New Delhi: The Gurugram hit-and-run case, which initially sparked widespread online outrage over women’s safety, has shifted toward a highly charged community narrative. Two mahapanchayats and a series of social media posts involving Gujjars across India are voicing their anger over “targeted attacks”.
“One person does not define the entire community”, Bacchusingh Gurjar Bainsla, national general secretary of Akhil Bhartiya Gurjar Mahasabha, told ThePrint. “Ek vyakti galat hone se puri samaj galat nahi ho jaati (An entire community can’t be held accountable due to one person’s mistake)”.
On Monday, Shivani Chauhan, aka Sia, a bike rider in New Delhi, claimed that she was chased and deliberately rammed by a car driven by Palwal resident Kalyan Bainsla. Bainsla was soon arrested in Rajasthan for “attempting to murder”.
Since then, the Gujjars have faced trolling and attacks on social media.
“Because of one incident, the entire community is being treated as criminals and terrorists”, said Amarjeet Gujjar, a farmer and Bainsla’s neighbour.
Gujjar’s andolan
After the incident, many Gujjars came in support of Bainsla and their community. While a few defended Kalyan Bainsla, others wanted facts to come out in the open.
“Both parties were involved; only one footage was published by the woman (Sia)”, Bhacchusingh said, emphasising that instead of media trials and accusations, the police should do a proper investigation.
Pushing back against the narrative on social media, the community has continued to defend Bainsla. On social media, several accounts posted photos of Nirbhaya rape case convicts.
“Guess their caste”, posted Kapil Gurjar.
Another X user, Mukul Gurjar, posted on X, arguing that Bainsla was sent to jail because he was a Gurjar.
“Koi Baniya, Purabiya ya Choonmanga hota toh kisi ko maarne ke baad essay likhta..Before targeting Jats and Gurjars, remember — they stand at the borders and grow the food you eat,” he had posted.
Amrjeet claimed thousands of people are rallying in the village, wanting justice for the Kalyan.
The villagers are unhappy over how the community has been stripped of its dignity, which the media and others have been questioning.
“The Gujjar community has come into this. Because of this, the matter is being amplified so much, and a caste angle is being given”, Amerjeet said.
Also read: Shivani Chauhan’s biker identity was a secret. Even her AAP boss Atishi didn’t know
‘We do not want caste’
Although Gujjars have rallied behind their clan, social media users have criticised them for defending Bainsla. An old video from a Jat rally has gone viral on social media, with users falsely claiming it shows Gujjars rallying in defence of their community. The video has been getting several comments, especially the “Gurjar vs. Rajput” caste conflict narrative.
An X user who goes by the name Defence Brat pointed out the cars seen in the viral video.
“Look at their cars! Once they stopped the entire train line for reservation. By what logic do they look like a backward class?” he wrote.
Meanwhile, disgruntled users on X claimed that the entire community has a ‘useless, inflated ego’.
However, Chauhan, talking to the PTI, argued that this matter is not about caste.
“It is not about the community, where they belong or the state”, she said, adding that when the incident happened, she did not have any idea about Bainsla’s caste or name.
“Something wrong happened to me on the road, and it can happen to anyone. It is not about a female or male rider. Anyone can lose their life. We are taking a stand so that such incidents can be prevented in the future. It hurts me when we divide wrongdoings on the basis of community”, she said.
Chauhan’s brother Deepankar Chauhan told ThePrint that though their community, which is Rajput, have offered their support, they do not want to make it about caste.
Meanwhile, Gujjars are claiming that ‘criminals cannot be associated with any particular community’.
“A criminal can be from any community. He can be from the Gujjar community, Brahmin, Baniya or any other community in this country. If someone does something wrong, he will be called wrong. There is a law, and there is a system, and everyone has to obey that system,” said Bacchusingh.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)