On February 22, the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation sent a letter to the Navi Mumbai Police, urging them to take preventive action against the proposed Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha, which is proposed to be held on February 26 in Navi Mumbai by the Sakal Hindu Samaj, or face contempt of the Supreme Court. In a letter to the Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe, MGF President, Tushar A. Gandhi – the great grandson of the Mahatma – stressed on the rising incidents of hate speeches and rallies being organised in Mumbai, in other cities and towns in Maharashtra, with police “not showing any concern”. Gandhi is also a petitioner against hate offenders in the Supreme Court.
In the letter, Gandhi had written that these rallies have the potential to disrupt social harmony.
The Sakal Hindu Samaj, an apex organisation of Hindu-nationalist organizations, had scheduled a Hindu Jan Akrosh rally to protest against “cow slaughter, ‘love jihad,’ and religious conversions” for February 26 in Vashi. The said even will now be videographed as per the Supreme Court directives.
“Due to this apathy on the part of the law enforcement agencies, concerned citizens are compelled to move the courts to ensure implementation of several orders passed by the highest courts of the land,” Tushar Gandhi told the media.
Videography for preventive measures
The decision for video-shooting was announced by Navi Mumbai Commissioner of Police Milind Bharambe after MGF president Tushar Gandhi sought preventive measures for the rally.
Meanwhile, Shashikant Yadav, a representative of Vishwa Hindu Parishad from Navi Mumbai said, “Under the umbrella of Sakal Hindu Samaj, all Hindu organisations will assemble at Blue Diamond Chowk in Kopri Vashi around 3pm on February 26, and will march towards Shivaji Chowk in Sector 17,” as was reported by the Free Press Journal.
Yadav stated that reports of ‘love jihad’ and religious conversions from across the country cannot be viewed in isolation.
Recently, the Supreme Court had directed the Maharashtra police to ensure that permission is granted to the organizers, the Sakal Hindu Samaj, only if there is no hate speech. It also directed that the event be videotaped and that the videos be made available to the court on the next date.
CJP’s efforts to curb hate- memos seeking preventive actions by the police and elected members
On February 7, Citizens for Justice Peace (CJP) had raised some concerns about the proposed event being organized by Sakal Hindu Samaj on February 9 in Baramati, Maharashtra, and had sent a preemptive memorandum to the authorities of Baramati. Through the memorandum, CJP had brought to the notice of DGP, Mahasrashtra as well as SP of Rural Pune and Deputy SP of Baramati, that an event was going to be held in Baramati where hate offenders Kalicharan Maharaj and Shankar Gaikar have been invited to speak. Despite the above-mentioned preemptive complaints to the state, district, and local police chiefs, no preventive measures were taken to prevent the event from happening.
On February 20, had once again sent a preemptive memorandum to authorities regarding the proposed event being organized by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti on February 21 in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, and raised some concerns about it. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti is the same organisation that has been giving a platform to hate speech offenders to make hate speech by organising events demanding the establishment of a Hindu nation, boycott of Halal meat, ‘love jihad’, religious conversion and cow slaughter. Through the said memorandum, CJP had brought to the notice of District Collector, Ratnagiri as well as Superintendent of Police (SP), Ratnagiri that a Hindu Rashtra Jagruti Sabha event is going to be held in Dapoli, Ratnagiri wherein hate speeches will be delivered, and calls for establishing a Hindu nation will be made, presumable bytargeting and hurting religious sentiments of minorities.
Despite the pre-emptive notice to the police, as well as to MP Shri Vinayak Bhaurao Raut, Shiv Sena, the event took place and hate speeches were given. The event was broadcasted live on Facebook on the same day.
The Letter may be read here:
Related:
Citizens’ attempts to prevent hate speech event ignored, Hate Event allowed by Ratnagiri Police
CJP COMPLAINT TO DGP, MAHARASHTRA AND NCM AGAINST MISLEADING AND ISLAMOPHOBIC SPEECH BY KALICHARAN
Hate Speech: Kalicharan spews hate against Muslims in protest for “Love-Jihad” law, Maharashtra
CJP’S CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST SHANKAR GAIKAR’S HATE SPEECH AT SHAURYA SANCHALAN
MAHARASHTRA: SHANKAR GAIKAR GIVES ANTI-MUSLIM SPEECH AT SHAURYA PATH SANCHALAN EVENT