Shivlings | SabrangIndia

CJP moves UP DGP over Pandit Ravi Sonkar’s death threats to Muslim worshipers at Gyanvapi mosque

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 13:36:00 +0000

Image Courtesy: siasat.com

In wake of a blatant death threat issued to Muslim worshippers at Varanasi’s Gyanvapi mosque by one Pandit Ravi Sonkar, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has urged Uttar Pradesh’s Director General of Police to take strict action against the hate offender.

In out complaint dated May 30, 2022, we have written to UP DGP Dr. Devendra Singh Chauhan apprising him of how Sonkar, who is reportedly a Bajrang Dal member from Kanpur, has openly threatened to kill Muslims who have performed Wazu (traditional ablutions) before offering prayers at Gyanvapi Mosque. In a video that has gone viral, Sonkar accused them of deliberately insulting the “Shivling” that was found in the ablution tank, by washing hands, mouths and feet in it.

It is noteworthy that the mosque authorities say that the stone structure being called a “Shivling” by lawyers of the petitioners in the ongoing case that is being heard before a district court, is just a part of an old defunct fountain. Moreover, no competent authority has authenticated the structure as a “Shivling”, in fact two Mahants of the Kashi temple have debunked the “Shivling” theory. But this has had no effect on right-wing extremists.

“We will behead them,” Sonkar is seen and heard saying in the video clip, for washing “dirty, hands and feet” in the tank. The hardliner also claimed that the Muslim devotees “washed mouths” above the “Shivling”. He is referring to the structure found in the Wazu Khana (pre prayer ablution tank). Trying to sound more dramatic, he then says, “We will chop off those hands, feet, and necks.”

Ravi Sonkar removed the video from his Facebook wall, perhaps fearing police action, after it was exposed on Twitter and then locked his profile which was previously open to public. However, CJP came across a screen recording of his profile along with the video on Twitter and relied upon the same for reporting him.

Hello @kanpurnagarpol @igrangekanpur @Uppolice @KanpurOuterpol @kanpurdehatpol
The guy from Bajrang Dal is threatning to K!|| Muslims who’ve offered prayed in Kashi #GyanvapiMosque pic.twitter.com/yuaTWUmAht

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) May 17, 2022

Considering the sensitive atmosphere today when everyday verbal and physical aggression is being unleashed on certain sections of our population, to the point where minority communities in various parts of India already feel insecure and threatened, the complaint urged the authority to take stringent action in order to set a precedent for like-minded people to prevent them from making such inflammatory statements online with impunity.

According to CJP, this kind of derogatory and inflammatory speech, which is illegal and unconstitutional, violates the provisions of Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Information Technology Act, 2000.

Urging the authority to consider the seriousness of the offence, the complaint relied upon the following judicial precedents prohibiting hate speech:

Jitendra Narayan Tyagi alias Waseem Rizvi vs. State of Uttarakhand [First Bail Application No.161 of 2022] – The Hon’ble Uttarakhand High Court rejecting the bail application of serial hate offender, Jitendra Tyagi, held that Hate Speech didn’t fall under the purview of the fundamental Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression granted under Article 19(1(a) of the Indian Constitution. The Court insisted moreover that “a balance has to be struck between the right to individual liberty and the interest of society,” the Uttarakhand High Court overturned an earlier order by a Sessions Court. Examining closely the balancing rights available under the Indian Constitution, the Court further held, “No right can be absolute, and reasonable restrictions can be placed on them.”

Amish Devgan vs Union Of India 2021 1 SCC 1– The Supreme Court quoted Benjamin Franklin, “It remains difficult in law to draw the outmost bounds of freedom of speech and expression, the limit beyond which the right would fall foul and can be subordinated to other democratic values and public law considerations, so as to constitute a criminal offence. The difficulty arises in ascertaining the legitimate countervailing public duty, and in proportionality and reasonableness of the restriction which criminalises written or spoken words. Further, criminalisation of speech is often demarcated and delineated by the past and recent significant events affecting the nation including explanation of their causes. Therefore, constitutional and statutory treatment of ‘hate speech’ depends on the values sought to be promoted, perceived harm involved and the importance of these harms. Consequently, a universal definition of ‘hate speech’ remains difficult, except for one commonality that ‘incitement to violence’ is punishable.” In that judgement, the Hon’ble Supreme Court elaborated on the concept of Hate Speech by identifying three elements: Content-based, Intent-based, Harm-based/Impact- based. In the same case, the Apex court also cited Andre Sellars from his essay ‘Defining Hate Speech’ where he examined the concept of hate speech in different democratic jurisdictions and formulated common traits in defining ‘hate speech’.

