In national television debate, Yogi Adityanath has publicly blamed the Muslim community for being responsible for instigating the riots. His irresponsibly statement which instigate communal violence in a highly diverse and sensitive Indian society. The country had already seen enough number of communal riots, and wounds of some are yet not healed. Mr. Yogi’s has past record of giving provocative statements, which are potential enough to vitiate peace and harmony in the country. Citizens For Democracy (CFD) has strongly condemned Yogi’s communal remarks and appealed Mr. Rajnath Singh to arrest and prosecute him. Reproduced below is CFD’s press statement. – Editor
Press Release:
Citizens For Democracy strongly condemns the communal sensitive remarks made by Yogi Adityanath in a programme ‘Aap ki Adalat’ on ‘India TV’ on Saturday the 30th August,2014. In that programme which is reported in various newspapers, he has publicly blamed the Muslim community for being responsible for instigating the riots.
He has publicly declared that where there are more than 35 persons Muslims, there is no place for non-Muslims. He has publicly justified his provocative speeches in the past in which he said that if a Hindu is killed 10 Muslims will be killed in retaliation. He has publicly said that if he has a ‘mala’ (rosary) in one hand, he also carries a ‘bhala’ (javelin) in the other and that as a ‘Sanyasi’ he has no qualm in punishing the evil elements.
He has publicly charged that ‘love jihad’ is a part of the strategy to turn India into a Muslim country. He has publicly said, casting aspersions on the loyalty and integrity of the Muslim community as well as giving a veiled threat to it, “if you want to live here, you will have to respect Indian culture and traditions. You cannot have your body here but mind in Pakistan .”
All the aforesaid statements made by Yogi Adityanath are criminal offences amounting to generate hatred and enmity against the Muslim community. He is straight away liable to be prosecuted under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code which provides punishment of imprisonment which may extend to 3 years or with fine or with both to anyone who by words, either spoken or written promotes or attempts to promote , on grounds of religion, race or community or any other ground whatsoever, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious, racial, language or caste or communities, and who commits any act which is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different communities and which disturbs and is likely to disturb the public tranquility.
Yogi Adityanath must be knowing that India has a Constitution and is meant to be governed by the Rule of Law. As per Indian Constitution nobody is entitled to take the law in his own hands in order to teach “other side” in the so called “language they understand” or use “bhala’” (javelin) in retaliation to punish the “supposedly” evil elements.
It is obvious that Yogi Adityanath is trying to polarize communities for electoral gains in view of the forthcoming elections in UP to serve narrow political interest for his party that is BJP.
Citizens For democracy hopes that Shri Rajnath Singh, the Home Minister, will rise above the narrow sectarian political interests, and will prove true to the oath he has taken to uphold the values and principles of the Indian Constitution.
Citizens For Democracy, therefore, appeals to him to take immediate action against Yogi Adityanath by arresting and prosecuting him as per law in the interest of maintenance of peace and communal harmony in the country.
N.D.Pancholi
General Secretary
Citizens For Democracy
D-7/2, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi – 110057
