24, Jan 2025 | CJP Team

On January 22, 2025, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) filed a complaint addressing the concerns regarding a scheduled event organized by the HJS. The complaint, forwarded to Omvir Singh Bishnoi (IPS), Inspector General of Police (IGP), Goa, and Sunita Sawant (IPS), Superintendent of Police, South Goa, highlights the potential threat posed by the “Hindu Rashtra Jagruti Sabha” event. The event is set to take place on January 25, 2025, at 5 PM at Shri Vithal Mandir, Sanguem, South Goa. CJP raised an alarm due to the provocative nature of such gatherings and the history of hate speech associated with the organization.

In its complaint, CJP referenced recent Supreme Court orders, emphasizing the need for immediate preventive actions in line with court rulings, especially to curb hate speech and prevent incitement to violence. The complaint urges the Goa Police to take pre-emptive measures, ensuring public safety and upholding communal harmony.

CJP is dedicated to finding and bringing to light instances of Hate Speech, so that the bigots propagating these venomous ideas can be unmasked and brought to justice. To learn more about our campaign against hate speech, please become a member. To support our initiatives, please donate now!

Urged Goa police to deny permission of the scheduled event

CJP, in its complaint, emphasizes the urgency of taking immediate action and raises concerns over the potential for communal speeches at the HJS’s Goa event. It calls for the cancellation of the event’s permission and states, “We urge you to deny permission for the scheduled January 25, 2025, at 5 PM event in Goa and set an example for the anti-social elements who are attempting to disturb communal peace and harmony. Furthermore, we request the police authorities to remain vigilant and ensure that the rally does not take place if the permission is denied.” 

The poster of the events can be found below:

Supreme Court also appeals for Peace & Harmony

In its complaint, CJP urged the Goa Police to follow strict preventive measures in line with recent Supreme Court directives. CJP pleaded in its complaint that, “In light of the Supreme Court’s recent appeal for peace and harmony in the case concerning the Sambhal Jama Masjid, CJP submit this preventive complaint regarding the “Hindu Rashtra Jagruti Sabha” scheduled for January 25, 2025, in Goa. The Supreme Court, during its hearing on November 29, 2024, urged that “peace and harmony must be maintained” and expressed the desire for no further escalation, following the violence that erupted in Sambhal over a mosque survey. The survey, which was ordered based on claims that the mosque was built on a demolished temple, triggered violent clashes, resulting in the loss of four lives. This tragic event highlights the serious risks of escalating tensions when sensitive issues related to religious sites are addressed in provocative ways.”

Divisive, majoritarian background of the HJS

While highlighting potential danger of provocative and communal speech in scheduled event of January 25, CJP mentioned that the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has previously been associated with communal rhetoric that seeks to inflame tensions between communities. Their previous events have seen controversial statements made by their speakers, which often target religious minorities and promote a divisive agenda. 

“Given the organization’s known stance and its association with provocative actions, it is almost certain that the upcoming event will follow a similar pattern, where inflammatory remarks are made with little regard for the consequences” CJP added. 

CJP stated in complaint, the 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.’

CJP’s complaint dated January 22, 2025 may be read here:

Image: hindujagruti.org

Related

CJP seeks preventive action against Hindu Janjagruti Samiti’s Hyderabad event

CJP files complaint against BJP leader Nazia Elahi Khan over hate speech in Delhi