Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Social media on Friday was awash with videos showing participants in Thursday’s Ram Navami rallies indulging in large-scale violence and delivering hate speeches in different parts of the country.
The videos are from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh. There are also videos of a police crackdown on Muslims from Gujarat’s Vadodara, reports reaching here said.
Meer Faisal, an independent journalist, has shared many of these videos on his Twitter timeline.
In Bihar’s Lakhi Sarai, a video shows a large number of people chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram,’ brandished swords and raising provocative slogans. There were also some offensive lyrics set to the tune of “those who like Pakistan should go to Pakistan.”
In Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa, a Muslim youth was reportedly beaten up after some miscreants asked his name and religion. The video of the injured youth lying on a hospital bed has gone viral.
In Jharkhand’s Balidih, a 42-year-old Muslim man Manzoor was beaten up by a mob over the allegation of stealing a cow. Manzoor’s motorcycle was stopped by the self-proclaimed cow vigilantes and he was beaten black and blue. A viral video shows the badly injured victim lying on a hospital bed and narrating the assault on him.
In Bihar’s Kishanganj, a video shows some people riding bikes and carrying saffron flags abusing Muslims.
In Jharkhand’s Dhanbad, a Muslim youth was tied to a tree and thrashed mercilessly by some Hindutva fanatics over allegations of cow slaughter. A video of the victim has gone viral wherein he is describing the savage incident to a journalist. The mob also attacked a police posse that had arrived at the scene.
In Gujarat’s Vadodara, a video shows a mob carrying saffron flags pelting stones at a mosque. A police officer could also be seen trying to control the situation.
Separately, local Muslims in Vadodara claimed that the police barged into their houses during Iftar time. Several Muslims were beaten up and arrested by the police. On the other hand, a crowd carrying saffron flags could be seen pelting stones at Muslim homes and places of worship.
In Maharashtra’s Wadi, a youth can be seen hoisting a saffron flag in front of a shrine shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’. Some people could be seen raising retaliatory slogans.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura, an unruly crowd could be seen waving saffron flags outside Jama Masjid to tease and provoke Muslims. A youth could even be seen climbing a wall of the mosque.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also shared a video of a man carrying a gun during the Ram Navami celebrations.
“What does celebrating the birth of Lord Ram, the 7th avatar of Vishnu have to do with brandishing guns & weapons, @BJP? Or is every festival an excuse for mayhem & rioting?” she tweeted.
Rajdeep Sardesai, a noted journalist and popular anchor, also shared a video of hate speeches made by suspended BJP leader Raja Singh. In the video, Singh could be seen abusing Muslims. Referring to the demolition of Babri Masjid he claimed that temples would be built at other places as it was done in Ayodhya.
