On 8th of August, a crowd under the banner of ‘Bharat Jodo Movement’ gathered at Jantar Mantar ( less than 2 km from Parliament) in New Delhi. People were being appealed to attend the event on social media since a few days.
On 8th August at Jantar Mantar. @AshwiniUpadhyay pic.twitter.com/EnWmMV8veP
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) August 4, 2021
The program was organized by Supreme Court lawyer Ashwani Upadhyay, who has previously been the spokesperson of Delhi BJP.
Ashwani’s social media posts and videos from the event suggest that the event was organized to demand freedom from the so-called colonial laws of the country.
It was demanded in the program that new indigenous laws should be made instead of the old colonial laws, i.e., new laws should be made to replace the laws which were made before the independence of the country.
Ashwani Upadhyay has also filed a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court last month, in which he has demanded that a ‘comprehensive’ and ‘strict’ penal code to be made by forming a judicial panel or expert body.
He also gave a speech during this program. Actor Gajendra Chauhan, who played the character of Yudhishthira in Mahabharata and was the chairman of FTII, was also present with him on the stage.
A video of the program has gone viral on social media in which, some people raised provocative slogans against Muslims.
In the video, a man dressed in saffron and a long beard is seen making people raise slogans.
It can be clearly heard in the video that people are raising slogans like “Jab Mulle Kaate Jaayenge, Ram – Ram Chillayenge”.
Apart from this, slogans like “Hindustan me Rahna hoga, Jai Shree Ram Kahna Hoga” were also raised.
Recordings show the coordinators circulating banners conveying for the homicide of Muslims.
“Hindu groups always protest against Muslims which shows their cowardice. They stay within constitutional and legal limits. This is possibly because Hindus are not capable of committing genocide” said one banner named “Islam Ka Vinaash” (Annihilation of Isam)
As per a report by Indian Express, the coordinators ‘Bharat Jodo Movement’ had not taken authorization for the program, Delhi Police said.
“There were 5,000 individuals” said Shipra Srivastava, media accountable for Bharat Jodo Movement, a Hindu patriot periphery group.
The people who went to the program likewise mocked Covid rules as they neither wore mask nor kept up with physical distancing standards.
This was the second incident in the previous week where slogans calling for viciousness against Muslims were yelled in Delhi.
The Delhi police had filed an FIR against unknown persons for raising inflammatory slogans.
Some leaders of the opposition have expressed their anger against this incident.
Prominent INC leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted “What a disgrace to read of an unauthorised BJP demonstration where communal slogans & hate speech were voiced: https://t.co/Vm0LEAmKDv. Expecting exemplary action from @DelhiPolice — only stern action & condign punishment will prevent such misbehaviour recurring”
What a disgrace to read of an unauthorised BJP demonstration where communal slogans & hate speech were voiced: https://t.co/Vm0LEAmKDv. Expecting exemplary action from @DelhiPolice — only stern action & condign punishment will prevent such misbehaviour recurring
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 9, 2021
Dr Shama Mohamed, National spokesperson of Congress – AICC tweeted “The rally at Jantar Mantar where hate speech & anti-muslim slogans were raised was called by BJP leader @AshwiniUpadhyay. It has been captured on video. Will @DelhiPolice arrest him for instigating hate against minorities or will he get a pass too like @KapilMishra_IND!”
The rally at Jantar Mantar where hate speech & anti-muslim slogans were raised was called by BJP leader @AshwiniUpadhyay. It has been captured on video. Will @DelhiPolice arrest him for instigating hate against minorities or will he get a pass too like @KapilMishra_IND!
— Dr. Shama Mohamed (@drshamamohd) August 9, 2021
Many activists and journalists across the country have also expressed their displeasure over the incident.
Ironically, Jantar Mantar is on 'Sansad Marg'.
The national capital is brimming with communal mobs baying for blood and the genocidal maniacs in power strategically look away. Happy Independence Day to you too. pic.twitter.com/A0pu6kWZZ8
— Abhishek Baxi (@baxiabhishek) August 8, 2021
Children as young as 10, with their parents joined the anti Muslim protests at Jantar Mantar today. Their poster reads, "Annihi|ation of Islam."
Indian Capital in 2021
Pic credits @ZafarAafaq pic.twitter.com/x70WeBJcMA
— Alishan Jafri | अलीशान (@asfreeasjafri) August 8, 2021
Highly communal, Islamophobic demonstration took place at Jantar Mantar on Aug 8 in the presence of police. When I sent d video to DCP I was asked to file complain . Is it my duty to stop hate speech ? Has police been told to close its eyes to hate speeches by Sangh?
— Shabnam Hashmi (@ShabnamHashmi) August 8, 2021
A mob in the capital of this country is shouting, "Jab mulle kaate jaayenge, Ram Ram chillaayenge."
Kindly instruct me with the curriculum of how this must be ignored.
— Hussain Haidry (@hussainhaidry) August 8, 2021
It's all coming back, horrors of North-East Delhi which is 5kms from my place. How are we even supposed to go to sleep or step outside tomorrow.
— سنبل (@Sumbulj02) August 8, 2021
I live in Delhi, I witnessed the war crys of “Goli maro…” & how @narendramodi rewarded them. Enough is enough no targeted hate against Muslims. Act @AmitShah Speak up @ArvindKejriwal pic.twitter.com/68c4E1j83Q
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) August 9, 2021