The chief of the Maharana Pratap Sena, Rajvardhan Singh Parmar, is not new to controversy. In June, he was arrested by Delhi Police for raping a woman in New Delhi’s Uttar Pradesh Bhavan. He is currently out on bail.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — A Hindutva proponent and chief of the Maharana Pratap Sena, Rajvardhan Singh Parmar’s call to free Delhi of Muslims has evoked sharp reactions from social media users. They wondered why such statements are being allowed to be issued and why no action was being taken against him.
“We want madrassa-free, Muslim-free Delhi. We want mazar-free Delhi. We have given all these slogans. We have sprinkled gangajal (water from the Ganges) on the Ajmer dargah,” he said at an event organised at the iconic Jantar Mantar in the national capital.
Hindutva Watch, a research initiative which tracks hate crimes in the country, put out a video of Parmar on Wednesday wherein he is seen talking about freeing Delhi of Muslims, madrassas and mazars (mausoleums). The controversial event was reportedly held on Sunday.
Parmar also demanded that streets having names of Muslim rulers be changed forthwith. He also announced a ‘Santan Jan Jagran Yatra’ from 7 January with the demand of freeing Delhi of Muslims and mazars.
Parmar is not new to controversy. In June, he was arrested by Delhi Police for raping a woman in New Delhi’s Uttar Pradesh Bhavan. He is currently out on bail.
The controversial statements of Parmar at the Jantar Mantar event have come under fire on social media with several users urging Delhi Police to take action against him.
Tagging Delhi Police, social media activist Asif Khan said: “Do you consider this speech as hate speech or not?? He is talking about ‘Muslim Mukt Delhi, would you take any action against him ??”
Addressing Delhi Police, another social media user said: “Delhi Police has an issue with farmers, wrestlers, anti-CAA protests being held at Jantar Mantar, but of course the “designated” protest space is readily available when it comes to spewing anti-Muslim vitriol”.
Reacting to Parmar’s hate speech, a social media user Riffat Wani said: “The #SupremeCourt has already made strong observations about hate speech. Have the govt become so impotent that they can’t act on it?”
The apex court has issued directions to states asking the police to take suo moto action against hate speeches. However, authorities have often failed to implement the court’s directives. Anti-Muslim hate speeches are made frequently and with impunity.
According to the latest report of the National Crime Record Bureau, there has been 40 percent increase in hate speeches across the country when compared to the past year.
