06, Jan 2025 | CJP Team

On January 4, 2025, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has filed a formal complaint with the Pune Police, urging immediate preventive action against the “Hindu Rashtra Jagruti Andolan” event scheduled for January 5, 2025, near Balgandharva Theatre, Jungli Maharaj Road, Pune. The event is organized by the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, a right-wing extremist group with a notorious history of promoting hate speech and violence.

CJP stated in its complaint that, the scheduled event, which is scheduled to take place at 4 PM tomorrow i.e. January 5, has raised deep concerns due to the high likelihood of provocative and incendiary speeches that could ignite communal tensions. While the speakers have not been disclosed, the track record of the organizing group strongly indicates that divisive and inflammatory rhetoric will be at the centre of the gathering. These types of events have historically led to an escalation of violence, stoking fear and insecurity within the community.

In line with the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and Bombay High Court, which mandate preventive actions against hate speech and violence, CJP is calling on the Pune authorities to act swiftly. CJP mentioned in its complaint that such gatherings violate the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution and contravene Indian criminal law, particularly by inciting communal violence.

CJP has also pointed to a recent precedent in which the Mahim Police in Mumbai denied permission for a similar rally by the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti. This decision was made in the interest of preserving communal harmony, and CJP urges the Pune authorities to take a similar stance. Immediate preventive measures are crucial to prevent any untoward incidents that may arise from this dangerous event.

HJS’s role in spreading communal hatred and extremism

CJP in its complaint mentioned that, “HJS runs a campaign advocating for the passing of anti-Love Jihad laws in across the country. Extremist Right-wing Hindu groups have been using the term “love-Jihad” loosely now, wielded by an aggressive majoritarianism, woven into a dominant caste Hindu narrative of religious extremism, Islamophobia, and communal hatred. It has also been provided on their website that HJS has been conducting regular workshops to make Hindus “aware” of the consequences of autonomous and free choice marriages, derogatively and provocatively termed ‘Love Jihad.’ This Right-wing extremist organisation has also organized various events in the past advocating for the boycott of Halal and the economic boycott of Muslims in India. Other than this, their websites have also provided a communal colour to issues such as religious conversions and cow slaughter.”

“It is pertinent to note, that in the current environment of oppression and otherisation of the Muslim community, such religious issues when portrayed in a prejudicial or hysterical way, without any rational basis to that questioning, with an intention to pitch views of only one segment/community amounts to stigmatizing of an already marginalized section” as CJP’s mentioned in its complaint.

CJP highlights Supreme Court directives to prevent hate speech

As part of the complaint, CJP also highlighted a series of key directives issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, emphasizing its repeated rulings aimed at preventing social disharmony, hate crimes, and communal violence. These included landmark judgments such as Mohd. Haroon & Ors. v. Union of India [(2014) 5 SCC 252], Firoz Iqbal Khan v. Union of India [W.P (Civ.) No. 956 of 2020], Tehseen Poonawalla v. UOI & Ors. [(2018) 9 SCC 501], and Amish Devgan v. Union of India [2021 1 SCC 1]. The CJP also stressed the interim orders in Shaheen Abdullah v. Union of India [Writ Petition (Civil) No. 940 of 2022], where the Apex Court reaffirmed the police’s statutory duties to take immediate action under Section 151 of the CrPC if hate speech is anticipated. Moreover, the Court mandated video documentation of events where hate speech may occur, reinforcing the need for preventive action.

In light of these directives, the citizen’s delegation urged police officials to invoke Sections 130 (Police to prevent cognizable offences), 131 (Information of design to commit cognizable offences), and 132 (Arrest to prevent cognizable offences) of the BNSS, alongside any other relevant provisions of law. They emphasized that keeping the public informed about developments in such cases would greatly help rebuild faith in the rule of law and strengthen the police-citizen relationship.

Additionally, the complaint presented a comprehensive Handbook titled “Towards a Hate-Free Nation,” which offers clear guidelines and the latest jurisprudence from the Supreme Court and Bombay High Court on combating targeted violence. The booklet outlines essential preventive measures for the police and district administration, ensuring they are equipped to handle events that may involve hate-inciting speeches. CJP firmly believes that combating hate is a collective responsibility that rests on both the concerned citizenry and the authorities.

CJP’s complaint dated January 4, 2025 mey be read here:

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