Yatra had transformed your name and entity, Ram, from an idea of maryada to a war cry. A war cry to Hindus who were told of a glorious past and how to correct historical “injustices”.

Lord, Ram.

“You became the poster boy for an entire society fighting socially, legally, religiously and politically to build a mandir for you. They unleashed violence for your temple, but it never struck them, Lord, that you gave away your kingdom for a promise made by your father, you never spoke ill of your Kaikeyye, you parted from Bharat with an embrace, guiding him to succeed. Your life taught the idea of ‘sacrifice’ idea of giving it away is the idea of tapasya.”  

Dear Raghupati, I was rereading Maithili Sharan Gupt’s “Kakiyee ka Anuthap“. Throughout the poem, Kakiyee expresses her regret for her actions and her desire to seek Your forgiveness. Not only do you pardon her, but you also show her love. Your Love for Kakiyee and Bharat was unwavering. I must confess I have tried (often unsuccessfully) for years to adopt this unwavering love. 

I recall so many incidents from your life (we do many versions of your life); I remember how you were ready to accept Vali’s last words when he felt betrayed as he died in your arms; you promised that in a future incarnation as Lord Krishna, you would be mistakenly injured by a hunter named Jara, and Jara would be the reincarnation of Vali. 

Son of Dasharath, You show kindness to Jatayu as he dies in your arms. You accepted offerings of fruits from Sabari, who tasted them before she offered them to you. You see bhakti and love in it. You receive Vibhisana’s request for refuge. However, Sugriva and Lakshmana express doubt about Vibhisana’s motives. You speak of Ravana’s statecraft with respect; you seek no war and send Hanuman for peace; and finally, you fight the battle not to conquer Lanka but for the Love of Sita. You ask Vibhisana to rule the nation of Lanka. You thought Vibhisana would govern justly and fairly; your magnanimity and ability to forgive and extend compassion even to your enemies is a formidable lesson for us. 

The period of exile, or “vanvas,” was a time of introspection and a battle for love. You, the prodigal son, returned to the land of Ayodhya after a life of “tapasya,”; You taught us what bhakti is, for true love is not obtained through asserting ownership but rather through the process of detachment and self-discovery. They, in fact, call you Vanavasa Priya; I interpret it as someone who celebrated detachment (what a thing for a prince to do !!) 

Lord Rama, I recall an incident where Hanuman shielded Luv and Kush from your arrow. Hanuman, the embodiment of devotion and reverence towards you, demonstrated that your bhakti can even reverse the effect of your arrow. 

Love of Lord Rama could even conquer your wrath. 

It reinforced the values of Ram-Maryada, which encompassed dignity, love, and devotion, and its significance has only grown over time.

Yet, I felt we had betrayed you when I saw men kill and then shout Jai Shree Ram. We owe an apology to you. As a nation and religious group, we have lost both dignity and maryada. The Lord who could give up his kingdom and always taught the idea of tapsaya, bhakti and fighting for love has been reduced to a cry for violence, revenge and lawlessness.

Many would say You must come back to correct the ills, but You gave Your story and lesson; as Your disciple, we must claim what You instilled in us, bhakti, an idea of love.

We come to you much like Kakiyee. We come with our “anuthap” (remorse and regret). The only way to make amends is, to begin with, introspection and embrace the values of love and compassion you have taught us.

Lord of Men, Rama, you are also called “Premamaya”, is a term that means “full of love”. We will not allow your name to be misused as a symbol of hate.

A disciple of love and knowledge, 

Venkat Srinivasan

(The writer is a financial professional, also passionate about the arts, academia, and social issues related to development and human rights)

The post To Lord Ram, a letter of remorse and resolve appeared first on SabrangIndia.

A local news channel reported on how people from all religions who have been living peacefully in Mumbai’s Malad-Malwani area gathered to spread the message of peace and religious harmony. In the aftermath of the violence during Ram Navami processions. The locals allege that those who indulged in stone pelting and violence, were not local residents but some outsiders who wanted to create a law and order situation and disturb peace in the area.

Reporting from the peace march, GalliNews spoke to some persons representing each religion. “Malwani is a silent zone. All communities live here together. These were not people from Malwani. These were outsiders who pelted stones etc. They should look at the CCTV footage and find out,” said the religious leader.

Another person from the Jain community said that all businesses run by people belonging to different communities could be affected by such violence and it was a conspiracy to adversely affect these businesses. He said that many people wanted to join the peace march but the police requested them to have a limited number of people in the peace march. “We do not want any such violence here… We love peace and we just wish that no violence takes place” he said.

