Ranjit Bachchan Srivastava, the Uttar Pradesh president of the Hindu Mahasabha, was shot dead in Lucknow’s Hazratganj area on Sunday, 2 February, by bike-borne assailants. This came hours after he celebrated his 40th birthday on 1 February.
Ranjit, or ‘Baba’, as those close to him addressed him, was a former Samajwadi Party member and a Gorakhpur native, and he had espoused a strong resolve to work on Hindutva.
On Sunday, Ranjit was out on a morning walk when he was shot in the head multiple times.
Bachchan's brother, who was with him, also received multiple bullet injuries and is admitted in the Trauma Centre of the King George's Medical University (KGMU).
Here’s a little more about Ranjit Bachchan Srivastava:
His Last Birthday
Shiv Prasad, a member of the Hindu Mahasabha and head of the district, had spent Ranjit’s last day with him.
“It was Baba’s birthday yesterday. We were together from 11:00 am to 4:15 pm together. Almost 20 of us had gathered to do a havan for his birthday, and then, we wished him. This happened at the bade baba mandir in the area. We also had lunch. and then left in the evening.”
Ranjit, who turned 40 years old on Saturday. had told Prasad that he was being threatened.
“He said he was being repeatedly threatened and I told him he should take police protection. He said he had applied for it twice but the police did not agree,” said Prasad.
Speaking about Ranjit, Prasad, who knew him for almost a decade, described him as a “kattar (hardcore) Hindu”. Under his leadership, 20 district heads of the Hindu Mahasabha were appointed, Shiv said.
Left Samajwadi Party to ‘Work on Hindutva’
Ranjit was born and and brought up in Gorakhpur and belonged to the Kayastha caste. Before joining Hindu Mahasabha, he worked in the state unit of the Samajwadi Party. But feeling discontent, he decided to focus solely on Hindutva. He then got in touch with the Hindu Mahasabha Delhi in-charge Swami Chakrapani.
Speaking to The Quint, Chakrapani said, “He came to me and said he wants to work on Hindutva. He had a strong resolve and desire to work for the cause so we made him the in-charge. After Kamlesh Tiwari was killed a few months ago, he was given more responsibilities.”
Kamlesh Tiwari, president of the Hindu Samaj Party, was shot dead in his office on 18 October by two assailants who had befriended him by creating a fake Facebook ID. This had led to multiple arrests.
Had Two Wives; Active Member of Hindu Mahasabha
According to multiple sources in the Hindu Mahasabha, who have spoken to The Quint, Ranjit had two wives. Speaking after Ranjit's death, the Joint Commissioner of UP said that "it has come to light that there was a feud between Ranjit and his wife."
Ranjit was an active member of the Hindu Mahasabha among the few in the organisation in Lucknow. He also floated another Hindutva outfit called the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. A year ago, he had come to meet members of Hindu Mahasabha in Delhi to discuss Uttar Pradesh politics, which he followed up with regular calls to talk about various including the Mahasabha's stance on CAA and NRC.
Chakrapani, Delhi in-charge of Hindu Mahasabha said, “He was talking to us about the various schemes of the UP government and we also spoke about CAA and NRC. The Hindu Mahasabha has been vocal in supporting the cause and so was he. He was also linked with some international Hindutva outfits. Bachchan worked primarily from his home.”
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