Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Speakers at a Hindu religious gathering in Aligarh city of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday spewed venom against Muslims by openly calling for Hindu girls to be armed to protect themselves from the ‘Jihadis’.
The Sanatan Dharma Bhakta event, organised by the Sanatan Hindu Seva Sansthan at Ramlila Maidan in the city, was by attended by state ministers and addressed by rightwing political leaders. They issued controversial statements, including the distribution of arms and daggers to girls, triggering widespread condemnation.
Addressing the gathering, Dasnaw Devi Mandir Mahant Yeti Narsingananda Saraswati, made inflammatory remarks against the Muslim community. He alleged that Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is a hub for “jihadis” and suggested that women should have more children to protect their homes, the Ram Temple, and themselves.
Narsingananda Saraswati went on to propagate a divisive narrative, claiming a perceived threat to the Ram Temple and urging the audience to prevent its demolition.
The controversial figure further claimed that a significant number of “Jihadis” are present in Aligarh, particularly within the Muslim community. He emphasised the need for Hindu families to have more children, citing it as a strategy to counter what he deemed a demographic threat.
The event, organised by Hindu Mahasabha national secretary Mahamandaleshwar Annapoorna Bharti, saw the presentation of weapons, copies of the Hindy holy book Gita, and daggers to girls, a move that has raised concerns about promoting violence and communal discord.
While the organisers framed the event as a celebration to coincide with the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and a call to protect Hindu traditions, the inflammatory remarks have drawn criticism for promoting hatred and communal disharmony.
Political leaders in attendance included Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh, MLC Ma Navendra Pratap Singh, and MLC Rashipal Singh. They have come under scrutiny for their participation in an event that espoused divisive rhetoric.
The controversial statements made during the Sanatan Dharma Bhakta event have sparked outrage, with many demanding an inquiry into the incident and condemning the use of religious platforms to propagate divisive ideologies. The event’s impact on the community and the potential repercussions are expected to be subjects of ongoing discussions.
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Photo courtesy: Inquilab Urdu daily
