Skip to main content

Public calls for violence against Muslims may dangerously escalate: Gujarat CM warned

Hindutva groups protest in Rajkot
By A Representative 
A group of citizens from different parts of Gujarat, drawing attention of the State chief minister to some recent “inflammatory hate messaging on the social media and public calls for violence against the Muslim community”, have warned, such “public calls are criminal and dangerous and have the potential of instigating further violence.”
The hate messages, says the letter, signed by academics, activists, lawyers and concerned individuals, follows the “unfortunate” murder of Kishan Bharwad in Dhandhuka in Ahmedabad district by “certain criminal elements”. 
The signatories include veteran litterateur Prakash N Shah, senior High Court lawyer Anand Yagnik, Indian Institute of Management (Ahmedabad) faculty Navdeep Mathur, human rights activist Cedric Prakash, environmentalist Rohit Prajapati, and minority rights leader Mujahid Nafees.
It notes, while the police “have acted with alacrity and efficiency and the investigations are going on, and there is nothing wanting as of now in the action taken by the police, especially now as the culprits have been arrested and even the ATS have been engaged”, it notes, “Following the unfortunate murder of the youth in Dhandhuka, the protesting mobs in Dhandhuka and Rajkot had turned unruly and had attacked the police and caused damage to public property too.”
Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel
“This indicates”, the letter insists, “How volatile the situation is, and therefore underlines the need for concerted action on the part of the police to ensure that the life, property and livelihoods of the Muslim community across Gujarat are not endangered in any way.”
The letter demands that the police “track, file FIRs against and apprehend those criminal elements propagating hate messages against the Muslim community in the social media and prosecute them”, take “preventive action so that the situation does not go out of control”, and identify sensitive areas and provide protection to “Muslim settlements where residents are apprehensive of violence.”

Comments

TRENDING

Gharapuri's discoveries: India finds a maritime past, ASI an app

By Gajanan Khergamker  The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has once again demonstrated an extraordinary talent for mistaking administrative housekeeping for institutional achievement. At the very moment excavations at Gharapuri are yielding evidence that could fundamentally reshape our understanding of India's maritime past, the institution has chosen to celebrate the rollout of QR-enabled audio guides and GPS-supported navigation at its monuments. The contrast could not be starker. 

What's behind Columbia's president-elect speaking out against continuing the country’s peace agenda

By Laura Violeta Devia López  There are just over three weeks left before Abelardo De La Espriella takes office as Colombia’s new president, despite the numerous allegations that cast a shadow over his election and, as usual, discredit the Colombian electoral system. The announcements already being made by Abelardo and his designated cabinet mark a significant change of course, not only for the Colombian people but also for the country’s place in the world.

Small Farm, big success: How an innovative couple built a model of sustainable farming

By Bharat Dogra  In Sema, a remote village in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district, Bhagwati Lal and his wife Rekha share equal credit for creating a remarkable farm that has become an inspiration for villagers and visitors alike. Their achievement demonstrates how even a very small piece of land can provide a strong foundation for sustainable livelihoods while enhancing climate resilience and protecting the environment.