A person from the Sikh community, one of the oldest residents of Malad-Malwani said, “This is a peace march. In Mumbai we want peace to prevail. If any anti-social element, whether belonging to any party or any religion, the police should take action against them. The residents have always wanted to live in peace and in future as well wish the same. People want to throw stones in the water and disturb it but water is calm. Until people stop holding fire under it, water cannot stop boiling. I plead to those setting fire in the country to not do such things and maintain peace throughout the country.

A Maulana present there, said, “As you you can see, people from religions are present here and Malwani is mini-India and we all live here in unity. These outsider miscreants should be arrested.”

The general demand was that the miscreants who were outsiders should be caught by looking at  the CCTV footage, irrespective of which religion they belong to.

Related:

Gujarat: Kajal Hindusthani arrested, sent to judicial custody, booked for delivering anti-Muslim hate speech

Moradabad Police debunks false communally charged claims made by Panchjanya, warns of taking legal action if misinformation is spread

Hindu Mahasabha Members Arrested for Allegedly Slaughtering Cow to Incite Communal Violence in Agra During Ram Navami Parade

Mumbai: Police foils attempts to disturb peace in Mira Road

The post All religions gather for peace march in Malad-Malwani in Mumbai appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Bihar police have said that Bajrang Dal convener of Nalanda district Kundan Kumar was the mastermind behind the communal violence that took place during the Ram Navami festival in Bihar Sharif, reported Times Now, NDTV, Telegraph and Scroll.in. Kumar was arrested on April 8 after he surrendered as the administration began to attach his properties, said the police.

“He [Kundan Kumar] is accused of gathering a huge crowd in the name of a Ram Navami procession in Bihar Sharif without proper permission,” Nalanda Superintendent of Police Ashok Mishra told The Telegraph on April 8. “That mob went out of control and violence started.”

On March 31, 2023, the day after Ram Navmi processions, communal violence had erupted in the town in Nalanda district as Hindus and Muslims clashed during the event. One person had died during the clashes that also led to arson, looting and vandalism of shops, homes and educational and religious establishments belonging to both the communities, reported the newspaper.

As many as 13 persons, including two police officials, were injured on March 31 after clashes broke out between Hindus and Muslims during the Ram Navami processions in Nalanda district’s Bihar Sharif and Rohtas district’s Sasaram.

On Sunday, April 9, the police stated that Kundan Kumar and Kishan Kumar, another accused person, had planned and executed the communal clashes in Bihar Sharif through social media and a WhatsApp group that had 456 members, reported NDTV. After several other reports over the past ten days, the breakthrough came on April 10 through NDTV.

The member of the Hindutva group was the admin of WhatsApp group that was formed days before the Ram Navami festival, Jitendra Singh Gangawar, Additional Director General of Police told the news channel. Through the WhatsApp group, Kundan and Kishan Kumar spread fake videos about Muslims instigating the viewers to incite violence against them.

The police have registered 15 first information reports in the case, in which a total of 140 arrests have been made, reported ANI. Meanwhile, Kundan Kumar has claimed that he has been framed even though he was with the officer in charge of the a police station in Bihar Sharif on the day of the violence, reported The Telegraph.

“I have surrendered because my family’s property was being attached,” he had told reporters on April 8. “The incidents happened because of the inadequate arrangements made by the administration.”

The original tweet announcing the police claims may be read here. 

Bihar Sharif Ram Navami violence: ‘Mastermind’ Bajrang Dal Convenor surrenders, Says Policehttps://t.co/cuqa3a742i

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) April 9, 2023

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Section 144 imposed in Jamshedpur; arrests made in Bihar and Maharashtra over instances of violence during Ram Navami

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The post Bajrang Dal convener mastermind of Bihar Sharif violence, say police appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Clashes erupted in Jharkhand’s Jamshedpur after the ‘desecration’ of a religious flag sparked brick-batting and arson between two groups, according to officials. Prohibitory orders have been issued under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in Shastrinagar, Jharkhand’s Jamshedpur, after shops and vehicles were set on fire during the clashes. According to ANI, internet services have also been suspended.

Tensions had been building in the area since Saturday night, when members of a local organization discovered a piece of meat tied to a Ram Navami flag, according to police. “Forces are carrying out an early morning flag march. In the area, Section 144 is in effect. Internet services are prohibited until the next order,” said Jyoti Kumari, Executive Magistrate.

On Sunday evening, the warring factions set fire to two shops and an auto-rickshaw. To disperse the mob, police used tear gas shells to gain control of the situation. Both sides were accused of brick-batting.

Meer Faisal, journalist Maktoob Media, also tweeted on the said issue. according to his tweet, “On April 8, in Shastri Nagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, local Hindus expressed apprehension about getting beef. SDM sent the meat to the lab for testing, and the report said that the meat is chicken. After which the army was deployed in large numbers, and in the presence of the army, the shops of the Muslims were set on fire by a Hindutva mob.”

