New Delhi: At an event organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other Hindu groups at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi Sunday morning, numerous VHP leaders and BJP ministers, among others, were allegedly heard spewing hate speech against “Jihadis” who are “killing Hindu youth”.
At the event, called ‘Hindu Virat Sabha’, or ‘Aakrosh Sabha’— purportedly organised after the stabbing of a 25-year-old man, Manish, Saturday made news — calls were reportedly made to cut off the hands of those attacking Hindu society, to pick up weapons and to boycott their businesses.
ThePrint has accessed video clips of these speeches, some of which are also doing the rounds on social media.
In a video of his speech, religious leader Mahant Nawal Kishore Das was allegedly heard asking people to get guns, with or without licenses to protect the country and their faith.
“I did not say pick up guns,” Das, however, told ThePrint. “I said everyone should come together and take up arms, i.e. stones, lathi, to defend our country, faith and people. A boy is killed at 6 pm and everyone is sitting and watching. We must defend ourselves against Jihadis and, if necessary, take up arms with the police.”
Religious leader Jagat Guru Yogeshwar Acharya was also allegedly heard saying, “Despite having such large numbers, our Hindu brothers are being ruthlessly murdered. This is unfortunate. Until we all unite, such behaviour against us will continue and they will continue to target us and selectively kill us.”
“This is why I appeal to everyone to unite. If you see any such people point at our temples, our women, our Hindu families, don’t just cut their fingers, cut their hands and, if necessary, behead them. What is the worst that will happen? One will be hanged, two will be hanged…. Such ruthless murders are the government’s agenda to help terrorists kill Hindus ruthlessly. Because they don’t just have one, they have many. They want to have 14 marriages and give birth to 40 children. We must pay attention to such activities and must identify them and kill them,” he added.
Loni BJP MLA Nand Kishor Gurjar, who also attended the event, was purportedly heard saying: “Sunder Nagri and Nand Nagri have become pig areas. The AAP government is bringing trains filled with Jihadis to Delhi to get their votes. 30 lakh jihadis have come from Bangladesh and Myanmar to this city,” Gurjar allegedly said in his speech.
Speaking to ThePrint, Gurjar said: “Kejriwal is responsible for bringing these jihadis into our country. We are not against all Muslims, only Muslims who have come from outside the country like from Bangladesh and Myanmar, they are jihadis and a danger to our country.”
He further added, “Delhi Police should lodge an FIR against Arvind Kejriwal for endangering this city with these Jihadis for their votes. I hold him responsible for Manish’s death and an investigation should take place against him and his actions.”
In a video, VHP joint general secretary Surendra Kumar Jain is allegedly seen sending an ominous message to the Delhi commissioner during his speech at the event, saying “Commissioner sir, don’t complain later when something happens.”
“Such cases of violence are increasing,” Jain said to ThePrint. “Hindu society needs to defend itself and must do whatever it takes to protect themselves. What they do is on the people. In such situations, we are forced to take law and order into our own hands and do whatever it takes. So, before that situation arises, the police should do their part.”
BJP MP Parvesh Verma at the event allegedly called for a complete economic boycott of Muslims and their businesses. “If you want to fix the minds of these people, you have to boycott all Muslims and their businesses, don’t go to their restaurants, don’t buy from their shops.”
A Hindu majoritarian ruling party MP in Delhi calling his hundreds of supporters to economically boycott minority Muslims in India. pic.twitter.com/XkpLUkUUKN
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) October 9, 2022
Verma’s presence at the event was confirmed by ThePrint. ThePrint tried to reach Verma via calls, texts, but had not received a response at the time of publishing this report.
‘No permission was taken from the police’
Inderjit Sidhu, VHP’s digital media chief, told ThePrint that the VHP had obtained the permission to organise the event. However, according to DCP Shahdara R. Sathiyasundaram, “No permission was taken from the police. We are verifying details and checking the footage.”
National President of the Bharatiya Baudh Sangh, Rahul Bharti, reportedly said, “Don’t think Hindus are weak. If you want to live in this country, you have to follow its Constitution, otherwise India’s home minister will show you the way to Pakistan and Bangladesh.”
“Kejriwal, you should be ashamed of yourself. Your minister [AAP Dalit leader Rajendra Gautam] abuses the Hindu community openly. You must resign, otherwise we have the power to enter your home and give such ministers a befitting reply,” he added.
Meanwhile, AAP minister, Rajendra Pal Gautam, resigned Sunday over his participation in an event organised by the Buddhist Society of India and Mission Jai Bheem, where hundreds of Dalits from across Delhi-NCR reportedly converted to Buddhism on 5 October.
After videos of the ceremony had gone viral on social media, the BJP had submitted a complaint against Gautam Friday for participating in the event and accused him of hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus.
‘VHP stands with boycotting jihadists, not Muslims’
The event was organised as a protest against the alleged stabbing of a 25-year-old man, named Manish, in Delhi’s Sunder Nagri by three men Saturday. DCP North-east Sanjay Kumar Sain said, “Three boys, Aalam, Bilal and Faizan, residents of Sunder Nagri emerged as the primary suspects and were arrested. Further investigation is underway. Police suspect the motive to be an old animosity.”
Speaking to ANI, Manish’s mother said, “About a year ago, two boys had snatched a mobile from Manish and attacked him with a knife. Ever since, a case has been going on in the court and the accused have been pressured to withdraw the case. We did not withdraw the case and yesterday, when Manish was walking down the street, three members of the accused’s family stabbed him several times with a knife, leading to his death.”
The Delhi Police has denied any communal angle in this case.
VHP joint general secretary Jain, however, has said to ThePrint: “We stand with boycotting Jihadists, not Muslims. We do not agree with those who said to boycott Muslims or kill Muslims. One cannot interrupt their speech in such situations. In their anger and emotions, they said these things but I don’t agree with it.”
Vinod Bansal, national spokesperson of the VHP, told ThePrint, “Those who themselves spread hate can only spread hate everywhere. Cases like Manish’s are rising in Delhi and Hindus are angry. Islamist Jihadists are killing Hindu youth across the country. No one asks those killing people any questions but instead question those who are speaking out against them.”