Action sparks debate with social media users questioning the double standards of the police
Team Clarion
AMETHI – Two persons have been arrested for raising “provocative” slogans during a Muharram procession in Amethi in Uttar Pradesh on Monday. The arrests were made after a video surfaced showing a group of men shouting “Hindustan Mein Rahna Hai, Ya Hussain Kehna Hai” in front of the Musafirkhana police station.
Amethi Superintendent of Police, Anoop Kumar Singh, confirmed the arrests and stated: “A video has been brought to our notice through social media under Musafirkhana police station. The people seen in the video have been detained for questioning. An FIR has been registered in this case.”
The incident has sparked significant controversy, with reactions pouring in from various quarters. Muni Maharaj, a Hindu religious leader, expressed strong disapproval of the slogans, claiming, “such anarchist elements are related to Pakistan and aim to create disorder.”
Conversely, the incident has ignited a debate on social media, with many Muslims pointing out perceived double standards in the police’s actions. “When similar slogans are raised by Hindu extremists, especially BJP and RSS members, saying, ‘Hindustan men rahna hai to Ram Ram kahna hai, Mulle kate jayenge Ram Ram chillayange,’ the police do not take action,” argued one social media user.
Critics allege that the police’s response is biased and aimed at disturbing the Muslim community. “This attitude of the police appears impartial and one-sided, done deliberately to harass Muslims,” said another user. Some have also suggested that the slogans might have been raised by miscreants to incite tensions, citing previous incidents at institutions like JNU as examples.
“The #UPPolice recently arrested two youths for allegedly raising slogans during the #Muharram procession. The alleged incident occurred during the Muharram procession in #UttarPradesh’s #Amethi. The video clip shows several youths shouting slogans such as ‘Do you want to live in India or say Hussain?’ (Hindustan mein rehna hai to ‘Ya Hussain’ kehna ha) during the Muharram procession in Amethi. After the video surfaced online, #AmethiPolice said that the youths seen in the video were arrested and are being questioned. Officials also said that a case had been registered in connection with the incident,” Hate Detector wrote on X.
Nadim Ahmad, another X user, wrote: “In Amethi, UP, two youths were taken into custody by the constitutional police for raising slogans (we want to live in Hindustan or we want to say Hussain) during the Moharram procession. An FIR was also lodged. Any arrests for the slogans ‘If you want to live in Hindustan, we have to say JSR’ being raised every day by the Nazis? Any FIR?”
The arrests have added to the ongoing discourse about religious and communal harmony in India, with calls for fair and unbiased law enforcement practices. As the investigation continues, the police are searching for other individuals involved in the sloganeering. This incident highlights the delicate balance required in managing communal relations and underscores the importance of equitable treatment by law enforcement agencies to maintain social harmony.
