By CJP Team
In December 2024, a disturbing pattern of communal mobilisation unfolded across several states in India, marked by a series of Trishul Deeksha events organised by far-right groups like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal, and the Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP). Held in Punjab, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan, these gatherings showcased inflammatory rhetoric, hate speech, and divisive propaganda targeting minority communities, particularly Muslims and Christians.
These events, which involve distributing tridents and administering oaths to “protect Hindu identity,” have become platforms for promoting exclusionary ideologies and inciting communal hatred. Leaders at these gatherings propagated baseless conspiracies like ‘love jihad’ and ‘land jihad,’ while openly vilifying minorities, calling for economic boycotts, and glorifying vigilantism. Such incendiary remarks not only deepen social divisions but also normalize the idea of violence under the guise of cultural or religious defence.
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The complicity of law enforcement, as seen in Sirohi, Rajasthan, where a police officer publicly joined the procession, further highlights the institutional challenges in addressing the rise of hate speech. The spread of these events, coupled with the lack of accountability for their organisers, underscores a broader campaign to marginalise minorities, undermine social harmony, and escalate communal tensions. This piece examines these recent incidents, the dangerous narratives they perpetuate, and the urgent need for robust legal and administrative intervention to counter this alarming trend.
Details of the incidents
- Date: December 15, 2024
Location: Nurmaha, Jalandhar, Punjab
A Trishul Deeksha event organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal took place in Nurmaha, Jalandhar. During the event, a far-right leader made several inflammatory remarks, invoking controversial issues tied to communal tensions.
The speaker declared, “Now that Ram Mandir is built, Kashi and Mathura remain!”—a direct reference to the ongoing demands by right-wing groups to reclaim the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi and the Shahi Idgah mosque in Mathura. Such rhetoric stokes communal sentiments by framing these mosques as illegitimate structures atop Hindu temples.
The unidentified leader also commented on incidents in Sambhal, a district that saw communal tensions and use of excessive force by police forces that resulted in the death of five Muslims, stating, “What’s happening in Sambhal is natural because these people have built structures over many of our temples.” This remark further perpetuated communal antagonism, implying a justification for tensions in the region.
This story was originally published in cjp.org.in. Read the full story here.