right-wing outfits | SabrangIndia News Related to Human Rights Thu, 19 Jun 2025 11:19:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://sabrangindia.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Favicon_0.png right-wing outfits | SabrangIndia 32 32 Right-wing outfits and NCP MLA’s protest led to dismissal of 114 Muslim workers at Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra https://sabrangindia.in/right-wing-outfits-and-ncp-mlas-protest-led-to-dismissal-of-114-muslim-workers-at-shani-shingnapur-temple-in-maharashtra/ Thu, 19 Jun 2025 11:04:48 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=42334 In Ahmednagar’s Shri Shani Shingnapur temple, 114 Muslim workers were among 167 dismissed by the Shri Shaneshwar Devasthan trust. While the reasons cited were alleged disciplinary lapses it is no coincidence that right-wing groups—Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), Sakal Hindu Samaj (SHS), and an MLA belonging to the NCP—had earlier protested and demanded the removal of Muslim employees at temple, claiming temple donations serve ‘Hindu causes’ and that the ‘sanctity of temple’ would be marred; following dismissals, these groups hailed the action, while the temple trust denied religious bias

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]]> Shani Shingnapur, a village renowned for its unique tradition of houses without doors or locks, now finds itself at the centre of a different kind of closure. The Shri Shaneshwar Devasthan Trust, which oversees the administration of the revered temple, has made a controversial decision on June 14, 2025 that effectively closed its doors to a significant number of Muslim workers. Through the dismissal of 167 contractual employees, a striking 114 of whom are Muslim, the Trust has ignited a heated debate.

This move by the temple authorities came directly on the heels of intense pressure and vocal demands from pro-right-wing organisations and even a local NCP MLA, all demanding for the removal of non-Hindu workers from the temple’s operations. A protest rally led by Ahmednagar (Ahilyanagar) NCP MLA Sangram Jagtap was also organised on June 14, 2025.

Following pressure from right-wing outfits, the Shani Shingnapur Temple Trust held internal meetings on June 8 and 14. Soon after these closed-door deliberations, the Trust issued dismissal orders for 167 workers, marking a significant and controversial move, as per a report in Maktoob Media.

While the temple management has vehemently denied any allegations of religious discrimination or bias, asserting that the decision was based purely on absenteeism and subpar work performance, the timing of these dismissals has raised significant concerns.

Occurring just days after the public outcries from Hindutva groups, the sequence of events has led many observers to question the true underlying motives behind the Trust’s actions. The stark contrast between the village’s open-door philosophy and the sudden closure of opportunities for Muslim workers at the temple presents a complex and troubling narrative.

Viral video showing Muslim workers doing work near the temple ignites controversy and demands for exclusion

The seeds of this controversy were sown in May, when a video clip rapidly gained traction across social media platforms. This footage depicted Muslim individuals engaged in painting and maintenance activities in the vicinity of the revered Shani Shingnapur temple. Almost immediately, the video became a flashpoint, drawing sharp criticism and objections from an array of right-wing organisations and leaders.

Their core demand was unequivocal–non-Hindus, they insisted, should be barred from working within the ‘sacred precincts of the shrine’. This chorus of demands quickly intensified, building considerable pressure on the temple administration.

Notably, these terminations occurred without any prior public hearing or a formal, impartial investigation into the allegations or the workers’ performance. This abrupt action, coming on the heels of the viral video and the escalating demands, further fuelled the contentious narrative surrounding the temple’s employment practices.

Right-wing outfits earlier demanded the removal of the Muslim workers

The pro-right-wing organisations, including the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and Sakal Hindu Samaj (SHS), led the campaign demanding the removal of Muslim workers from the Shani Shingnapur temple. These groups vehemently demanded the immediate removal of Muslim workers, expressing concerns about the sanctity of the temple and what they perceived as a disregard for Hindu sentiments.

Just a day before the dismissals, the HJS publicly called for immediate action. Through their official social media handle on X (formerly Twitter), the HJS stated, “Shocking! 114 Muslim workers deployed inside the sacred Shani Shingnapur temple; grill installed on holy platform, hurting Hindu sentiments. Demand for their immediate removal & strict action on officials who allowed this — @SG_HJS, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti. Govt urged to adopt Tirupati-like Hindu-only staff policy!”

