Delhi Violence has acted as a catalyst to further polarize the citizenry that is already polarized after anti-CAA protests. Moreover, media that is representing only one side of the story is being criticized. Arrests of people associated with the violence are being made as chickens of Delhi come back home to roost.
Crux of the Matter
Instigating Blindness – The Case of DBigXray The widespread appeal of some people is to hear and look a the stories of violence from the lenses of both, Hindus and Muslims as both of them partook equally in violence and suffering. The role of media that is showing stories only from either side is being criticized.
Unfortunately, Hinduphobia is very real. I've experienced it directly in each of my campaigns for Congress & in this presidential race. Here's just one example of what Hindus face every day in our country. Sadly, our political leaders & media not only tolerate it, but foment it. https://t.co/60MDtszQHf — Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) March 5, 2020
The role of media became more riling after it became known that a user called DBigXray, a senior Wikipedia editor, was editing Wikipedia page of Delhi violence. Allegedly, he deliberately left out pieces to project the Delhi violence as an anti-Muslim pogrom. According to Reddit post, the person’s identity was revealed to be Deepesh Raj.
Ratan Lal, Shahid Khan, Ankit Sharma, Mudassir Khan, Rahul Solanky, Zulfi Khan, Vinod Kumar, Mohd Furkan.. You remove one set of names, you report one set of stories, you conceal one set of tragedies – and that's how you turn a riot into a pogrom, and journalism into propaganda. — Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) February 26, 2020
AAP MLA Tahir Hussain Arrested AAP MLA Tahir Hussain is suspected of murdering the 26-year old Intelligence Bureau Officer, Ankit Sharma. Allegedly, Sharma was stabbed several times before his body was thrown into Chandbag drain. Hussain is also alleged of instigating and participating in violence on the basis of the video surfaced that showed petrol bombs and stones were hailed from his rooftop. AAP had suspended Hussain after an FIR for the murder of the IB officer was lodged against him.
Hindu residents of Moonga Nagar have levelled serious allegations against @AamAadmiParty Corporator Mohammed Tahir Hussain. This is a video shared by a local resident. The house on the left belongs to Hussain. One can see mob on its rooftop throwing stones and petrol bombs. pic.twitter.com/IjNYtzjG7Y — Andy Shah (@iamarchitshah) February 26, 2020
Hussain pleaded innocence and was absconding on the grounds that he and his family had to run away from the rioters and that the police knew about it. He filed an anticipatory bail in the Delhi High Court. Delhi Police arrested Hussain from Delhi Court where he had arrived to surrender. He will be interrogated and produced before the court. He, in an interview to India Today, said that he was being ‘framed as a part of some conspiracy.’
‘My Name is Shahrukh, and I…’ A 33-year old man named Mohammed Shahrukh became the face of the Delhi riots after a video depicting him intimidating lone police officer by wielding a gun against him surfaced. According to ACP Singhla, he fired three rounds from his country-made pistol.
#Watch: Man fires shots in #Maujpur, N-E #Delhi on Monday as anti and pro-#CAA supporters clashed pic.twitter.com/qXlIKlzFzR — IANS Tweets (@ians_india) February 24, 2020
He and his family are absconding ever since the incident. Delhi Police arrested Shahrukh from Shamli, Uttar Pradesh. During Police interrogation, Shahrukh told Police that he was not a part of the protests, but went outside to save his sister, who was a part of the sit-in protest at Jaffrabad. However, later Shahrukh told the Police that he went to the protest on 24 February after his friends encouraged him. Police found that he also had friends in the Chenu gang that is active in Northeast Delhi and some parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Activist Harsh Mander Accused for Hate Speech Delhi Police has filed a case against activist Harsh Mander for hate speech that allegedly instigated violence at Jamia university. Representing Delhi Police, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that Mander disrespected the Apex court in his speech.
This is a fight for the soul of our Constitution… This battle can’t be won in the Supreme Court, because we have seen that over some time, in the cases of NRC, Kashmir and Ayodhya, it did not protect humanity, equality and secularism. – Harsh Mander in his speech at Jamia.
Full video of @harsh_mander's speech at Jamia. A planned legal assault is being launched against him. If this speech incites violence then we may as well stop speaking. https://t.co/eFwOP7swWS — Neha Dixit (@nehadixit123) March 5, 2020
He has also sought FIRs against BJP leaders like Kapil Mishra and Anurag Thakur for hate speech that incited violence in Delhi.
Kapil Mishra and Interview Spree In an interview with Swarajya, BJP Leader Kapil Mishra said that his speech did not provocate the violence in Delhi as violence kept happening since 16 December 2019. He said that people who raise slogans like ‘tukde-tukde‘, arson buses and property, and block roads are calling him a terrorist. He added that he never spoke anything about violence during his speech. Activists like Harsh Mander have sought to file a case of hate speech against Kapil Mishra.
चलो दिल्ली में कोई शेर तो है @KapilMishra_IND भैया आप आगे बढ़ो हम आपके साथ है। पूरी दिल्ली को हम शाहीन बाग नही बनने देंगे#ISupportKapilMishra pic.twitter.com/NhcFDCqbRG — अभिषेक बजरंगी 🚩बीजेपी🚩 (@bajrangi4bjp) February 23, 2020
Planned Riots? Former JNU student Umar Khalid‘s video dated 17 February 2020 has surfaced. He is seemed to be urging people to come out on the streets on the day of Trump’s visit to India. In the video, he asks people to show to Trump that Modi is trying to divide the country and tarnish the image of Gandhi. Many are posing the question of whether the Delhi riots were planned.
Link of Umar Khalid speech on 17th Feb in Amravati 👇. Listen to this from 14:00-14:40 min. He is appealing to people to come out on streets in huge number when Trump arrives in India on 24th. Big Q 👉 What happened in Delhi was planned a week in advance?https://t.co/j3jH893dAG — Ashish Singh (@AshishSinghNews) March 2, 2020
Martyr Ratan Lal Constable Ratan Lal died while saving the life of DCP Amit Sharma when a mob had started pelting stone on the police, as per the video surfaced. It is seen in the video that the police are outnumbered by the stone-pelters. Women are seen to be throwing stones at policemen.
Video from Chand Bagh where DCP Amit Sharma was attacked and head constable Ratan Lal was shot dead. People who behave like animals don’t deserve human rights. pic.twitter.com/IZ431RGJTg — Ishita Yadav (@IshitaYadav) March 5, 2020
Curiopedia
Hate Speech in India – The Constitution of India and its hate speech laws aim to prevent discord among its many ethnic and religious communities. The laws allow a citizen to seek the punishment of anyone who shows the citizen disrespect “on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever”. The laws specifically forbid anyone from outraging someone’s “religious feelings”. India prohibits hate speech by several sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and by other laws which put limitations on the freedom of expression. Section 95 of the Code of Criminal Procedure gives the government the right to declare certain publications “forfeited” if the “publication … appears to the State Government to contain any matter the publication of which is punishable under Section 124A or Section 153A or Section 153B or Section 292 or Section 293 or Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code”. More Info
Curated Coverage
India Today – Delhi Police arrests riot accused Tahir Hussain after court rejects surrender plea
Times of India – Delhi riots: Shooter Mohammed Shahrukh held from UP, kin still at large
NDTV – Activist Harsh Mander’s Jamia Speech In Supreme Court As Cops Seek Contempt Case
Money Control – Ex-JNU student Umar Khalid under intelligence scanner for role in Delhi violence
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