A series of hate speeches delivered by several speakers in the Janjagaran Dharmsabha, organised by Maharashtra Sakal Hindu Samaj in Maharashtra’s Mumbra. The event, which saw the participation of several far-right speakers, took place on Saturday, 29th April.
One of the main speakers, Sadhvi Saraswati, targeted Muslims in her speech, pitching for keeping swords. She urged Hindus to unite and fight against the Muslim community, and her speech was filled with hateful rhetoric against Muslims, creating an atmosphere of tension and hatred.
Another speaker, Bharatanand Saraswati Maharaj, accused Muslims of spreading COVID and urged Hindus to keep weapons. He also threatened Kar Sevaks against a graveyard in Mumbra and pitched for declaring India a Hindu nation.
The hate speeches did not end there, as two other far-right speakers peddled conspiracy theories like “love jihad” and “land jihad” to cause a divide among communities. The speakers targeted the Muslim community and spread false narratives to fuel hatred and intolerance towards them.
The event’s most shocking moment came when Muni Nilesh Chandra Maharaj made a controversial statement saying, “If Godse hadn’t shot Mahatma Gandhi in his chest, Hindus would have been praying in Mecca.”
The Supreme Court of India had directed all states to register First Information Reports (FIRs) against hate speeches, even in the absence of a complaint. The directive comes in response to the rise in hate speeches in the country. The court has ordered police officials to be proactive in taking action against people who make hate speeches and to initiate criminal proceedings against them. The court has stated that hate speeches can cause communal disharmony and lead to violence, and therefore, it is essential to take strict action against those who indulge in such speech.
Despite the Supreme Court’s directive to register FIRs against hate speeches, no action has been taken against the speakers who pedalled hate.
