NEW DELHI — Narsinghanand Saraswati, the Dasna Devi Temple priest who lately hit media attention for his frequent genocidal hate speeches against Muslims, has said that bombs should be dropped on Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), a premier institute of higher education in the country where majority of students are Muslim.
A video of his speech, delivered at a press conference in Aligarh last week, has surfaced on social media. Saraswati also called for violence against Darul Uloom Deoband and Jamia Millia Islamia apart from AMU.
“AMU should be bombed and finished off, “Saraswati shouts forcefully into mics at the presser to the cheer of his supporters. “Even today AMU produces only anti-nationals and those against humanity. The governments are weak, otherwise, on the day a man assumes power in Delhi (national capital) the first thing he should do is to finish Darul Uloom Deoband, Aligarh Muslim University and then Jamia (Millia Islamia University). These three should be finished on first day, only then this country will prosper.”
When Clarion India approached police in Aligarh to know if any action has been taken on matter which has also been reported by the media, the police officials at the media cell of the district said that they have not yet come across any such video and refrained from giving any further comments.
The officials in the varsity administration, unfortunately, also said that they are yet to see the video and hence can not comment. “I have not seen the video yet and it could be doctored,’ said one University official who did not want to be identified.
The vile remarks of the radical hate preacher has sparked massive outrage among the Muslim activists and student community who demanded police action against Saraswati, who is habitual of attacking Muslims and Islam.
“By making these statements, people like Saraswati are trying to create communal discord within the society and this is being done deliberately in view of the upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh. The police should arrest him immediately and put him in jail,” said Dr Mashkur Usmani, a former head of the AMU students Union, who is now associated with Congress party in Bihar. “But I must say his hateful and violent remarks will not undermine the stature of the university that has made unparalleled contributions to the nation; AMU has produced many freedom fighters and it was acknowledged by PM Modi as well.”
Similarly, another student activist Nasir Khuehami, who is spokesperson of Kashmir based student group, demanded arrest of Saraswati and his associates as he warned that such speeches can result in real life violence and will also further erode the tolerance and brotherhood among communities. Around 1300 Kashmiri students are currently enrolled in the varsity. “We will be writing a letter to authorities seeking FIR against Saraswati as we are concerned about the safety and security of students,” Khuehami said.
Saraswati has achieved notoriety for making violent and hate filled speeches against a particular community without any fear of legal repercussions as, unfortunately, police have also failed to arrest him despite demands from rights groups. In April he came out in open support of a man who heckled a Muslim child for drinking water at his temple in Dasna in Ghaziabad district.
The ‘priest’ has also made derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad (SAW) at a press conference held at the Delhi Press Club which sparked country-wide protests.
Political observers, however, lament the way police have “ignored” Sarawati’s hate and violent speeches against Muslims. “The police should take cognizance of his speeches which have the propensity to lead to violence but we have seen how the open threats and hate speeches by men like Saraswati targeting Muslim men and women have been ignored by law enforcement agencies ,” said Prof Apoorvanand who teaches at Delhi University. “It seems Saraswati is enjoying impunity.”
Prof Apoorvanand is not surprised with Saraswati’s diatribe against AMU, Darul Uloom Deoband and Jamia Millia Islamia as it is in line with the narrative of Sangh Parivar around these three institutions which has further bolstered in past two years as Jamia and AMU became the wellspring of protest movement against Citizenship Amendment Act in early 2020. “These three institutions have been projected as a scarecrow for Hindus. They show these institutions as places where Muslims have congregated and hence a threat to India.”
However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the centenary ceremony of Aligarh Muslim University in December, said the institution represents a “mini-India.” Hailing the contribution of the varsity, PM Modi said he feels proud meeting the AMU alumni during his visits to foreign countries.
This story first appeared on clarionindia.net