News Analysis India

Tag: Hindu Yuva Vahini

  • ‘Dharam Sansad’ row: SC issues notice to Centre on plea on alleged hate speeches

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre and others on a petition seeking a direction to ensure investigation and action against those who allegedly made hate speeches during two events held recently in Haridwar and the national capital.

    A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana issued notice on the plea filed by journalist Qurban Ali and former Patna High Court judge and senior advocate Anjana Prakash, who have sought a direction for an “independent, credible and impartial investigation” by an SIT into the incidents of alleged hate speeches.

    The bench also comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli permitted the petitioners to give representation to the local authority against holding of future ‘Dharam Sansad’.

    It posted the matter for hearing after 10 days.

    The plea, which specifically referred to the alleged hate speeches delivered between the “17th and 19th of December 2021 at Haridwar and Delhi”, has also sought compliance of apex court’s guidelines to deal with such speeches.

    One event was organised in Haridwar by Yati Narsinghanand and the other in Delhi by ‘Hindu Yuva Vahini’ allegedly “calling for genocide of members” of a community, it said.

  • Martina Navratilova reacts to Hindutva leaders’ hate speech video targeting minorities in India

    By Online Desk

    Tennis legend Martina Navratilova on Twitter reacted to the Hindutva groups’ “hate speech” video that had gone viral.

    The 18-time singles Grand Slam champion retweeted a video of Hindutva groups taking a pledge to “fight, die and if required, kill” in order to turn India into a Hindu Rashtra.

    A concerned Navratilova asked, “What is going on?!?”

    What is going on?!? https://t.co/PaUPY2mfsp
    — Martina Navratilova (@Martina) December 22, 2021
    Which led to a discussion of ‘rising religious intolerance in India’.

    Renowned journalist Rana Ayyub who joined the conversation, said, “Prelude to a genocide. World leaders will be complicit in looking the other way.”

    One of the users slammed Ayyub and said, “Few people are as divisive and prejudiced as you, Ms Ayyub. You keep your mouth shut.”

    Reacting to the comment Navratilova wrote, “Just another man telling a woman to keep her mouth shut. F… off…”

    Just another man telling a woman to keep her mouth shut. F… off…
    — Martina Navratilova (@Martina) December 23, 2021
    Following this, another user pointed out that the three-day event held in Haridwar was filled with such “hateful speeches”.

    For which the former world number one commented, “That’s just awful…”

    When another user informed the former tennis champion of another such event in Haridwar, which went on for three days with hateful speeches, Navratilova said, “That’s just awful…”

    ‘Is India still a democracy’: Opposition leaders slam ‘hate speech conclave’

    Several Opposition leaders, including those from the Congress and the TMC, on Thursday condemned what they said was a “hate speech conclave” held in Haridwar recently and called for strict action against those involved.

    All-India Trinamool Congress national spokesman Saket Gokhale demanded immediate action against the organisers and speakers of the Dharma Sansad held recently in Haridwar, where “hate speeches” were allegedly made against Muslims.

    Gokhale lodged a complaint in this connection at the Jwalapur police station in Haridwar district, asking the Station House Officer to register an FIR within 24 hours.

    At the event, several speakers allegedly made inflammatory and provocative speeches, calling for the killing of people from the minority community.

    Held at Ved Niketan Dham in Haridwar from December 17-20, the Dharma Sansad was organised by Yati Narasimhanand Giri of the Juna Akhada, who is already under police scanner for making hate speeches and inciting violence against Muslims.

    Amit Shah’s praise for Narendra Modi a joke, says Martina Navratilova

    Earlier in October, Navratilova also called Amit Shah’s praise for Narendra Modi a joke.

    Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “democratic leader”, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said even his critics will agree that the Union Cabinet has never functioned in such a democratic manner as it is functioning in the Modi government.

    This comment by the Home Miniter did not go down well with tennis legend Martina Navratilova. “And for my next joke…” she tweeted on Sunday night in reply to Shah’s eulogy of Modi as “India’s most democratic leader”.

    Along with the tweet, she added an emoticon for astonishment and another that resembles a clown.

    And for my next joke … https://t.co/vR7i5etQcv
    — Martina Navratilova (@Martina) October 10, 2021
    Rejecting allegations that Modi is an autocratic leader, Shah, in an interview to SANSAD TV, said that he has not seen a “patient listener” like the prime minister, who gives importance to all worthy suggestions given by anyone irrespective of their designation or position in the hierarchy.

    Shah had said Modi does not hesitate in taking political risks for decisions that are in national interest, and at times has taken bitter decisions for the welfare of the nation.

    (With Inputs From PTI)

  • Uttarakhand police registers case over non-Hindu prohibition banners in Dehradun temples

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand state police on Sunday registered an FIR against members of Hindu Yuva Vahini, a right-wing outfit, under Section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth etc.) of the Indian Penal Code after banners came up in more than 150 temples in Dehradun saying that entry of non-Hindus is banned in the premises.

    Pardeep Singh Rawat, public relations officer from the office of senior superintendent of police, Dehradun said, “The matter is being looked into and some posters have also been removed.”

    The banners read, “Yeh teertha Hinduo ka pavitra sthal hai, ismein gair Hinduo ka pravesh varjit hai.” (This site is a holy place for Hindus, the entry of non-Hindus is prohibited). 

    The temples where these banners are put up are mostly located in and around the areas of Chakrata Road, Prem Nagar, Ghantaghar, Siddhuwala areas of Dehradun.

    The Vahini is not the same founded by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, said the members associated with the group in Uttarakhand. 

    The move comes days after a teenage boy from the Muslim community was assaulted for drinking tap water at the Dasna Devi temple in Dasna (Ghaziabad).

    The members of the Vahini also said their next plan is to put up such banners in Char Dham temples- Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.

    Govind Wadhwa (47), president of Uttarakhand chapter of the Vahini said, “Next, we plan to put the same banners in the Char Dham temples in Uttarakhand. Soon, we will meet the CM of Uttarakhand.”

    Jeetu Randhawa, state general secretary of Hindu Yuva Vahini defending the move said, “The move is to extend support to Yati Narasimhanand Saraswati. BSP MLA from Dhaulana Aslam Chaudhary has give statement saying that the temple belonged to his ancestors and he will remove the posters banning the entry of non-Hindus into the temple.”

    The members of the outfit added that to counter the threat from the BSP MLA such posters outside every temple in Uttarakhand.

    The opposition on Sunday launched scaring attack over this move by the outfit. 

    Suryakant Dhasmana, vice-president of Uttarakhand unit of the Indian National Congress said, “This move by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh affiliated outfit is to tarnish ‘Sanatan Dharma’s and not to save or preserve. This move is to incite hatred and controversy to divert attention from key issues auch as development, unemployed and corruption in the state. Uttarakhand is Devbhoomi where Lord Badri Kedar reside. People of Uttarakhand will never support this.”

    Residents of Uttarakhand also added that such a move is not needed and unnecessary.

    Samir Sah, a resident of the scenic town of Nainital said, “No one else visits temples except Hindus then why to put such banners. There is no need for such acts. This only tarnishes Hindu religion as intolerant.”