The tweet can be viewed here: 

On April 8, in Shastri Nagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, local hindus expressed apprehension about getting beef. SDM sent the meat to the lab for testing, and the report said that the meat is chicken. After which the army was deployed in large numbers, and in the presence of the… pic.twitter.com/ty8gK5dHBV

— Meer Faisal (@meerfaisal01) April 9, 2023

Report by the authorities- ‘Anti-social elements trying to disturb peace’

“Prohibitory Orders under Section 144 of CrPC were clamped in the area,” Sub-Divisional Officer (Dhalbhum), Piyush Sinha, provided, while SSP Prabhat Kumar told PTI that adequate police force has been deployed at Shastrinagar to maintain law and order. “The situation is under control and the warring groups have been dispersed… We have also taken a few persons into custody,” he said. An adequate police force has been deployed at Shastrinagar to maintain law and order, police said. Security forces conducted a flag march in Jamshedpur’s Kadma police station area following the clash, reported ANI.

East Singhbhum District Deputy Commissioner Vijaya Jadhav said some anti-social elements are trying to disturb peace, and sought the cooperation of people to foil their plot.

More than 50 people have been arrested in connection with violence following the alleged desecration of a religious flag at Shastrinagar in Jharkhand’s Jamshedpur, police told PTI.

Report on violence in West Bengal

Meanwhile, the interim report of a fact-finding committee has revealed that the recent incidents of violence in Howrah, Hooghly, and Rishra, among other areas of West Bengal, were pre-planned. “The riots were pre-planned, orchestrated, and instigated,” the interim report of the Fact-Finding Committee headed by Justice L Narasimha Reddy (Retd) states.

Notably, violence and arson were witnessed during the Ram Navami festival in Howrah and Hooghly recently. Earlier, BJP had questioned the administrative capabilities of the Mamata Banerjee-led state government.

Updates on violence in Bihar

Bihar Police arrested five more people on Sunday in connection with its investigation into the communal violence during the Ram Navami procession in Bihar Sharif town in Nalanda district. The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of the Bihar Police has made fresh arrests in the case, the news agency PTI reported. Two more accused who were involved in some other cases and also wanted by the EOU in Nalanda communal clashes surrendered before the police on Sunday. The EOU will now seek their custody. EOU sleuths are also probing the association, if any, of the surrendered accused with some particular outfit.

This comes after communal tension had flared up at Sasaram and Nalanda during Ramnavami celebrations. In Bihar Sharif, over a dozen people were injured in stone-pelting and firing by miscreants and about 10 shops were gutted. One person died following the violence. According to the Additional Director General (ADG) of Bihar Police (Headquarters), the accused used WhatsApp groups to spread hatred among people of different communities, as reported by Indian Today News.

Arrests in violence in Maharashtra

Mumbai Police have found that the accused in the case of stone pelting at a Ram Navami procession in suburban Malad had allegedly hatched the conspiracy of violence while sitting together near a mosque, officials said, as reported by PTI. More than 20 persons have so far been arrested in connection with the incident which took place in Malvani area of Malad on March 30. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against more than 200 people, they said. A team of Malvani police probing the case of violence recorded statements of an Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officer and another policeman from the Malvani police station on April 2, an official said.

Both the police personnel in their statements told the police that the violence was created by the accused persons, including those arrested and wanted, deliberately and intentionally, he said. They sat together near a mosque, by violating the orders prohibiting unlawful assembly, and hatched the conspiracy of the crime, the official said.

Related:

Moradabad Police debunks false communally charged claims made by Panchjanya, warns of taking legal action if misinformation is spread

Hot on the heels of the violence of Ram Navami, MHA issues advisory to states to ensure law and order during Hanuman Jayanti celebration

Police to closely monitor Ram Navami processions in Hyderabad and Mumba

Majoritarian Politics via Ram Navami Processions and Opportunist Muslim Elites

Ram Navami violence by Aaj Tak calls into question the lopsided portrayal of communally sensitive news

Hindutva mobs in Bihar run amok, cause loss of Rs. 6 crores

Hindutva’s role in riots and official complicity

What was CJP’s PIL seeking directions for implementation of law for regulation of religious processions all about?

Ram Navami: West Bengal administration on alert as 2000 celebrations planned

Exaggerated or ominous, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) claims it has plans for 1500-2000 rallies during Ram Navami in Bengal

Violence over Ram Navami procession in Bengal’s Howrah, state a particular target

The post Section 144 imposed in Jamshedpur; arrests made in Bihar and Maharashtra over instances of violence during Ram Navami appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Kolkata: Clashes and violence over the Ram Navami procession at Rishra in Hooghly district of West Bengal on April 2 were instigated by the processionists, the state government has informed the Calcutta High Court.

