BeyondHeadlines News Desk
Gujarat seems to be gravely trapped in the fatal paws of hatred between communities, the latest being an inflammatory leaflet which is distributed widely in several areas of the state. The leaflet while targeting Muslim youth also casts aspersions on the Christians.
Apparently published by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) from Rajkot (as the complete names, addresses of the offices, publishers and printers are on the leaflet), the motive seems to beware the parents of Hindu girls of Muslim men who seem to be desperate to dupe, kidnap, rape, marry Hindu girls.
“The unfortunate part is that those who indulge in such divisive and incendiary propaganda do so with a tremendous amount of immunity. They know well that their powerful political patrons will protect them at whatever the cost”, said Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ, Director of PRASHANT, the Ahmedabad-based Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace.
He added that several examples have also been cited (which cannot be authenticated) in order to try to drive home the point. Finally, there is an ‘imaginary quote’ attributed to Swami Vivekanand which obviously cannot be found anywhere in his writings or teachings.
Activists feel that the unfortunate part is that those who indulge in such divisive and incendiary propaganda do so with a tremendous amount of immunity. They know well that their powerful political patrons will protect them at whatever the cost. Above all, the law and order mechanism of the State seems to turn a blind eye to the ‘hate propaganda’ that such right-wing groups dish out.
The pamphlets allegedly claim that these young men despite being married, get married to the Hindu girls, with a view to satisfying their lust. They then provoke their friends to satisfy their lust with these girls and finally they sell them off to pimps; eventually these girls are forced to become prostitutes.
We reproduce below the original Gujarati leaflet
