Student thrashed by Muslim students for objecting to shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ while singing National Anthem

In yet another incident of intolerance, a student of 12th standard in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district has been attacked and badly beaten by a gang of Muslims students. Reason: He objected to them shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ while the national anthem was being rendered in their school! Though the said incident occured on July 7th, it has come to light only a week later. The intolerance over objection to disrect shown to our national anthem has missed the eyes of the seculars and liberals. Arup Haldar, the student who was beaten by Muslim students has been hospitalized and is said to be in a critical condition as reported by India Rag.

On July 7th, a group of Muslims started shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ and other Islamic slogans when the national anthem was being rendered after school prayers at the Taldi Mohanchand High School in South 24 Parganas district of WB. Arup Haldar, a 9th standard student of the school could not tolerate the disrespect of the national anthem and questioned the miscreaants over it. Soon a gang of 10 to 12 Muslim students gathered around him and beat him badly. A teacher of the school who came to rescue Arup was also not spared. Arup who was seriously injured was taken to the Canning Hospital for treatment.

A complaint was lodged with the local police who later apprehended a Muslim student Safiqul Ghazi who was involved in beating of Arup Haldar. The police have also taken the statement of Arup at the hospital. But surprisingly, the headmaster of the school, Sanjay Noskar, is pressurising the parents of Arup to resolve the matter amicably and withdraw the complaint against the Muslim students who beat him. Perhaps due to political pressure, the police too have released the accused Muslim student Shafiqul Gazi from the station. On the other hand, Arup’s who was discharged had to be readmitted to the hospital as his condition deteriorated. Arup is currently undergoing treatment at Canning Hospital.

While fake stories of lynchings by mob shouting Jai Shri Ram are being spread, true cases of intolerance are being either misreported or neglected. Ever since the bike thief Tabrez was beaten for stealing and not over his religion, those with agenda have pushed the false narrative to demean Jai Shri Ram. Despite this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi too had condemned the incident and had instructed the administration to take strict action against the perpetrators.

The self-proclaimed liberals who created a hullabaloo over fake news over Jai Shri Ram, have been silent over this incident and other incidents where 4 BJP workers or supporters have been murdered in a Talibani style for chanting Jai Shri Ram. It is as though they wanted it to be ignored or brushed under the carpet. None of the ministers or leaders of the TMC or Congress in the state have expressed any regret or promised to take strong action over these incidents of intolerance.

It is known that TMC Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is perturbed and gets angry whenever she hears Jai Shri Ram being chanted. But her intolerance towards Jai Sri Rama is taking lives of people and she and her government have been silent. Now when mere objection to demeaning our national anthem by shouting Allahu Akbar is resulting in people getting beaten up, the West Bengal government has buried its head in sand. Instead of taking stock of the situation in the state, TMC leaders are busy indulging in vulture tourism and taking political mileage in Uttar Pradesh.