Chandernagore City Police, under whose jurisdiction Rishra comes, on Friday evening, submitted to the court a detailed report on the clashes.

Sources aware of the contents of the report said that it mentions that those participating in the procession had been constantly “instigating” the local people by using “abusive and offensive” language constantly since the beginning of the procession.

As per the report, although initially a section of those participating in the procession restricted themselves to using offensive language, later, some of them started pelting at the local people. Also, DJ was used in the procession without police permission and some of the participants even brandished lethal sharp weapons.

The report has maintained that such use of such offensive language and pelting of stones instigated the locals who retaliated by resorting to counter stone-pelting. It said as police tried to restrain both sides, attacks were led against the cops and some of the police vehicles were vandalized.

On April 2 evening, clashes first broke out at Rishra over the Ram Navami procession. Among those injured were BJP legislator Biman Ghosh and some police officers. Tension escalated and continued till April 3 night, when violent mobs started pelting stones at trains passing by in Rishra.

The police report submitted to the Calcutta High Court also detailed the situation over the continued tension on April 3.

As per the reports, that evening when the police contingent was patrolling at Rishra Rail-Gate area, a group of around 500 people suddenly attacked the cops with sticks, stones and bricks.

They also started pelting stones at the trains passing by. The police had to resort to lathi charge and charging of teargas shells to bring the situation under control.

Courtesy: The Daily Siasat

The post Ram Navami processionists instigated violence in Rishra, Bengal police tell court appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Ahead of the Hanuman Jayanti festival to be on April 6, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) released an advisory on April 5, asking states to ensure law and order and monitor factors that could disturb “communal harmony in society”. The advisory comes in the wake of a series of incidents of communal violence reported on the occasion of Ram Navami last week, on March 30 to April 1, from the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand.

The Ministry said in a tweet on Wednesday, “MHA has issued an advisory to all States in preparation for Hanuman Jayanti. The governments are encouraged to ensure the maintenance of law and order, peaceful observance of the festival, and monitoring of any factors that could disturb communal harmony in society.”

During the occasion of Ram Navami, many districts of West Bengal reported Incidents of violence, anti-Muslim hate speech, arson and stone pelting. The State witnessed chaos and disharmony on March 30 in Howrah where several vehicles were torched and shops ransacked. A day after at Rishra area in neighbouring Hooghly district, clashes were reported in West during a Ram Navami procession in which BJP national vice president Dilip Ghosh and party’s Pursurah MLA Biman Ghosh were present. The MLA was injured and hospitalised. Parts of the nearby Serampore also witnessed incidents of vandalism following which prohibitory orders were imposed and internet services suspended.

On April 4, the Ministry had sought a detailed report from the West Bengal government following a letter by Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) State president Sukanta Majumdar to Home Minister Amit Shah, where he alleged police inaction. He blamed the State Director General of Police Manoj Malaviya for harassing members of the Hindu community while turning a blind eye to the criminals and culprits from the minority community.

Calcutta HC directs Bengal government to requisition central forces to maintain peace

On April 5, the Calcutta High Court directed the West Bengal government to requisition central forces for assisting the state police in maintaining peace during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations. The court said in view of events in the recent past, during Ram Navami, the order was being given to assure the general public that they are safe and will not be affected by any disturbance.

The High Court has ordered the state government that the Central forces has to be deployed in the sensitive areas where there is a chance of violence during upcoming Hanuman Jayanti. The court has observed that the government must ensure the security of the common people as the top priority. The state has responded to the High Court stating that they are ready to deploy paramilitary forces.

No political leader should make any comments that disturbs peace and harmony, the order also observed. Notably, amid the imposition of section 144, there are still tensions across several areas in the state.

On April 3, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had claimed there are plans afoot for another round of violence in the State on Thursday, April 6, when the nation celebrates Hanuman Jayanti. According to her, several rallies and processions by religious and civil society groups are planned across the country on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. 

Observing that prevention is better than cure, a division bench presided by Acting Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam directed the West Bengal government to requisition central forces to avoid any breach of peace when Hanuman Jayanti rallies are taken out on Thursday.

The court also directed the Centre to make swift arrangements for such deployment on receipt of requisition from the state.

As provided by Bar and Bench, Advocate General S N Mookherjee told the court that around 2,000 applications have been received by the police in the state for holding Hanuman Jayanti rallies. The order came on a PIL filed by Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari.

