On May 5, 2022, CJP filed a complaint with the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) against surgeon-turned-Hindutva leader and president of Antarashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP), Pravin Togadia, for making derogatory remarks against Muslim minorities at a Trishul Diksha event held in Assam on April 24, 2022.
In the complaint, CJP highlights 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). Togadia also made communal arguments in favour of a divisive National Register of Citizens (NRC) to weed out the so-called “outsiders, who are more often than not Bengali-speaking Muslims, falsely accused of being illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
CJP notes that no action has been taken against the hate offender for administering this anti-Muslim oath. In a viral video surfacing on Twitter, Pravin Togadia is seen invoking gods and goddesses to convince the people that the trident is a ‘divine’ weapon, and encourages them to rest only after they “deport 50 Lakh Bangladeshi Muslims, back to Bangladesh”.
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He uses the term “we” to signify that he is with the people of Assam who do this for him, and tries to water down this call for violence adding that this “chasing away Muslims”, should be done in a ‘democratic and legal way’. He then repeats his plan that he and his group are in the process of giving weapons to “2 Crore Indians” and “5 lakh in Assam”.
The video may be viewed here:
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
CJP brings to light, how a similar meeting which was held in Assam’s Dhubri district where his team sent out an invitation in his Facebook post, dated April 5, 2022 which reads, “In Assam’s Dhubri district, there are 75% Muslims and 25% Hindus due to these Bangladeshi Muslim intruders. Be ready FB Live Hindu Friends for Dr. Pravin Togadia tomorrow afternoon at 11.45 AM at Hindu convention on Bangladesh border in Gokalganj where Veer Hindu victors will hold Hindu Trident and resolve to protect Hindu. We are brave. We will be victorious. We are not alone. We are 100 crore heroes.”
The post may be viewed here:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=658861595410770&set=pb.100038608066615.-2207520000..
Shockingly, the hate offender has not been held accountable for the fact that his Antarashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP) team, earlier in April, organised an event in Gujarat where they made Anti-Muslim speeches and distributed approximately 5,100 swords and trishuls as reported by the Economic Times.
The derogatory remarks made by his close aide Manoj Kumar may be viewed here:
At an event in Gujarat organized by AHP for distribution of 5000 Trishuls, Praveen Togadiya’s aide Manoj Kumar says,
“Tell Katuw@s (Muslims Men), Salma (Muslim Women) is waiting for her Bajrangis (Hindus). Muslim men are not enough for her, She wants to give birth to Luv-Kush”. pic.twitter.com/OOuUEh8Aqo— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) April 7, 2022
He later says, Like Kashmir Files Movie by Vivek Agnihotri, He should make a film on Gujarat (2002) also. “What a scene it was! Bajrangbali was sitting on their chests with a Trishul.” pic.twitter.com/tmz7rRFyzc
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) April 7, 2022
CJP urges that action be taken against him and the members of his organisation for the violation of the following legal provisions:
Indian Penal Code, 1860
Sec. 153. Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot—if rioting be committed; if not committed
Sec. 153A. Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony
Sec. 153AA. Punishment for knowingly carrying arms in any procession or organising, or holding or taking part in any mass drill or mass training with arms
Sec. 153B. Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration
Sec. 504. Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace:
Sec. 505. Statements conducing to public mischief:
Sec. 336. Act endangering life or personal safety of others.
Arms Act, 1959
Sec. 2 (1)(c) of the Arms Act, 1959 defines “arms” as articles of any description designed or adapted as weapons for offence or defence, and includes firearms, sharp edged and other deadly weapons, and parts of, and machinery for manufacturing, arms, but does not include articles designed solely for domestic or agricultural uses such as a lathi or an ordinary walking stick and weapons incapable of being used otherwise than as toys or of being converted into serviceable weapons
Sec. 3. Licence for acquisition and possession of firearms and ammunition.
Sec. 4. Licence for acquisition and possession of arms of specified description in certain cases.
Sec. 5. Licence for manufacture, sale, etc., of arms and ammunition.
Sec. 7. Prohibition of acquisition or possession, or of manufacture or sale of prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition
Sec. 19. Power to demand production of licence, etc.
Sec. 25. Punishment for certain offences.
Sec. 27. Punishment for using arms, etc
The complaint to NCM may be read here:
Image Courtesy: Representational / The Wire
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