Similarly, the Sakal Hindu Samaj, an allied pro-right-wing outfit of the HJS, also voiced its concerns days before the removal decision. The outfit, through a social media post on X, directly appealed to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for immediate intervention, questioning the very sanctity of the temple with the presence of Muslim workers. Their post on X read:

“Shani Mandir Trust at Shani Shingnapur in #Ahilyanagar has given jobs to 118 Muslims. These heretics do not believe in #Hindu gods, how will they maintain the sanctity of this temple? Are we waiting for another #Tirupati laddu fiasco to happen or readying ourselves for opening of Mecca and Medina for non Muslims ? Especially since this temple comes under the control of the #Maharashtra government Request to @Dev_Fadnavis to take immediate action on this and maintain the sanctity of the temple.”

Right-wing outfits hail dismissals, call for similar review and action at other temples

Following the temple trust’s decision, right-wing outfits Sakal Hindu Samaj and Acharya Tushar Bhosale, chief of the BJP Spiritual Coordination Front, celebrated the move. Bhosale explicitly stated the dismissals were a direct result of pressure from a “grand march” organised by “the entire Hindu society” in protest of Muslim employees. He hailed it as a “victory of the unity of the entire Hindu society,” indicating a clear intent to influence temple employment practices based on religious identity.

Bhosale said that, “In protest of the appointment of Muslim employees at the Shani Shingnapur temple, all of us, under the leadership of the entire Hindu society, organized a grand march yesterday. But under the pressure of this march, the temple administration has announced that they are removing the Muslim employees from their jobs. I congratulate all the Shani devotees of the country and the entire Hindu society, because this is a victory of the unity of the entire Hindu society”

Similarly, the Sakal Hindu Samaj commended the temple’s action. They framed the dismissals as a response to “anger in the Hindu community” over Muslim employees allegedly installing grills on a sacred platform.

Beyond endorsing the Shingnapur decision, the Sakal Hindu Samaj, along with organisations like Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, has now publicly demanded investigations into the appointments of “people of other religions” in other government-managed temples, urging their “immediate” removal.

Temple body denies religious bias, cites performance issues amid discrimination allegations

Amid mounting allegations of religious discrimination, temple officials at Shani Shingnapur have firmly denied that faith played any role in the mass dismissal of workers. They claim the decision was based purely on operational efficiency, pointing out that only around 900 of the 2,400 contracted workers were regularly reporting for duty, while the rest were allegedly underperforming or frequently absent.

However, the move has sparked controversy, as the majority of those dismissed were low-wage Muslim labourers engaged in essential but menial tasks—such as sweeping, tending to the cowshed, agricultural work, and performing routine administrative duties. Many of these workers were hired without formal employment contracts, leaving them vulnerable and without legal safeguards.

Critics argue that the lack of documented performance reviews and transparent processes raises serious questions about the fairness and intent behind the dismissals, especially in light of the preceding pressure from right-wing groups demanding the removal of Muslim staff.

Controversy not new to Shingnapur

Religious discrimination is not a first-time controversy for the Shingnapur. In September 2024, Shingnapur Gram Panchayat passed a controversial resolution barring the registration of new Muslim voters, specifically targeting “recently arrived” individuals. Justified under claims of preventing “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants,” the move demanded the removal of existing Muslim names from electoral rolls. Civil rights groups condemned it as unconstitutional and sought legal action against the panchayat. Following widespread backlash, Sarpanch Rasika Patil issued a public apology, stating the resolution was misrepresented and no such action would be taken.

This incident followed an earlier resolution in August 2023, where the panchayat prohibited the allotment of village land for religious events—another decision widely criticised for targeting minority communities. Together, these actions suggest a troubling pattern of exclusion under the guise of administrative control.

Related:

The Right to Worship my God

Faith Knows No Religion: Banke Bihari Temple again rejects boycott call against Muslim artisans and businesses

Harmony vs disharmony in 2 states: Kerala temple welcomes Muslims; MP temple fires Muslims

 

 

 

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]]> Why does Karachi Bakery always give the right wing goons heartburn? https://sabrangindia.in/why-does-karachi-bakery-always-give-right-wing-goons-heartburn/ Sat, 21 Nov 2020 09:23:19 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2020/11/21/why-does-karachi-bakery-always-give-right-wing-goons-heartburn/ Ignorant Shiv Sena member turns up the heat on the beloved sweet shop in Bandra, that has everything to do with Hyderabad, Telangana, and nothing to do with Karachi, Pakistan!