2019 MHA Advisory

On January 17, 2019 also, a Special Advisory had been issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (No. V-11026/71/2016-Arms) for “Restraining misuse of firearms for celebratory purpose” In this advisory, the MHA has drawn attention to an concerns raised by the Hon’ble Delhi High Court in its order dated September 13, 2017 passed in WP (C) No. 4057/2016 & WP (C) No. 10283/2016 regarding loss of precious lives, grievous injuries and loss of property caused due to illegal celebratory firing in marriages, public gatherings, religious places / processions, parties, political rallies etc

This 2019 MHA Advisory drew attention to the “appropriate provisions are enshrined in Chapter IV and Chapter V of the Arms Act, 1959 and Chapter IV of the Arms Rules, 2016 for curbing illegal uses of firearms which are to be enforced by the State/UT Police and suitable penal actions are to be initiated in case of any infringement of referred provisions occurs. In addition, Form-III of the Arms Rule-2016 under which individual arms licences are issued, subject to restriction on the licences, inter-alia, not to resort to brandishing of fire arms in public place and carrying or discharge a fire arm in built up area or any public place on the occasion of marriage, public assembly, fair or procession or any public event. Nevertheless incidents of loss of precious lives, grievous injuries and loss of property with the use of licenses as well as unlicensed firearms takes place on account of celebratory firing which is a matter of grave concern.

Further the advisory also stated that since ‘Police and Public Order are the subject matter of States/UT under the Constitution, therefore, the effective enforcement of Law/Rules/advisories laid down by Central Government is the responsibility of the States/UT. In this regard, Ministry of Home Affairs has already issued advisory on the subject matter vide letter no. V-11026/71/2016-Arms dated 16.06.2016 (copy enclosed at Annexure-2 of the advisory).

The MHA advisory directed that states must “ensure that strict legal actions are taken, as per the provisions contained in the Arms Act, 1959, the Arms Rules, 2016 and other relevant provisions of IPC and Cr.PC, against the person(s) indulged in the illegal practices of celebratory firing in marriages, public gatherings, religious places / processions, parties, political rallies etc. so as to curb such incidences. Further, licences of such perpetrators or any licences who violates the provisions of Arms Act,1959, the Arms Rules, 2016, to be cancelled in accordance with the law.” It is crucial that this advisory which clearly seems to have remained on paper, unimplemented even in the capital of Delhi where the police report directly to the Union Home Ministry, is implemented.

Several if not all such processions in recent times have witnessed the phenomenon of arms being brandished while the processions are on and hence we thought it fit to bring this to your notice.

Tragically despite such repeated advisories states continue to experience violence during processions that are becoming increasingly belligerent and aggressive, making a mockery of the festivals they are supposed to celebrate.

Related:

Majoritarian Politics via Ram Navami Processions and Opportunist Muslim Elites

Ram Navami violence by Aaj Tak calls into question the lopsided portrayal of communally sensitive news

Hindutva mobs in Bihar run amok, cause loss of Rs. 6 crores

Hindutva’s role in riots and official complicity

What was CJP’s PIL seeking directions for implementation of law for regulation of religious processions all about?

Ram Navami: West Bengal administration on alert as 2000 celebrations planned

Police to closely monitor Ram Navami processions in Hyderabad and Mumba

The post Hot on the heels of the violence of Ram Navami, MHA issues advisory to states to ensure law and order during Hanuman Jayanti celebration appeared first on SabrangIndia.

One can clearly see that there is quite a discernible pattern in the geography and stridence of majoritarian violence in the wake of Ram Navami processions last week. The provinces (regions) where BJP hasn’t ever been the sole hegemonic governing party, such as West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, etc., the intensity was more virulent. These provinces of India are yet to offer a complete hegemonic state power to the BJP. In other words, the conquest of Hindutva remains an unfinished business, just yet. The long cherished saffron goal of complete subjugation, marginalization, invisibilization of Muslims remain far from accomplished. Moreover, no other route fetches as much of electoral majoritarian consolidation as the industry of communal hatred and polarisation. This should explain the recent disturbances in the name of Ram Navami. This also explains why Uttar Pradesh has seen relatively lesser instances of such aggressions last week. The insinuation/message was almost clear from the Union Home Minister: Vote for us, else, we will hang you upside down!

In Bihar, certain pockets were targeted rather more intensely. For instance, Nalanda, being the home turf of the incumbent chief minister Nitish Kumar, suffered greater fury; so much so that a very old theological seminary of Muslims, the Madrasa Aziziyah, has been ransacked irredeemably. Its valuable historic library of rare collections has been burnt down to ashes. The politically fragile Nitish Kumar has been making, breaking and re-making alliances with the BJP and its main challenger RJD alternately. Currently, Nitish Kumar is governing in alliance with the RJD. Bihar’s chief secretary is a Muslim, Amir Subhani, who had topped the list of the extremely daunting competitive examination in 1987. His success went on to inspire average lower middle class Muslim students to pursue the career within this elite services. This could have been an added impulse of the majoritarian hate-mongers to ‘show the Muslims their place’.     

