23, May 2022 | CJP Team

In yet another example of how CJP’s sustained campaign against hate helps create real change on the ground, the National Commission for Minorities has, in a letter dated May 13, 2021, forwarded a complaint filed by CJP against Pravin Togadia’s hate speech, to the Chief Secretary, Government of Assam to take necessary action.

In the complaint dated May 5,2022, CJP had written to the NCM bringing to light the derogatory and Islamophobic remarks made by the surgeon-turned-Hindutva leader and president of Antarashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP), Pravin Togadia, at a Trishul Diksha event held in Assam on April 24, 2022. The complaint highlighted Togadia’s virtual call for an ‘ethnic cleansing’ drive under the guise of an oath to eradicate “illegal Bangladeshis” at a ceremony where youth were also encouraged to bear arms like trishuls (traditional tridents).

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Togadia also made communal arguments in favour of a divisive National Register of Citizens (NRC) to weed out the so-called “outsiders”, who are usually just Bengali-speaking Muslims, falsely accused of being illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

In a viral video surfacing on Twitter, Pravin Togadia was seen invoking gods and goddesses to convince the people that the trident is a ‘divine’ weapon. He went on to encourage people to rest only after they “deport 50 Lakh Bangladeshi Muslims, back to Bangladesh.”

Hindu extremist leader Pravin Togadia says that he will distribute weapons (Trident) to 20 million Hindus. pic.twitter.com/1G2JlG3uZI

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) April 24, 2022

In the said complaint, CJP had urged the Hon’ble Commission to:

1. Take cognisance of this complaint under section 9(1)(d) of the National Commission for Minorities, 1992;
2. To direct the attendance of hate monger Pravin Togadia along with the members of his organisation before your commission to examine such allegations under section 9(4)(a) of the Act, 1992;
3. Keep a close eye on the investigation and call for the discovery and production of any document, receive affidavits, requisition any public record or copy thereof from any court or office, issue commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents under section 9(4) (b) to (e) under the Act;
4. To direct the DGP, Assam and Gujarat or any other appropriate authority to investigate the matter thoroughly, register FIRs against such blatant hate speech;
5. Issue directions to the Assam Police to submit Action Taken Report and give updates to this Commission regarding progress in investigation in the case;
6. Issue any other directions to Assam Police as the Commission may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case;
7. Undertake any other action as the Commission may deem fit.

The Commission, accordingly, forwarded the complaint to the Chief Secretary to undertake necessary action on the said issue.

The letter maybe read here:

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