Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
Do perpetrators of rape belong to a certain religion? Is there a community associated with rapists? are rapists members of a specific caste? can any organisation defend those charged for an 8-year-old’s rape, only on the grounds of the men being Hindus and the deceased victim a Muslim?
Usually, answers to these questions can only be in the negative, but not for the Hindu Ekta Manch, a Jammu based outfit. But sadly, this isn’t the only one and there are many like it across India. This brings us to one big question. How are these political shell outfits, that seek to trample the vestiges of humanity, formed in the first place?
Recently, a rally was organised by the same Hindu Ekta Manch in Jammu’s Kathua. You’d think the manch was demanding justice for the 8-year-old rape victim. You’ll be shocked to know othewrise. Yes, the rally was organised in support of Hindu men, who face charges of first gangraping and then brutally murdering the 8-year-old.
On 17 January, the corpse of an eight-year-old girl was found. She was gangraped by monstrous men. The investigation was handed over to the crime branch and immediately on the next day, an organisation, the Hindu Ekta Manch was created.
Now, the outfit's chief Vijay Sharma claims his collective is apolitical or non-political in nature. But is it just a coincidence that Sharma himself is the BJP's state secretary?
Bearing saffron flags and branding themselves as ‘Hindu’, are these outfits really non-political, as they claim to be? or are they simply political parties masquerading as socio-religious pressure groups?
Do you remember the date 24 January 2009, when at a pub in Mangalore, women were chased, dragged and thrashed by ‘cultured’ men of the Sri Ram Sena? In the wake of the shameful incident, the outfit’s Chief Paramod Muthalik openly lauded his supporters.
On 27 October 2015, workers of the Hindu Sena workers created ruckus inside Delhi created ruckus inside New Delhi’s Kerala house. They claimed that beef was being served at a restaurant inside.
In June 2017, the same Kerala House came under the attack of crusaders from the Bharatiya Gau Raksha Karanti . But the Krantikaris were proven wrong. Even if their allegations were true, it is the police who should have taken action.
Who are these self-proclaimed Hindutva crusaders to take the law in their own hands, and go about rampaging wherever they fancy?
Do you remember protests around 'Padmaavat'? In the name of Rajput pride, the Sena and its supporters sparked outrage and unrest across the country.
If violence in Bhima-Koregoan and the killing of Gauri Lankesh involves outfits like Sanathan Sanstha, those like the Hindu Jagran jump into alleged cases of 'love jihad.'
Sporting saffron scarfs and an aggressive look, half of these outfits aren't even registered. They have no governmental or non-governmental accreditation but saffron flags are their license to do just about anything.
These outfits claim they are apolitical. This means that no single political party can be blamed for their rowdy attitude.
If they don't have any political backing, then why has no action been taken against these law-breaking, political shell companies?
If food prices are crucial to electoral politics, even these hooligans will have a political connection. The big question is, who benefits from these so-called non-political bodies?
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