A note on the history of this residential seminary is, therefore, important. This was founded in 1896 by Bibi Soghra (1815-1908), the widow of Abdul Aziz. The Soghra Waqf Estate is believed to be one of the wealthiest Estates in Bihar. The total property of Soghra Waqf Estate was 28,500 bigha spread in different districts of Bihar like Patna, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Darbhanga, Nalanda, Nawada, Gaya, Sheikhpura (Barbigha) and Bhagalpur. Besides this seminary, the Soghra Waqf runs institutions of modern education in Biharshrif, such as a high school (founded in 1917), and a college (founded in 1978). Remnants of its heritage houses or monuments still survive in the towns of Muzaffarpur and Biharsharif.

Ironically, the theologian of Pehnasa (Nalanda), Maulana Sajjad (1880-1940) of the Imarat-e-Shariah, Phulwarisharif (Patna), was a fierce critic of Jinnah’s two-nation theory. In his essay in Naqeeb, an Urdu weekly of the Imarat-e-Shariah, dated February 20, 1940, ‘Firqa-waaraana Muaamlaat ka faisla kin Usoolon per hona chahiye? (On what principles should the communal affairs be decided?)’,  Maulana Sajjad had written that the leaders of a multi-religious society like India should work out the limits of religious freedom which should be based on the judicious treatment of all sects. He writes that one’s faith should not be demonstrated in a public in a manner which proves hazardous to other faiths — it should not be provocative. He advised that no religious procession of any sect, or community, should be allowed in public spaces. While this may not be appreciated by all, he argues, that this is, nevertheless, desirable and judicious. Moreover, it will do away with frequent communal riots, he said.

Unfortunately, despite the recurrent troubles almost for the last one and a half century, rather than heeding such suggestions to sincerely work out effective resolution, there have been competitive identitarian politics in colonial as well as post-independence eras. Historically, such games have been played from both sides, while state power was in the hands of opportunistically (and therefore, occasionally) communal parties and a partisan administration. In recent years, things have changed drastically. Now, the overtly majoritarian party is not only in state power at the centre and in many provinces (regions/states), but also, its political hegemony in large parts of the country is near absolute. The state apparatuses have got embedded, and even more importantly, fairly huge proportion of the masses have been acutely and dangerously communalised. The criminal justice system especially with regard to communal violence has always been weak, fragile and partisan. In recent years, the large sections of media, particularly the electronic-visual ones, have been contributing rather much menacingly towards actively spreading anti-Muslim hatred.

In this context, one more thing needs to be kept in mind. In recent years, a rapid radicalisation of youth has taken place, across several castes and communities. Informed observers on the ground of Bihar will testify to this. In Bihar, sections of the youth among the Yadavas and the fishermen communities of Mallahs have joined the Bajrang Dal in large numbers. Several of my previous essays have recorded the details of these, particularly the ones I wrote on the Azizpur (Muzaffarpur) violence of January 2015, Lalganj (Vaishali) violence of 2015, as also the Make[y]r (Saran) violence of August 2016.   

See Through the Brazen Opportunism of Muslim Elites

Obviously, this “cumulative radicalisation” has not happened suddenly in recent years. It must be repeatedly stated that post-Independence understanding about fighting communalism has been more than a bit flawed. The Nehruvian understanding was that the Muslim communalism was a stronger force in the late colonial era, receiving a fillip from the active prodding from the colonial state. However, after independence, it is the majority communalism which is a bigger danger. In this understanding, at the practical level of fighting it, what was missed was that majority communalism derived much fodder from minority communalism. In other words, notwithstanding the varying implications of the two communalisms, there ought not to have been any letting off on the front of fighting out against the two variants. Most of the ‘secular’ parties, including the Left and the post-Congress regional parties, committed this specific error. Most of the religious and modern educated Muslim leaders have contributed immensely towards stoking majoritarian communalism. There has been a huge deficit on their part in persuading the Muslims to make efforts towards ‘secularising’ their socio-political spaces.

While making this proposition, am not referring only to the crucial issue of reforming Muslim Personal Laws. I have said enough on this specific aspect in my various columns over the past many years: various ‘secular’ regimes have disgustingly appeased the Muslim conservatives and thereby kept eroding their own credibility among the majority community. For the past three decades I have been studying, living and working in a Muslim majority space, which is the Muslim University campus in Aligarh. I have been watching the behaviour, attitude and conduct of the Muslim elite.

