India likely to witness massacres of Muslims, say Genocide Watch, 18 other HR organizations over hate-speeches

Jan 17, 2022 | Religious Persecution

‘Modi has not spoken about genocidal calls despite his obligation to denounce such threat calls’

As Muslims in India continue to face threat calls by Hindu-right wing members, Dr Gregroy Stanton, the President of Genocide Watch has warned that something similar to the inhumane Rwandan genocide could happen in India if stern action isn’t taken by the Government of India.

“A gathering of saffron-robed Hindu monks held last month at the north Indian Hardiwar city was exactly aimed at inciting the genocide of Muslims,” said Dr Gregory Stanton, President of Genocide Watch at a Congressional Briefing organized in Washington, DC, on January 12, Wednesday. 

“As the leader of India, he has an obligation to denounce this genocidal speech… Yet, Narendra Modi has not spoken against it,” he said.

Gregory H. Stanton is a former Research Professor in Genocide Studies and Prevention at George Mason University in the US.

He is world-renowned for his work in the area of genocide studies. He is the founder and president of Genocide Watch, the founder and director of the Cambodian Genocide Project, and the Chair of the Alliance Against Genocide. From 2007 to 2009 he was the President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars.

Amnesty International USA, Genocide Watch, and 17 other human rights organisations in the USA expressed concern at the plight of Muslims in India during the Congressional Briefing.

Experts present at the meeting spoke about how the country is likely to witness mass violence and massacres of Muslims if the situation worsens.

Last month, a three-day ‘Dharam Sansad’ was organized in Haridwar, where members of Hindu-right wing members made genocide calls against Muslims.

The event was organised by Yati Narasinghanand, the priest of Dasna temple in Ghaziabad, who is known for his hate-spewing remarks against Muslims.

During his speech in Haridwar, Narsinghanand targeted Muslims and urged Hindus to take up weapons against them. “Swords look good on stage only. This battle will be won by those with better weapons,” the spiteful Yati had said.

On January 14, 2022, Uttarakhand police arrested Jitendra Narayan Tyagi alias Wasim Rizvi who also participated in the hate-speech conclave in Haridwar.

Former chairman of Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board and a Hindutva supporter Syed Waseem Rizvi converted to Hinduism months ago.

Following the huge outrage against the Islamophobic event, the police had registered a case against Tyagi and others under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, etc) in Haridwar police station.

Others who were booked were Dasna temple priest Yati Narsinghanand, Hindu Mahasabha general secretary Annapurna, Sindhu Sagar, Dharamdas, Parmananda, Anand Swaroop, Ashwini Upadhyay, Suresh Chahwan, and Prabodhanand Giri.

The arrest comes a d day after the Supreme Court issued notice to the Uttarakhand government in a petition seeking an independent inquiry into the anti-Muslim hate speech at the ‘Dharam Sansad’ in Haridwar and Delhi in December last year.

The bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana allowed the petitioners to approach local authorities with their plea to stop a similar event.

Following his arrest, Yati Narsinghanand threatened the police officers who came to arrest Tyagi saying “Tum sab maroge (You will all die)”.

Uttarakhand Police have summoned Yati Narsinghanand and another accused, Sadhvi Annapurna. In a video circulating on social media, police officers are seen requesting Narsinghanand to cooperate as they take Jitendra Tyagi into custody.

Seated in a car, he is seen asking the officers why Tyagi was being arrested. The officers explain that they have to make the arrest in connection with the cases filed against him.

“I am with him in all three cases. Did he do it alone?” Narsinghanand asks. The officers are seen asking him to get out of the car so they can proceed, but Narsinghanand appears adamant. 

News Desk | Free Press Kashmir