Uttarakhand: Lifting of Ban on Staff Participation in RSS ‘Shakhas’ Evokes Strong Opp Reaction

Dehradun: Amid targeted violence against Muslims and their “forcible eviction” from Chamoli and Tehri districts of Garhwal hills of Uttarakhand by the Hindutva groups allegedly backed by ruling Bharatiya Janata Party/Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in the past one month, the poison of hatred seems to be spreading, even among police personnel.

After the violence against the miniscule Muslim community at Nandghat in Chamoli district following alleged charges of eve-teasing against a Muslim youth on September 1, derogatory remarks were posted on a Whastapp group reportedly having police personnel as members called “UK-01 to 13 Uttarakhand Police”. The screen shots of such derogatory remarks of photos against Muslims were shared by a section of the media highlighting the alleged partisan attitude of police personnel who were supposed to be impartial.
 

Screen shots of derogatory remarks against minority community following Nandghat violence.

Karan Singh Nangyal, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Garhwal range told reporters that an inquiry would be conducted about the said Whatsapp group and action would be initiated against such police personnel.

All this happened when the Chamoli police had posted on social media to maintain peace and communal amity following the Nandghat incidents.                 

The trouble had started at Nandghat market near Nandprayag in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand on September 1, following allegations of eve-teasing and making indecent gestures to a minor girl by a Muslim youth who was running a barber shop in the area. The father of the minor girl had lodged a complaint with the police a few days ago as the alleged accused absconded. An irate mob of Hindutva groups raising provocative slogans against minority Muslim community attacked, ransacked and looted at least seven shops owned by Muslims in Nandghat market on September 1. They also damaged a makeshift mosque where the Muslims used to pray.  Another mosque at Gopeshwar was also attacked the next day.

While, the shops owned by Muslims were attacked and ransacked amidst provocative slogan shouting against the Muslim community, a large police force present were mere mute spectators. The police later, imposed prohibitory orders at Nandghat and filed cases against 500 unidentified persons for violence.

Meanwhile, public boards have appeared at several places in Rudrapayag district announcing a ban on the entry of non-Hindus/Rohingya Muslims in their areas. 

Earlier, last month, nearly a dozen Muslims who had been living and working for the past more than two decades were thrown out of their shops and forced to leave on trumped up charges of ‘Love Jehad’ against a Muslim student at Chauras in Kirtinagar block of Tehri Garhwal district.

Two Muslim delegations along with  few victims of Nandghat violence met Uttarakhand Director General of Police Abhinav Kumar on September 5 and apprised him about the grave communal situation prevailing in Garhwal hills, particularly at Nandghat and Gopeshwar areas of Chamoli district, and sought police protection.

However, nearly two months after the Centre revoked the ban on RSS, the Uttarakhand government also revoked the ban on the participation of its’ state government employees in the activities of RSS, the mother organisation of ruling BJP.

The state government order stated that participation in RSS’s ‘shakha’ meetings as well as cultural and social programmes will not be considered a violation of service conduct rules. It has been decided that participation by any employee in RSS shakhas (morning and evening) and other cultural or social activities will not be considered a violation of Uttarakhand State Employees Conduct Rules, 2002.

The revocation order has evoked sharp reactions from Opposition parties. Suryakant Dhasmana, senior vice-president of Uttarakhand Congress said that such orders were violative of the spirit of Constitution which treats every citizen equally.

“By allowing state government employees including police personnel to join RSS and its’ ‘shakhas’ where divisive agenda is preached, how could police and administration act impartially in an already communally divisive atmosphere,” he said.

Indresh Maikhuri, Uttarakhand state secretary of CPI(ML), said allowing employees to become part of RSS would be the worst thing to happen.

“RSS is political organisation that has been controlling the politics of ruling BJP. It would be disastrous for the country and society,” he added.

The writer is a freelance journalist based in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.