Just one instance! The issue of maintenance to the separated and divorced women still remains unresolved. That is decided in accordance with the secular law, Criminal Procedure Code, Section 125. Has the largest residential university of modern education, the AMU, getting Rs 1200 crores from the Consolidated Fund of India, contributed towards resolving such issues? No. What was their role in at the time of the Shah Bano controversy in the mid-late 1980s? Tremendous, as testified by The Telegraph (August 24, 1985). The scholars from the Aligarh Muslim University had joined their ranks with the patriarchic and reactionary forces such as the Muslim Personal Law Board and the Jamaat-e-Islami-e-Hind, as has been demonstrated by Saumya Saxena, in her recent book, Divorce and Democracy.

In response to the Shayera Bano issue (2017), have any significant number of the AMU academics written and spoken against the Muslim Law Board who shamelessly remain intransigent even on the un-Quranic practice of Instant Triple Talaq or divorce (ITT)? No. Insiders do know it pretty well, as to where does the overwhelming majority of AMU fraternity stand on all such issues of reforms!

Now, coming to the more recent issue on the AMU campus! Certain column writers have exposed, which is kind of a big scam. Over the last 103 years, all the Vice Chancellors (VCs) have been the male descendents of the upper caste elites of Uttar Pradesh and Hyderabad Nizam bureaucracy. The most progressive among the AMU faculty are not prepared even to acknowledge this mega scam. A retired professor of political Science, reacting against this, went on to write that “some stray dogs are barking”. The faculty is not even prepared to do adopt any corrective measures like for example, through their autonomous Executive Council, a substantial part of which comprises of regional lobbies operative in AMU. At the moment, one fourth (25%) of its members belong to just one district of UP. The academics fiercely denying such a scam have been promoted by a most progressive TV news anchor, not long ago. In short, the state as well as the progressive groups among the sections of civil society, have been extending support, more often, to the regressive among the Muslim elites.           

How many of such AMU academics and column-writers have had their past affiliation with the Muslim Right Wing, is hardly a matter of conjecture for informed insiders. Some of them have now suddenly turned to flattering the incumbent saffron regime, quite openly in their columns and videos. Thus, though they gained self-promotion under the ‘secular’ regime despite their proclivities towards or affiliation with the Muslim Right Wing, and now they are all set to gain personal favours from the current saffron regime. This opportunism needs to be exposed more bluntly and candidly. Once such opportunists are exposed and the community is alienated away from them, their worth would come down too low to be co-opted by the regime.

The minoritarians (some of them have grown up as Left student activists in the campuses) as well as sections of the Liberal-Left-progressives have all along been finding limitations and majoritarian biases in the Constitution, just as the Hindu Right has been saying that the Constitution is not Hindu enough. This exercise in corrosion has now reached the extent that even the arguably limited space granted to the minorities in the Constitution is now under severe threat; in fact, that stands substantially eroded, by now.

Hapless Muslims must be rescued not only from the majoritarian forces, they also need to be rescued away from the regressive and opportunist elites from among their own community.

Why am I harking back to such arguments rather more frequently?

This is for two reasons: the immediate one, and the other one has got more to do with what has been happening particularly since the 1980s. The immediate one is again to be seen through what has been happening in the AMU. Seeking favours from the current saffron regime is increasingly becoming a trend and is increasingly getting approval from a section of the Muslim elite. Certain AMU academics have been writing columns to welcome Hindu Rashtra, to drop secularism from the Constitution, etc. Such column-writing academics have been getting felicitations from the AMU alumni groups in India and abroad, particularly the ones in Lucknow, Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha, Dubai, USA, etc.  Large number of AMU academics, aspiring to become Vice Chancellors, has been thronging around the RSS offices and functionaries. They have been hosting parties and felicitations to certain pracharaks. These instances seem to suggest that certain self-serving Muslim elites thrive on persecution of Muslim masses.

These persons from among self-serving Muslim elites seem to be sending a loud and clear message to, or mocking at, the Secularists: “Dear liberal-secularists and Leftists, you fight for mere existential survival of the masses of Muslims, while we, the classes of Muslims would do everything to seek some privileged positions from the majoritarian rulers”. After each round of atrocities against Muslims, one or the other elite individual of Muslims get some favour of office or nomination in legislature.      

What we have been witnessing in India essentially since 2014, is basically an outcome of the grave errors which were committed by the ‘secular’ politics in the 1980s. This has been amply demonstrated in the two books of 2021, viz., Vinay Sitapati’s, India Before Modi and Christophe Jaffrelot’s Modi’s India. Jaffrelot says that in 2014, India became de facto ethnic democracy, and in 2019, it ushered in the era of competitive authoritarianism. Secularists’ refusal to “secualrise” or progressivise the Muslims has also contributed towards saffronisation of segments of Hindus.

