Right-wing hardliner Kajal Ben Shingala, alias Kajal Hindustani in an inflammatory speech delivered in Gujarat’s Morbi on 27 October, has called for the demolition of certain local Islamic structures, and an ancient dargah located in the city.
महाराज आपने इस मुद्दे को उठाकर हमारा मनोबल ओर भी बढ़ा दिया, जय श्री राम ?? https://t.co/8hn8bjDo8l
— Kajal HINDUsthani (@kajal_jaihind) November 1, 2021
Addressing a congregation in Morbi, which was organized by Jay Ambe Seva Group, Shingala claimed that members of the Muslim community had illegally intruded upon the Darbargadh area in the city. She also encouraged the adoption of “illegal means” to bulldoze two mosques, which Shingala claimed had been constructed illegally.
“Out of this crowd, if only 500 can tell me that they are against this illegal encroachment that they (Muslims) have done in Darbargadh, then tell me. This campaign should start by tomorrow, and do not rest until these two illegal masjids are destroyed. I will make the strategy and lead it, all I need is your support. If it is illegal, then why do we need to adopt legal means to destroy it? I will get the bulldozer and I will pay for it. If people are standing with me, I will do it. Tell me when should we do this?” Kajal asked in her speech.
Hundreds of people were present at event, including senior journalist and right-wing advocate Pushpendra Kulshrestha, who attended as chief guest there.
Hindustani claimed in her speech that she has the support of the Hinduvta outfits such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) for the demolition, she said, “If we go now, Pushpendra (Kulshrestha) bhai will tell us that you called me and went to destroy it. So if you want to listen to him and destroy it, then do it. I am here. I will do it. You can sit down. It feels good that you stood in support of me and I liked that my brothers are with me. If they cannot take permission while doing illegal work, then why do we need permission to destroy it? I had brought the same matter to the parishad also, illegal means are justified to bring down illegal things.”
When The Quint approached the police, they declined from commenting on the matter. Meanwhile no action has been taken against Shingala or the event organisers for the incendiary speech so far.
Further, no statement has been made in this relation by the VHP or the RSS, according to The Quint.
Followed by PM Modi on Twitter, Hindustani has been stirring controversy through her Twitter account that is seen as inflammatory by several people.
In a letter to the Morbi Police, the Sunni Muslim Samaj in the city has raised a complaint against the communal remarks and has demanded to take strict action
The letter stated as follows, “Ms Kajal, a member of Jai Ambe group, was seen giving a speech on 27 October about Muslims and destroying masjids and dargahs with bulldozers. This speech has been forwarded on social media and reached people not only in Morbi but in the whole of Gujarat, and has been spreading hate and disrupting the peace here.”
“Even if someone has an issue to raise, it should be done in a lawful manner. Nobody has the right to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments. For that, we call for strict action against this person, so that this is not repeated again. To avoid this, we also request police officers to be arranged at gatherings like these,” conveyed the Sunni Muslim Samaj.
Morbi’s district collector has said that Hazrat Ali Peer Shah Dargah, the local shrine that is the bone of contention, is not “a new encroachment” but has been around for ages.
Alluding the claims of illegality, District Collector JB Patel said, “The Dargah is not a new encroachment but it’s a very old Dargah. The area comes under municipal corporation and the officers of municipal corporation have also informed that it’s very old Dargah… So there is no issue of illegality. The matter has come to our light and we are assessing the situation along with the superintendent of police.”
(Inputs from The Quint)
