06, Aug 2018 | CJP Team

A recent religious conclave, or Dharm Sansad, held in July, became a platform for multiple individuals to deliver hate-filled speeches inciting violence against sections of Indians, particularly those from marginalised communities. CJP took note of this event, where a whole host of measures ostensibly to protect Hindu culture in India were proposed. Multiple controversial matters regarding Hindus and Islam in India were discussed at the meeting, including stringent family planning measures for minorities.

CJP has filed a complaint with B. S. Sandhu, the DGP of Haryana, where the event was held. Other prominent citizens have also co-signed our complaint, including acclaimed documentary filmmaker Anand Patwardhan and Dr. Vivek Monteiro, scientist and senior trade unionist with CPI-M. We have also sent our complaint to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

We noted in our complaint that the statements made by multiple speakers at the event were violative of the law.  For instance, the National Convenor of All India Sant Parishad, Narasimhaanand Saraswati ji Maharaj, and the conclave’s principle convener, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Narendranand Saraswati Ji Maharaj, continually referred to Islam as the religion spreading hate in the country and the world at large. In another instance, Swami Narendranand said that if the Muslim population is not controlled, it will prove to be a huge challenge for humanity, as they will take control of the country in a civil war and gain power, sending the world towards destruction by controlling India’s nuclear power. Moreover, Narasimhaanand Saraswati further called Madrassas (which are educational institutions for children) in India terror-spreading centres, which are the cause of all the terror in the world.

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As CJP noted in our complaint, these statements were “baseless and highly offensive to the Muslim community and the people of India,” and “were clearly spoken to create disharmony and feelings of hatred toward the Muslim community,” thereby falling under Sections 153A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Further, two unidentified women at the meeting also delivered hate-filled remarks. In particular, one woman said that Islam is not a religion, but a “political movement,” started to grab political power, and that the sole aim of Muslims is to destroy Hindus. The other woman asked Hindus to do something about the invading army of Muslims who are going to destroy them. She highlighted the number of Muslim candidates getting selected for UPSC examinations in the country, and asked them if they could trust those Muslims to be protecting them in their administrative capacity.

CJP explained that such statements, and others our complaint highlighted, are in violation of the law, naming multiple sections of the IPC. We noted that the statements quoted “are a grave threat to the peace and tranquility of the country, more so in the light of the communal atmosphere brewing in the country.” Moreover, “they were clearly made by public figures with a bid to incite their followers into targeted violence,” CJP stated.

CJP highlighted that “As declared by the Supreme Court of India, secularism is part of the basic structure of our Constitution, and these statements of Narasimhaanand Saraswati ji Maharaj, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Narendranand Saraswati Ji Maharaj and the two ladies from the videos (unidentified) attack the very fabric of our Constitution.” 

CJP is seeking that our letter to the DGP, Haryana be treated as an FIR, that the matter be investigated, and that necessary action, including arrest and prosecution, be taken forthwith against Narasimhaanand Saraswati ji Maharaj, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Narendranand Saraswati Ji Maharaj and the two ladies from the videos (unidentified).

Our complete letter to the DGP, Haryana may be read here:

CJP has also written to Om Prakash Singh, the DGP of Uttar Pradesh, regarding a Dharm Sansad that was held in Ghaziabad in June at which Acharya Jitendra ji Maharaj delivered a hate-filled speech inciting violence against the Muslim community. Other prominent citizens have also co-signed our complaint, including activist-academic Dr. Vasanthi Devi, a former Vice Chancellor, and senior artist-activist Vivan Sundaram, a founder member of SAHMAT. We have also sent our complaint to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court.

In his speech, Acharya Jitendra ji Maharaj talked about the enemies of the Hindu religion whom the Hindus should destroy to make India a “Hindu Rashtra”. He accused the Maulvis of Islam of having a network so strong that they can kill any Hindu in two minutes. He then said that to fight such a network, Hindus have to create their own network that is a thousand times larger, and that Guruji (unidentified) was working to make this happen. Notably, Jitendra ji Maharaj claimed that they had already prepared a team of more than 1,000 “dangerous” Hindu Yodhas (fighters) to fight them. He also challenged political leaders, and said, “We won’t listen to your false promises, and instead put not one but ten bullets in your heads if you do something wrong.”

In our complaint, CJP noted that these and other statements made by Jitendra ji Maharaj make him liable under Sections 153A, 153B, 503, and 505 of the IPC. We are seeking that our letter be treated as an FIR, and that the matter be investigated, with necessary action, including arrest and prosecution, being taken forthwith against Acharya Jitendra ji Maharaj. Our complete letter to the DGP, Uttar Pradesh may be read here: 

Related:

Hate Watch: Dharma Sansad spews venom against Islam

Hate Watch: Zee News and Aaj Tak air Hate Poetry in Hindi

CJP in Action: Hate Watch