State of Karnataka and anr vs. Dr Pravinbhai Togadia (2004) 4 SCC 684– The Supreme Court held, “Communal harmony should not be made to suffer and be made dependent upon the will of an individual or a group of individuals whatever be their religion bit of a minority or that of the majority… the valuable and cherished right of freedom of expression and speech may at times have to be subjected to reasonable subordination to social interests needs and necessities to preserve the very core of democratic life preservation of public order and rule of law. At some such grave situation at least the decision as to the need and necessity to take private reactions must be left to the discretion of those entrusted with the duty of maintaining law and order and interposition of courts…”

Firoz Iqbal Khan vs Union of India [W.P (Civ.) No. 956 of 2020]– The Supreme Court had held, “… the edifice of a democratic society committed to the rule of law under a regime of constitutional rights, values and duties is founded on the co-existence of communities. India is a melting pot of civilizations, cultures, religions and languages. Any attempt to vilify a religious community must be viewed with grave disfavour by this Court as the custodian of constitutional values.”

Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan v. Union of India, (Ref: AIR 2014 SC 1591, at para. 7.)– The Supreme Court has unambiguously stated that hate speech is an effort to marginalise individuals based on their membership to a group, that can have a social impact. Moreover, the Court stated that hate speech lays the groundwork for broad attacks on the vulnerable that can range from discrimination, to ostracism, deportation, violence, and even to genocide. Therefore, the aforementioned news items are tantamount to the perpetration of genocide, and must be considered to be in violation of Article 21 of the Constitution.

The entire complaint may be read here:

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Hate Watch: Propaganda website Kreately, was first to mock ‘Shivling’

Mon, 23 May 2022 06:13:16 +0000

Image: Website screengrab

Kreately, a right-wing website, once heavily promoted by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kapil Mishra, has made its mark by being the online ‘library’ of fictional claims, and often a repository of fake news. The twitter account @KreatelyMedia was active in calling for arrests of those commenting on “shivlings”. However, it “was first to mock Shivling by coming up with fictional claims” stated fact checkers.

The guy (@KreatelyMedia) who wanted people to be arrested for sharing the nuclear reactor pics was actually the one who was first to mock Shivling by coming up with a fictional claims. pic.twitter.com/nYZ2Jed9ff

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) May 20, 2022

It has made claims such as “Shivling is nothing but nuclear reactors, that’s why they are offered water so that they may remain calm… All the favourite substances of Mahadev such as Bilv Patra, Aakamad, Dhatura, Gudhal etc. are all nuclear energy soaking. Because the water on Shivlinga also becomes reactive, that is why the drainage tube is not crossed.”

And the best, which is once again circulating, and is being seen as an insult by the right wing, “The design of Bhabha Atomic Reactor is also like Shivling” is yet another claim by Kreately. It also claimed that “water offered on Shivling takes the form of medicine together with the flowing water of the river.”

Of late, the website has been active fuelling the Gyanvapi mosque controversy, and the “shivling” reportedly found in the premises seems to have been declared as authentic by it, even before the courts or forensic experts have done so. It has a blogpost, provocatively titled Did Muslims Wash Their Hands And Feet In The Pond Knowing Fully Well That There Is A Shivling? on its pages, knowing fully well that it is a communally sensitive issue.

Kreately, since its birth in May 2020, has grown to be the blog home of all things right-wing, fake news, and communal propaganda. It has a massive menu of subjects including ‘money, politics, interest, religion, art, satire, sports, literature and culture and more’ under which various authors write their opinions or ‘news’.

It claims that its “Mission” is to provide an “ideology agnostic platform that facilitates thoughtful dialogues between various opinions”. However, even a cursory glance at the blogs this site hosts will counter its own claim. There is only the right-wing ideology thriving here. And minorities, especially Muslims are regularly mocked. If not in words, it is via illustrations such as this, which seem either have been picked off Whatsapp university, or sent to it from here.

Here is a sampler often circulated by Whatsapp uncles:

It has also insulted liberal intellectuals and social reformers such as Periyar.

According to an Alt News fact check, “Kreately Media mentions its parent company’s name – Waiable Media Inc.” One of the men behind Waiable Media was Sachin Chitlangia, its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), who had claimed that he lives in the US and “works with Kapil Mishra and team”.

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Delhi professor arrested for post about “Shivling”

Sat, 21 May 2022 05:27:16 +0000

Image Courtesy:india.com

Delhi University students, teachers, and activists gathered at midnight at the Maurice Nagar police station to protest the late night arrest of historian Rattan Lal (50) who works as an associate professor at Delhi University’s Hindu College. Lal was arrested by Delhi Police allegedly for posting objectionable remarks referring to the claims of a “Shivling” being unearthed at the Varanasi’s Gyanvapi mosque.

