Hindu Rightwing Leader Threatens to Demolish Muslim Places of Worship in Gujarat
IAMC strongly condemns the hate speech delivered by Hindu right-wing leader Kajal Ben Shingala, alias Kajal Hindustani who called for the demolition of Islamic structures, including an ancient dargah (a Muslim tomb) in the state of Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“This campaign should start by tomorrow, and do not rest until these two illegal masjids are destroyed. I will make the strategy and lead it, all I need is your support,” Shingala told a crowd in Gujarat’s Morbi while claiming that she has the direct support of rightwing paramilitary groups like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
Till date, the state police have not taken any action against Shingala for making the inflammatory speech.
Over the last few months, the pitch for destroying Muslim places of worship across India has become more intense. Last month, Pramod Muthalik, the chief of the Hindu right-wing outfit Sri Ram Sene threatened to demolish Jamia Masjid in Karnataka’s Gadag, while drawing a parallel with the Babri Masjid demolition.
Tripura Police Files Criminal Cases Against 71 People for Sharing Pictures of Anti-Muslim Violence on Social Media
The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) condemns the police in Tripura, the northeastern state of India for filing criminal cases against 71 people for sharing pictures and videos of the recent violence led by Hindu extremist against Muslims on social media.
The police have not revealed the details of those who have been named in the cases, but it is highly likely that they are Muslims, considering the complicity of the state government led by BJP in the anti-Muslim violence over the last week.
Mobs affiliated to Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Hindu Jagran Manch, Bajrang Dal, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attacked mosques and homes of Muslims across Tripura as retaliation for the anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh. A report released by a team of Supreme Court lawyers on Wednesday has accused the state government of giving a free hand to Hindu supremacists.
Despite international condemnation of the anti-Muslim violence — from USCIRF to the US Congresspersons — the Indian government has maintained a complete silence and is rather using the state machinery to silence those who are raising pertinent questions.
Delhi Court Frames Charges Against Hindu Extremist for Killing 4 Muslims
A court in India’s capital city of New Delhi has framed charges against four Hindu extremists for brutally hacking four Muslims to death during the anti-Muslim pogrom of February 2020.
“The material on record prima facie discloses commission of offence of rioting, murder, etc. by the accused,” the court noted. The accused Hindu radicals had used swords, rods, and scissors to kill the Muslim youth.
Over 50 people were killed in the Delhi pogrom, mostly Muslims. In the wake of the violence, hundreds of Muslim families fled their homes.
The violence was a direct result of hate speeches delivered by various BJP leaders including Kapil Mishra and India’s Home Minister Amit Shah targeting the Muslims protesting against the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a citizenship law that in conjunction with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) aims to disenfranchise Indian Muslims and render them stateless.
