Mumbai: 27 groups urge Police to stop rally aimed at inflaming communal tensions

Twenty seven organisations including human rights and peoples groups have written to the Director General of Police Maharashtra and the Superintendent of Police Pune Rural Police Maharashtra asking them to investigate the incident of hate speech at the Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha rally organized by Sakal Hindu Samaj on January 29 this year in Mumbai and to arrest and prosecute all the perpetratorsThe groups have also demanded that Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha planned and announced by Sakal Hindu Samaj on February 9 2023 in Baramati Maharashtra should not be allowed to ensure law and order is maintained at all costs The groups have citedthe record of hatemongering of the Sakal Hindu Samaj organisers at the earlier rallies organized by them including the one on 29th January 2023 and their potential to incite violence and inflame divisive sentimentsAlso read Mumbai First AC doubledecker ebus to hit city roads next week 200 more in MarchThe letter signed by all the 27 organisations led by the top Human Rights group Peoples Union of Civil Liberties has asked the police to exercise your powers to prevent offenders from committing hate speech including by exercising powers under Section 151 CrPCThat the police and state authorities investigate and prosecute the incidents of communal hate speech made at all the earlier rallies held in Maharashtra under the banner of Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha and take all measures to ensure that such incidents not occur in the future the letter saidThe letter states that the citizens and civil society organisations from Mumbai Maharashtra are deeply shocked and disturbed at the series of incidents of hate speech against Muslims reported from rallies organized by Sakal Hindu Samaj under the banner Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha in districts across Maharashtra since November 2022At the rally held on 29th January 2023 in Mumbai called using divisive narratives like love jihad land jihad and false theories of population explosion amongst Muslims extremely inciteful and provocative hate speeches were made to incite the public and further hatred among communities The rally was organized by Sakal Hindu Samaj an umbrella organisation of several Hindutva organisations such as Hindu Janajagruti Samiti Shiv Pratishthan and Sanatan Sanstha The rally ended with a provocative speech by Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh also calling for a boycott of Muslim owned businesses and for Hindus to lsquoslit throatsrsquo thereby inciting violence and hate crimes against MuslimsA provocative booklet containing misinformation and rumours with antiMuslim sentiment to influence public opinion on communal lines was also distributed at the rally Inspite of such highly provocative and inciteful hate speeches being made it is appalling and disturbing that no action has been commenced by the Mumbai Police against the perpetrators including all the organisers of the rally speakers and MLA T Raja Singh till date As per the hoardings the morcha is set to begin from Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Udyan in Kasba Baramti at 1 pm on 9th February 2023From the conduct of the Sakal Hindu Samaj and its constituent organisations who are behind the organizing of the eventsralliesmeetings inter alia under the banner of Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha it is apparent that they are trying to inflame communal tensions using hateful and inciteful speeches false information and rumours and Islamophobic and communal propaganda Instead of taking strict action against them and initiating prosecution for their criminal acts the police and state authorities have been turning a blind eye and granting permissions to the organisations to conduct their eventsrallies No action has been taken as of yet in respect of the Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha rally held on 29th January 2023We concerned citizens and civil society organisations in Mumbai had accordingly addressed a joint representation to you on 4th February 2023 to comply with the directions issued by the Supreme Court vide its order dated 3rd February 2023 and to also ensure that both preventive action is taken as well as prosecution is initiated against the perpetrators indulging in hate crimes at the eventsrallies including Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha organized by Sakal Hindu Samaj across Maharashtra We have not yet received any reply on our letterWhile we are not aware whether Sakal Hindu Samaj conducted a public meeting in Mumbaion 5th February 2023 it is clear that they are conducting the Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha tomorrow ie on 9th February 2023 at Baramati Maharashtra see attached photograph of a large hoarding put up in Kasba Baramati It is pertinent that the same be stopped immediately in light of their conduct on repeated occasions of making vitriolic hate speeches and inciting people to communal violence and hate crimes against MuslimsIndia is a secular country where values of tolerance dignity equality fraternity and justice are deeply enshrined in the Indian Constitution While right to free speech and expression association and assembly are fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution the crime of hate speech and inciting communal violence cannot be perpetrated under the guise of exercising these freedomsAs concerned and vigil citizen groups who believe strongly in constitutional values and who work towards upholding civil liberties and democratic rights we cannot be silent spectators to these attempts being made to communalize the state of Maharashtra and sow seeds of hate and violence through the inciteful propaganda being made at these rallies and events The state of Maharashtra has a long history of syncretism and secularism where different communities have coexisted harmoniously Earlier attempts to communalize the state and spark violence like the 1992 Bombay riots have had disastrous consequences on the people and this cannot be allowed to take place againAs those responsible for maintaining law and order in city it is your responsibility to ensure that the hate speech is prevented and the perpetrators are punished instead of granting them impunity and a free handWe accordingly call upon you to strictly implement the directions passed by the Supreme Court in the order dated 3rd February 2023 in letter and spirit and to in any case take strict action against the increasing incidents of hate speech against Muslims in Maharashtra