‘FIR Pe FIR’: Despite Complaints, Hate Speech Remains Unabated in Maharashtra (The Quint)

In Maharashtra, as Hindutva groups continue spreading hate, are there gaps in police investigation?

Hate Watch

By HIMANSHI DAHIYA

The Sakal Hindu Samaj — a coalition of several right-wing Hindu nationalist groups — has been touring several districts in Maharashtra since November 2022, organising jan sabhas or public gatherings which they call Hindu Hunkar SabhasHindu Garjana Morchas, or Jan Aakrosh Morchas.

At these rallies, controversial right-wing figures such as TV anchor Suresh Chavhanke, suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA T Raja Singh, religious leader Kalicharan ‘Maharaj’ alias Abhijeet Dhananjay Sarag who was arrested in 2022 over his remarks against Mahatma Gandhi, and Hindutva hardliner and YouTuber Kajal ‘Hindusthani’ often take to the stage and deliver communally charged hate speeches targeting minority communities.

What is interesting, however, is that the Sakal Hindu Samaj, and the people behind it, continue to organise these rallies despite multiple FIRs registered against them in several districts across the state.

These FIRs and police notices, accessed by The Quint, reveal that while the pace of police investigation has resulted in piling up of cases against people associated with the Sakal Hindu Samaj, it did not deter them from addressing similar rallies or gatherings…

This story was originally published in thequint.com. Read the full story here

 

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