Haridwar and after: Silences, past and present, have enabled genocides https://scroll.in/article/1014076/haridwar-and-after-silences-past-and-present-have-enabled-genocides By failing to act decisively against the calls for Muslims to be killed, the Indian government has signalled its assent. Reese Ister 10/1/2022
From December 17 to 19, a gathering that, unironically, called itself the “Dharam Sansad”, was organised in Haridwar. At this gathering, open calls and violent speeches for the genocide of Muslims were given by the speakers and organisers.
“Without taking up arms, no community on earth can save themselves or others…,” said Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati, the mahant of a temple. “Economic boycott won’t work. Hindu groups need to update themselves. Swords look good only for presentation on stage. This battle will be won by those with better weapons than their enemies. All of you good young people should have good weapons.”
Annapurna Maa, mahamandleshwar of the Niranjini Akhada and general secretary of the Hindu Mahasabha, said, “If you want to finish off their [Muslims] population, then we are ready to kill them and go to jail... If 100 of you become soldiers then we kill 20 lakh of them; we will be victorious and ready to do to jail. Keep your books/studies aside and pick up weapons, this is my suggestion to the Dharam Sansad.”
Anand Swaroop , of the Shankaracharya Parishad, said, “If the governments do not listen to our demands that emerge from this Dharam Sansad, we will wage a war far scarier than the 1857 revolt.” The demands to which was referring were the establishment of a Hindu Rashtra through violence against minorities as demanded by the Hindu Mahasabha in 1915.
Swami Prabodhanand, the president of the Hindu Raksha Sena, said, “Get ready to kill or get killed, there is no other option now. Just like in Myanmar, every Hindu, including Police, Army, Politician should pick up their weapons start the cleaning campaign like it happened in Myanmar [referring to the Rohingya genocide]. Get prepared for that.”
This is what is most frightening. The leader of the country has remained silent. Silence, in the face of this, is assent. Silence, by the country’s leader, is permission. Silence is agreement. This is not a fringe group with their calls for genocide. This silence says the government is willing, the government of India wills it.
Elie Wiesel, during his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in 1986, said, “Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented”. Elie Wiesel, a survivor of the Holocaust, knows of which he speaks.
They are watching. They hear the silence. The government’s silence. Our silence. They know they can do more. They will rachet this up. They will stop just speaking and they will start doing.
BREAKING : Supreme Court Agrees To Hear PIL Seeking Action Against Haridwar Dharm Sansad Anti-Muslim Hate Speeches LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK 10 Jan 2022 https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/supreme-court-agrees-to-hear-pil-seeking-action-against-haridwar-dharm-sansad-anti-muslim-hate-speeches-189129