- Wednesday, February 26, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
COPS in India have launched a criminal investigation after video clips emerged from a Hindu religious gathering in Haridwar in the northern state of Uttarakhand inciting hate. The clips that were in circulation on social media showed saffron-robed people advocating violence and even suggesting ethnic cleansing of a minority group.
Ashok Kumar, the police of the hill state, told Bloomberg over telephone that the incident is under investigation. Clips from the event, which was held between December 17 and 20, drew heavy criticism from India’s former military chiefs, activists and even former tennis player Martina Navratilova.
In the clip, people were seen taking oath to not leave any stone unturned to make India a Hindu nation. If needed, they would also not hesitate to kill to accomplish the mission. Navratilova took to Twitter where she shared one of the videos and asked, “What is going on?!?”
What is going on?!? https://t.co/PaUPY2mfsp
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) December 22, 2021
However, the organisers refused to agree that any community was targeted at the conclave. Amritanand, a Hindu monk and one of the organisers, told Bloomberg, “Muslims weren’t targeted but teachings of a certain faith that justify violence were discussed.”
The incident shows “mainstreaming of hate in India and the failure of institutions like the police force and the judicial process,” Barkha Dutt, a noted Indian journalist, said.
However, some organisers of the event tried to show that the tone was softer than that seen on social media. Akhil Kaushik, an organiser and head of a religious body, said a few monks “went beyond the brief” while making addresses.
