Skip to main content

Violence in Nuh, Gurugram has 'continuous support of state institutions': CASR

Counterview Desk 

The civil rights group Campaign Against State Repression (CASR)* has claimed that the violence in Nuh, which escalated to Gurugram (Gurgaon), has had “continuous support from state institutions”, as seen in the case of Hafiz Saad, an imam at Anjuman Jama Masjid, who in his last conversation with his family he stated that the police had secured his mosque and were claiming to protect him.
“A few hours later he was stabbed and murdered”, CASR said in a statement, adding, the BJP-led government in Haryana has continued “the fascist trend” of bulldozering homes, medical stores, shelters and huts and Muslims in Mewat, "with hundreds of houses being demolished by bulldozers in the name of curbing 'illegal encroachment’,” in the same way as in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi.

Text:

Since 31st July 2023, violence by Hindutva forces has escalated into a large-scale pogrom against Muslims in Haryana and adjacent areas, starting from the town of Nuh, Haryana. It began with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra where known cow vigilantes and murderers such as Monu Manesar and Bittu Bajrangi announced their presence and participation.
This yatra swiftly seized control of the annual Hindu religious "kawad yatra", with VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders making provocative declarations online, hinting at violence against Muslims in Nuh. All of this escalated into an organized pogrom which started at Nuh and quickly spread to Gurgaon, Sohna and Palwal, where in Gurgaon particularly, Hafiz Saad, an imam at Anjuman Jama Masjid was murdered by Hindutva mobs.
The organized nature of this violence is exposed by how Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal members continued to provoke Muslims of Mewat through their social media outlets while also carrying weapons during the supposed religious procession. The carrying of swords and other weapons has even been questioned by BJP's own Minister of State and Gurgaon Member of Parliament Rao Inderjit Singh.
Over the years, Hindutva forces have particularly targeted the Mewat region, a Muslim-majority area. Muslims in Mewat, particularly the Meo community, are an agrarian community which have a history of cow herding, like most other agrarian communities in North India.
The Mewat region also happens to be one of the most impoverished areas in the country, with Mewat being declared India's most underdeveloped district in 2018. The Brahmanical Hindutva fascist forces, over the years, have continuously attacked people in Mewat in the name of cow protection, with the BJP-led Haryana government even introducing a cow protection legislation that has allowed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-associated mobs, cow vigilantes, impunity to function directly out of police stations and government offices.
Under this garb, many Muslim farmers and cattle herders have been lynched under false allegations of cow smuggling. Others have had their cattle stolen by Hindutva mobs and forcefully placed in expensive gaushalas.
Ministers in the Haryana government like Anil Vij have openly claimed that the demolitions are the ilaaj
The pogrom in Nuh has seen continuous support from state institutions. In the case of Hafiz Saad, in his last conversation with his family, he stated that the police had secured his mosque and were claiming to protect him. A few hours later he was stabbed and murdered.
The BJP-led government in Haryana has used this as an opportunity to continue the fascist trend of bulldozering homes, medical stores, shelters and huts and Muslims in Mewat, with hundreds of houses being demolished by bulldozers in the name of curbing 'illegal encroachment.' This same politics has been utilized in Uttar Pradesh against Muslim activists and journalists, in Madhya Pradesh and Delhi, even using the G20 summit as an excuse to demolish homes.
Ministers in the Haryana government like Anil Vij have openly claimed that these demolitions are the "ilaaj" (solution) for the pogroms in Haryana, aiding the Hindutva mobs and actively using state institutions to participate in this organized and planned attack against Muslim in Haryana. We call on all democratic forces to unite against state-sponsored violence through cow vigilante groups.
---
*AIRSO,AISA, AISF, APCR,BASF, BSM, Bhim Army, Bigul Mazdoor Dasta, bsCEM, CEM, CRPP, CTF, Disha, DISSC, DSU, DTF, Fraternity ,IAPL, Karnataka Janashakti, LAA,Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan, Mazdoor Patrika, , Morcha Patrika, NAPM, NBS, Nowruz, NTUI, People’s Watch, Rihai Manch, Samajwadi Janparishad,Smajwadi lok manch, Bahujan Samjavadi Mnach, SFI, United Against Hate, WSS,Y4S

