“Dharma Sansad” Called for Waging War against Muslims, No Action Yet Taken by Uttarakhand Police
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Dec 23: Waging an armed war against Muslims to prevent India from turning into an Islamic state in a decade or so and ensure that a Muslim did not become the prime minister of India in 2029 was the clarion call given to the Hindus in the country from a “Dharma Sansad that just concluded its three-day sitting at Haridwar in the poll-bound Uttarakhand.
Videos of the closed-door “Dharma Sansad” (religious assembly) in Haridwar organised by the controversial religious leader Yati Narsinghanand which was held from December 17 to 19, became public only on Thursday triggering an outrage and condemnation with former military chiefs, activists and others demanding action against the organisers and the speakers at the meet.
One of the speakers at the “Dharma Sansad” was a former BJP spokesperson of Delhi Ashwini Upadhyaya who justified his presence claiming that he attended it just for about 30 minutes on the concluding day to discuss only on the constitution of India and was not aware and responsible for what the speakers before and after him spoke at the congregation. “If distributing copies of Indian constitution and discussing its provisions was a crime, then I have committee crime,” Upadhyaya said.
While several of the speakers eulogized Nathuram Godse and some wanted to reincarnate the killer of Mahatma Gandhi to finish of some more pro-Muslim elements in the country, there was at least one speaker at the Sansad who wished to “pump in six bullets” into the chest of the former prime minister Manmohan Singh when he said in Parliament that the minorities had the first right on the country’s resources. Dharamdas Maharaj from Patna said, “When I read that in newspapers (minorities have the first right on India’s resources), I wished I was an MP, had a revolver in hand, and had turned into Nathuram. I would have emptied all six bullets into Manmohan Singh.”
According to the reports emerging from the “Dharma Sansad,” the congregation called for a “war against Muslims” and urged “Hindus to take up weapons” to ensure a Muslim “didn’t become the Prime Minister in 2029.”
Justifying his presence, Ashwini Upadhyay who claimed that he had presented Narsinghanand a copy of the Constitution in Hindi, said, “It was a three-day event and I was there for one day, during which I was on the stage for around 30 minutes and talked about the Constitution. What others said before and after me, I am not responsible for it.” He said he had given Narsinghanand, known for targeting Muslims as head of a temple in Ghaziabad, and inviting charges of inciting communal tension, a copy of the Constitution as it is difficult to procure one in Hindi. “I took the one I had and gave it to those present there.”
“What happened before I went, I don’t know. I went on the last day for 30 minutes. Since I reached late, my slot was reduced to 10 minutes from 30. I had taken a copy of the constitution. I distributed copies to some and discussed provisions related to population control, checking conversions, infiltrations…If distributing or discussing the constitution is a crime, then I have committed a crime,” said Upadhyay.
Narsinghanand took pride in organizing the Sansad. “The only subject of this Dharam Sansad was that in 2029 the Prime Minister of India will be a Muslim. This is not a baseless thought, and those who understand demographic change (know) this… The way the Muslim population is increasing and our population decreasing, in seven-eight years so much will change that only Muslims will be seen on the roads. I have been trying to tell people this for the last 23 years.”
He added that should a Muslim become PM in 2029, “given the history of Islam, in the next 20 years, 50% of the Hindus will convert, 40% of the Hindus will be killed. Only 10% of the Hindus will remain, who will stay somewhere in America, Canada, Landon and Europe or UN refugee camps in India. There will be no mutts, no temples and all our mothers and sisters will be raped and sold in the market.” Narsinghanand said that once it had captured India, “Islamic jihad will be the most powerful” and “reach persons of every belief”.
He also called upon Hindus to take action besides economic boycott. “Forget swords, they will be used only as showcase on stage. Battle will be won by those with better weapons. Only better weapons can save you,” he said, raising slogans of “Shashtramev jayate (let weapons win)”.
Sagar Sindhuraj Maharaj from Roorkee suggested the audience to make do with a mobile phone that doesn’t cost more than Rs 5,000, but buy weapons worth at least Rs 1 lakh. “Always keep swords and canes in your home. If you leave the house with your weapon, there should be something in the house so that if someone comes, he cannot leave alive.”
Anand Swaroop Maharaj of Sambhavi Dhaam hinted at attacks if people and hotels in Haridwar celebrate Christmas and Eid, saying this was “unconstitutional” in a place of religious significance for Hindus. “I said that from now on Christmas will not be celebrated here, Eid will not be celebrated here. The hotel owners who celebrate Christmas and Eid should protect their windows, their properties.”
Swaroop Maharaj described the message coming out of the meeting as “dharmadesh (religious order)”, and said everyone should heed it, including the democratic governments in Delhi, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and other places. “If they do not listen to our demands, we will wage a war far scarier than the 1857 revolt,” he said.
Juna Akhara Mahamandleshwar Swami Prabodhanand Giri asked people to get ready to kill or get killed. “There is no other option. That is why police, politicians, Army and every Hindu have to take up weapons to participate in this ‘cleaning campaign’, just like in Myanmar.”
Annapurna Maa, the Mahamandleshwar of Niranjani Akhada, said if anyone was a threat to Sanatan Dharma and Hindutva, she would not think twice before taking up weapons even if, she said, she was “defamed” like (Nathuram) Godse. “I want you to promise that there will not be a Muslim PM in 2029. If we have to finish their population, we are ready to kill and go to jail. Even if we have 100 soldiers, we can beat 20 lakh of them… Only with this sentiment can we save Sanatan Dharma,” Annapurna Maa said.
Defending the speeches, Narsinghanand said every time Hindus spoke or demanded their rights, a controversy was raised. “We organised the Dharam Sansad and the speakers have their own thoughts. They are free to speak their mind. How much I agree or disagree with them is not important. Freedom of speech is for everyone, not only anti-Hindus,” he said, adding the topic of the sansad was “Islamic Jihad and our responsibilities.” Around 150 people, including 50 mahamandleshwars, attended, he said.
Trinamool Congress leader and RTI activist Saket Gokhale has filed a complaint against the organisers and speakers at the Dharma Sansad but regretted that no action had yet been taken even as most of the speakers remained unrepentant for what they spoke at the conclave, several of them flaunting their links with the ruling BJP.
When pressed, the police said there was no FIR because no complaint had been filed so far. “The police are monitoring the situation,” said Haridwar Superintendent of Police Swatantra Kumar Singh, when it was pointed out that many videos of the divisive speeches were already out in the public. Hindu Raksha Sena’s Prabodhanand Giri who was heard saying at the meet “Hindus should pick up weapons” said he was nonchalant. “I am not ashamed of what I have said. I am not afraid of police. I stand by my statement.” The seer has often been photographed with BJP leaders, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In one photo, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami is seen touching his feet.
Another video from the controversial event shows Pooja Shakun Pandey, aka “Sadhvi Annapurna”, giving a call to arms and urging violence against Muslims. Speaking to media, she doubled down on her comments and said: “The Constitution of India is wrong. Indians should pray to Nathuram Godse (Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin). I am not afraid of the police.” A video showing a saffron-robed gathering taking a virulent pledge to fight for a “Hindu-only nation.”
“Why is this not being stopped? With our Jawans facing enemies on two fronts, do we want a communal blood-bath, domestic turmoil and international disgrace? Is it difficult to understand that anything which damages national cohesion and unity endangers India’s national security,” former Navy Chief Arun Prakash tweeted. Former Army Chief General VP Mallik replied to the tweet: “Agreed. Such speeches disturb public harmony and affect national security. Action required by Civil Administration.”