The post Why does Karachi Bakery always give the right wing goons heartburn? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

]]> Image Courtesy:bolnews.com

Karachi bakery and sweets have everything to do with Hyderabad, Telangana, and nothing to do with Karachi, Pakistan. However goons from right-wing outfits do not have a sense of geography or history, nor do they appear to have any inclination to process a simple internet search to find facts. Instead they have whatsapp university forwards, a few supporters and a loud voice which they hope their political masters can hear over the din of their rants.

One such man, one Nitin Nandgaokar who claims to be a Shiv Sena leader threatened a sweet shop owner to  cover the ‘Karachi’ in the shop’s name, was snubbed a day later by  Sena leader Sanjay Raut who said the goon’s act was “not our official stand”. Nandgaokar had threatened the shop owner forcing him to cover/ change the name saying, “you have to do it, we’re giving you time. Change ‘Karachi’ to something in Marathi,” and he made sure he was recorded on video too. A typical strategy of goons who hope for political patronage after such videos go viral on social media and are noticed by political leaders. The sweet shop owner in Mumbai’s Bandra West did end up covering its name on the signboard with a newspaper.

https://twitter.com/Ashish_Said_So/status/1330051506968678402

 

Khanchand Ramnani, the founder of Karachi Bakery, who moved to Hyderabad (now Telangana) after Partition, would never have imagined the name of his shop, famous for delicious cookies, will cause so much heartburn to right wing goons. The goons have attacked Karachi Bakery in various parts of India, at different times, demanding the name be removed or changed to something ‘Indian’. Karachi was a part of undivided India when, in 1953 Ramnani opened the first outlet of the bakery in Hyderabad. The place went on to earn iconic fame with its top of the line cookies laden with fruits and nuts. Now packets are sold across the world for those craving nostalgia. The only thing connecting it to Pakistan is the fact that the founder was born there, like many others who went on to find their high ranks and fame in India. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s current patriarch, and co-founder, Lal Krishna Advani, who was the Deputy Prime Minister of India from 2002 to 2004 under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was born in Karachi on November 8, 1927. 

However the goons do not care when they vandalise the franchise whenever they want. It is yet to be seen if Shiv Sena ‘punishes’ its member who decided to threaten the shop owner, after its Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Raut, clarified that the demand for changing the shop’s name is not the party’s official stance. Raut stated: “Karachi bakery and karachi sweets have been in Mumbai since the last 60 years. They have nothing to do with Pakistan. It makes no sense to ask for changing their names now.Demand for changing their name is not shiv sena’s official stance.”

https://twitter.com/rautsanjay61/status/1329388470855352322

 

While Shiv Sena seems embarrassed of its goon, the former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP thought it was the best time to claim that “one day Karachi will be a part of India” or what the Bharatiya Janata Party calls ‘Akhand Bharat’. Fadnavis gave this statement when he was asked about the Mumbai incident. 

https://twitter.com/vinaytiwari9697/status/1330055348800065543

 

A Karachi Bakery outlet was attacked last year in Bengaluru, Karnataka over the name ‘Karachi’ , as was its small outlet in Delhi. This was soon after the Pulwama terror attack when 40 CRPF jawans were killed. Eventually, nine men were arrested for threatening the outlet’s staff, the Deccan Herald had reported.  This time too, while no news of arrests have come in social media has had the best reactions to this controversy.

https://twitter.com/Sydusm/status/1329441968930377728

 

https://twitter.com/DrRupani/status/1329700063598178304

 

https://twitter.com/inquestioner/status/1326855395650928645

 

Some leading lights of the RW even gave Karachi Bakery more business by  ordering more cookies online. 

https://twitter.com/TajinderBagga/status/1329376671766515712

 

Related:

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Agra to be renamed? Univ panel to examine if city had ‘ancient’ name
What’s in a Name: Why renaming of Feroze Shah Kotla Stadium furthers an Agenda
Aurangabad railway station renamed as Sambhaji Nagar by unidentified saffron-clad 

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