Police told the media that Professor Ratan Lal “allegedly posted a photo of the structure and made objectionable comments on Tuesday.” Since then, university circles were abuzz with news of impending police action against him. Late on Friday, May 20th he was “summoned for questioning”, and then arrested. According to Indian Express, DCP (North) Sagar Singh Kalsi confirmed the arrest on Friday night. Police told the media that a case was registered against Lal under IPC sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) and 295-A (malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings). The case was reportedly “based on a complaint by a social worker”, stated news reports citing the police. The FIR was registered at Cyber Police Station late Tuesday night, reported IE.

Prof Lal, before his arrest, had shared in a video that he had been getting multiple threats online, and had asked police for “security” and help. According to IE, he said, “I was not expecting threats and abuses for this statement. There is a long tradition of critique in Hinduism from Phule, Ravidas and Ambedkar. Here, I haven’t even critiqued it, it is just an observation. In our country, religious feelings get hurt over anything. What will people do, just put patti (bandage) on their mouths?”

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Cultural heritage destroyed in the name of development, countless Shivlings found in Varanasi drains

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 09:54:39 +0000

Tensions were high as over 126 Shivling sculptures were found just 5 kms away from the Kashi Vishwanath corridor construction site in Rohit Nagar area in Varanasi. Party members of SP, BSP, Congress and religious activists thronged the area to criticize the BJP government.

Image: Twitter / @AnkitLal

Varanasi: Countless Shivling sculptures were found strewn near a drain around the Kashi Vishwanath corridor construction site in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The news reached the local police on Wednesday and prima facie, it looks as if the Shivling’s were tossed aside after excavation for the construction.

Tensions were high as over 126 Shivling sculptures were found just 5 kms away from the construction site in Rohit Nagar area.

The ruling government had promised that the construction for the Kashi Vishwanath corridor around the temple will be undertaken with caution and all the idols, sculptures and religious material unearthed would be treated with respect, care and secured a museum. On Wednesday, numerous Shivling sculptures were found in a community dump near Assi Ghat. The area was gripped by controversy and angry residents were momentarily pacified when the police loaded the sculptures in auto and trucks and moved them away to control the tense situation.

As the news spread, local residents came together to protest the incident. A video was shot which soon went viral on social media. Party members of SP, BSP, Congress and religious activists thronged the area to criticize the BJP government. Many women also expressed their anger over the incident.

According to media reports, a plot near the banks of Assi drain was being dumped with Shivling sculptures on Wednesday. When the locals heard of this, they gathered at the spot and took some of the sculptures with them to their homes. City ADM Vinay Singh and City SP Dinesh Singh arrived at the spot after getting the information. As the situation had become delicate, a police force was deployed in the area.

After SP and Congress members reached the spot, former Congress MLA Ajay Rai, who also ran against PM Modi in the Lok Sabha Polls from the Varanasi seat, urged the police to act after which a case was registered under 295, 153 B and 427 of the IPC.

Many said that the sculptures were thrown on the orders of the BJP

The police said that they will investigate the matter and find out who could have thrown such a large number of sculptures at the spot. Rai targeted the BJP and said the government which consolidated its power in the name of religion has been exposed after this incident. “The BJP govt sought votes in the name of religion and their true face has now been exposed in front of the public. It is in their constituency that these sculptures were thrown in the drain. What could be worse than this? The citizens will never forgive CM Yogi Adityanath,” he said.

Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati’s disciple Swami Avimukteshwaranand, who rushed to the spot along with his disciples alleged that the debris and Shivlings proved that temples and idols of the deities were being destroyed for the project. The group also prayed to sculptures in the debris.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple (KVT) administration, however, claimed that the debris and Shivlings had no connection with KVC, as debris of buildings being removed for the project were being dumped only in the Rajghat area.

The government is taking over the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex by demolishing over a hundred structures, including heritage buildings and temples around it.

“According to informal estimates, as of the second week of November 2018, as many as 168 structures, including about 95 residential buildings, have been taken over. Demolition of these buildings is at various stages of completion. The number of temples and places of worship that have been demolished would be approximately 55, say social activists associated with the Joint Action Committee and the Sajja Sanskriti Manch, which has been monitoring the demolitions,” reported Frontline. The corridor is being built on a Rs. 413 crore budget.

“It is a multipronged undertaking facilitated by various departments of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments in Uttar Pradesh and at the Centre and accompanied by communally polarising propaganda by a clutch of Hindutva-oriented organisations, some of which have sprung up all of a sudden and seem to have been set up especially as part of the “Target Varanasi Project,” the report said.

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