Since the 1980s-1990s, there is one more development that needs comment. Owing to affluence among the subaltern Muslims through West Asian remittance as well as benefit of economic liberalisation accruing to the artisan communities of Muslims have created jealousies, as well as economic conflicts and rivalries among the corresponding castes and classes of Hindus at the grassroots level. Their identitarian assertion via religious processions in certain festivals such as Julus-e-Muhammadi, and rising number of well-built shining mosques with taller aspires and domes have contributed to the jealousies and rivalries. Saffronization of subaltern Hindus has happened also because of this. These neo rich Muslims, particularly in Bihar-UP-West Bengal, have also found much representation in the local bodies.

Also, Hindu elites working as corporate executives in the West Asian countries increasingly feel that the Hindus have now arrived in the 21^st century and that the Hindu identity should also find a place of recognition in the world. In this context, as evident from some of the social media narratives, they are now making a narrative that when in 6^th -7^th centuries or earlier, the Arabs were backward enough to have been grazing camels and goats in deserts, India had kingdoms, empires, art, architecture, literature, governance, etc.

Muslims have theocratic states in those regions. This creates sort of urge among these Hindus to have a Hindu theocratic state in India. In short, India’s Muslims taking pride in the petro-affluence of the Arab countries or taking historical-cultural vicarious pride in “they” having been the rulers of India, further creates certain psychological anxieties among large section of Hindus. Muslims, arguably, not taking as much of pride in India’s pre-medieval or ancient past, is also something which provides some pretext or fodder to the saffron narrative-makers.

The sections of Muslims basking in the reflected glory of the medieval rulers need to dismount the high horse of “having-been-rulers”. Things have changed rather drastically. The sooner they mend their attitudes the better would it be for their pluralist co-existence.

A Small Step towards Finding a Way Out    

India’s Muslims and the Liberal-Left need to do much self-introspection and stock-taking. Soft-pedaling with, or, appeasement of, the Muslim regressive forces need to be called out rather more candidly and their opportunist elites need to be exposed. Their crassest opportunism is on full display in their columns and videos. A mere reading of the texts and speeches of Golwalkars and Savarkars by the Liberal-Left (and also by the regressive and progressive Muslims) are not going to help anymore in fighting the Neo Hindutva.

The abovementioned steps however will possibly contribute a bit towards weaning away a section of newly saffronised Hindus to the side of the pluralists, once again. As of now, one can see, the Liberal-Left are staying away from such debates (on democratization of Muslim controlled institutions and also for justice based on gender, caste and region) within the Muslim communities. Without this, a broader and credible front of anti-majoritarian resistance and mobilization may not be possible.  Given the pace of the rise of “cumulative radicalisation” in India and beyond, the build-up for anti-majoritarian resistance and solidarity doesn’t have much time to wait further.

The challenge is unusual (and desperate), the solution too has to be less conventional.

Related:

Ram Navami violence by Aaj Tak calls into question the lopsided portrayal of communally sensitive news

Hindutva mobs in Bihar run amok, cause loss of Rs. 6 crores

Hindutva’s role in riots and official complicity

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The post Majoritarian Politics via Ram Navami Processions and Opportunist Muslim Elites appeared first on SabrangIndia.

From the Instagram account  of Pramod Kumar KG

Burning a library is called Cultural Cleaning. In 1933 Nazi dominated student groups burned the “un-German” writings of Jewish, liberal, and leftist writers. A hint of what was to come is what the world saw during World War II. The Jewish people bore the brunt of this persecution. Books were a precursor to what would happen to humans subsequently.

My fellow Muslim citizens, friends, and colleagues are going through unimaginable horror and humiliations every day. As per reports, armed mobs vandalized a madrasa in Bihar Sharif’s Murapur locality and set fire to a 110-year-old library, reducing nearly 4500 books to ashes, allegedly in the aftermath of a Ram Navmi procession.

No culture anywhere in the world, past or present is immune to this kind of violence against literature and learning. From 5th century BCE Greece, where the works of Protagoras were burnt to Mosul’s (Iraq) central library’s where nearly one hundred thousand books were burnt in 2014 by ISIS – burning books is emblematic of the bigoted, the angry and the misguided.

But Odantupur Vihar now called Bihar Sharif, the site of the latest act of book burning is no stranger to its libraries being destroyed. Bakhtiyar Khalji by most (not all) accounts destroyed its libraries and the university of Nalanda Mahavihara around c.1200. Have we not really learnt anything in the ensuing 8 hundred years? What is it about books that alarms people? For a culture that purports to celebrate the worship of Saraswati the goddess of knowledge – when did burning books become acceptable?

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The post ‘Books now, humans later’: An ominous warning for the nation appeared first on SabrangIndia.