Comments

TRENDING

Avoidable Narmada floods: Modi birthday fete caused long wait for release of dam waters

Counterview Desk  Top advocacy group, South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), has accused the Sardar Sarovar dam operators for once again acting in an "unaccountable" manner, bringing "avoidable floods in downstream Gujarat."  In a detailed analysis, SANDRP has said that the water level at the Golden Bridge in Bharuch approached the highest flood level on September 17, 2023, but these "could have been significantly lower and much less disastrous" both for the upstream and downstream areas of the dam, if the authorities had taken action earlier based on available actionable information.

Biden urged to warn Modi: US can declare India as worst religious freedom offender

By Our Representative  During a Congressional Briefing held on Capitol Hill, Washington DC, Nadine Maenza, former Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), has wondered why the Biden administration should raise issues of mass anti-minority mob violence  -- particularly in Haryana and Manipur -- with Modi. Modi should be told that if such violence continues, the US will be “compelled by law” to designate India as one of the world’s worst offenders of religious freedom, she urged.

From 'Naatu-Naatu' to 'Nipah-Nipah': Dancing to the tune of western pipers?

By Dr Amitav Banerjee, MD*  Some critics have commented that the ecstatic response of most Indians to the Oscar for the racy Indian song, “Naatu-Naatu” from the film, “RRR” reeks of sheer racism, insulting visuals and a colonial hangover. It was perhaps these ingredients that impressed the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, one critic says.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Asset managers hold '2.8 times more equity' in fossil fuel cos than in green investments

By Deepanwita Gita Niyogi*  The world’s largest asset managers are far off track to meet the  2050 net zero commitments , a new study  released by InfluenceMap , a London-based think tank working on climate change and sustainability, says. Released on August 1, the Asset Managers and Climate Change 2023 report by FinanceMap, a work stream of InfluenceMap, finds that the world’s largest asset managers have not improved on their climate performance in the past two years.

Evading primary responsibility, ONGC decides to invest Rs 15,000 crore in sick subsidiary

By NS Venkataraman*  It is reported that Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will infuse about Rs 15,000 crore in ONGC Petro-additions Ltd (OPaL) as part of a financial restructuring exercise. ONGC currently holds 49.36 per cent stake in (OPaL), which operates a mega petrochemical plant at Dahej in Gujarat. GAIL (India) Ltd has 49.21 per cent interest and Gujarat State Petrochemical Corporation (GSPC) has the remaining 1.43 per cent.

Savarkar 'criminally betrayed' Netaji and his INA by siding with the British rulers

By Shamsul Islam* RSS-BJP rulers of India have been trying to show off as great fans of Netaji. But Indians must know what role ideological parents of today's RSS/BJP played against Netaji and Indian National Army (INA). The Hindu Mahasabha and RSS which always had prominent lawyers on their rolls made no attempt to defend the INA accused at Red Fort trials.

Sales, profits of Indian firms 'deteriorate', yet no significant increase in cost pressures

By Our Representative  The Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad's (IIM-A's) latest Business Inflation Expectations Survey (BIES), a monthly exercise, has said that while cost perceptions data does not indicate significant increase of cost pressures, sales and profits of the Indian firms have deteriorated.

'State-sanctioned terror': Stop drone attack on Adivasis, urge over 80 world academics

Counterview Desk  A joint statement, “Indigenous Peoples’ Un-Freedoms and Our Academic Freedom: A Call for Solidarity”, endorsed by over 80 signatories, including international academics, activists and civil society organizations, as well as diasporic Indian academics and researchers, working with Adivasi (indigenous) communities in India, has made an urgent appeal to prevent future drone bomb attacks by the Indian state on Adivasi villages.