Lucknow, March 24 : The Muslims have become a happy hunting ground for rightwing Hindutva activists planning to leave their homes for fear being targeted in BJP-RSS governed Indian state Utter Pardesh. Several Muslim families are planning to leave their homes for fear being targeted, and even killed, by the Hindutva bullies on false accusation of selling meat in Mathura city of the state.
The Hindutva BJP, RSS, VHP and Banjrang DAL come in large numbers and randomly target individual Muslims for harassment with the allegation of selling meat ever since Uttar Pradeshs BJP government banned meat sale in Mathura,
Who has given the saffron gangs the powers which are the preserve of the police? Nobody seems to have an answer to this question, the media reports said.
On Sunday, a brutal assault on a Muslim driver by cow vigilantes on the false charge of transporting beef has come into limelight. The incident has evoked massive outrage, both online and offline. The key accused in the case are members of Hindutva Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) – Vikas Sharma and Balram Thakur.
Shakir Hussain, treasurer of the All India Backward and Minority Communities’ Employees Federation, confirmed that since July 2021 when Uttar Pradesh BJP chief minister Yogi Adityanath banned the meat and liquor in the district, Hindutva mobs are targeting Muslims on the basis of false accusations of selling meat.
“These Bajrang Dal men arrive in groups of 20-25, and without any evidence accuse us of slaughtering cows,” he said.
“If you (the activists) have suspicion, go to the police and file a complaint! Who has given you the right to take over the police powers,” he asks.
A resident of Manoharpur, Mathura, Hussain said going by the way the gangs are conducting themselves it seems they enjoy total impunity to unleash violence on Muslims in the name of cow.“Since July 2021, such incidents (assaults in the name of cow protection) are adversely affecting Muslims, almost exclusively, in Mathura. The state is being run on Hindu dogmas, and not the constitution,” he said.
Referring to the woes of the farmers due to the stray cattle menace, Hussain said “If they care concerned about the cows so much, why don’t they take care of the stray cows eating filth and dying in the dirt?” Hussain asked.
Samina Banu, whose husband faced harassment at the hands of a Hindutva mob on 6 March, fled her house and went to live at a relative’s place fearing further harassment.
“They torment Muslims across India. If we had not run away, they could’ve killed us and no one would’ve come to our rescue,” Banu said. She said her husband was actually unemployed. Others too are feeling unsafe in the areas. Now that Yogi has been elected as CM for the second time, our insecurity persists.
A meat seller said, on the condition of anonymity, the meat ban had rendered him penniless.
“We are left with no money. While banning meat sales, why did they not give us jobs to sustain ourselves?
I used to earn Rs 2,000 daily. Now, I fill my pocket with the Rs 200 I earn on a good day as a daily wager,” he lamented. He disclosed that illegal sale of meat and liquor is flourishing in Mathura market despite the ban .
The Muslims are not using liquour but attack and target s are Muslims in India, one said on anonymity .
Accusing the saffron fraternity of double standards, he said, “They (the Hindutva activists) call Mathura the janmabhoomi (birthplace) of Krishna, yet don’t hesitate to disrespect the land themselves. But they make it a point to put the blame squarely on the Muslims.”
College Principal Resigns, says Harassment over Hijab in Maharashtra
Mumbai, March 24:The principal of a law college in Maharashtra has resigned from her post following harassment for wearing a head scarp/ hijab on the campus.
A head scarp/ hijab-wearing Muslim principal, Dr Battull Hammid, who belongs to Dawoodi Bohra community and led the VIVA College of Law in Virar, said that an unharmonious and suffocating atmosphere was created in the college management following the anti- head scarp/ hijab campaign in southern Indian state Karnakata.
“It is matter of general notice that as the Principal of VIVA College of law since my appointment on 19th July, 2019 on substantial post, my work has always been admired by the Management Committee, the teaching as well as non-teaching staff and the students but for a few days I feel uncomfortable as the atmosphere around me is made unhormonious and suffocating so it is hardly possible to continue to dicharge my duties as the Principal of VIVA College of Law. I hence, tender my resignation with immediate effect,” said Hammid in her letter to the college authorities.
According to the media report, Battul said that the situation was normal in the last two years after she joined the college in July 2019, however she was harassed by people in the management following the anti-Hijab campaign in Karnataka.
Days earlier a few members of her community had come to the institution to enquire about admissions following which the management accused her of indulging in the propagation of her religion on the campus, she said.
“They celebrate Haldi Kumkum and [organise recitation of] Saraswati Vandana on the campus. Are these not religious activities? Just a few people came to meet me, gave respect to me and it became an issue for them,” said Hammid. The following harassment by the management Battull believed that she would be fired for one reason or another. In a bit to avoid such a situation and save her dignity, she handed over her resignation.
“I resigned to save my dignity and culture,” she stated.
Battull also added that her work and leadership over the years had been appreciated by the management.