On March 23, flags bearing quotes of ‘Hindu Rashtra’ were erected at a few sites in the Laheriasarai city of Bihar. On March 23, the Darbhanga Police filed an FIR against four named and one hundred unnamed accused individuals.On March 25, the Bihar police arrested Rajeev Prakash Madhukar, a leader of the ‘Vishwa Hindu Parishad’ (VHP), in Darbhanga City.
The FIR was registered in the case after a complaint was filed by Nazre Alam, the national president of an organisation named All India Muslim Bedari Karwan.
The members of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and VHP have called this action by the Bihar government Muslim appeasement.
Here is what happened:
In the FIR registered, the Darbhanga police, while naming Rajeev Kumar Madhukar, Jila mantri Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), along with three others, claimed that the police got some input about banners with ‘Hindu Rashtra’ being put up by a few people near Maulaganj colony under Laheriasarai police station limits of Darbhanga following which legal action is being taken against the accused.
After the ‘Hindu Rashtra’ flags went viral on social media, Nazre Alam, who is the national president of a non-profit organisation named All India Muslim Bedari Karwan, wrote to the District Magistrate seeking action against those who allegedly attempted to disrupt the communal harmony in the area.
Meanwhile, a Muslim outfit ‘All India Muslim Bedari Kaarwan’ (AIMBK), also wrote a letter to the district collector and demanded immediate removal of the banners citing religious sentiments; in the letter dated March 22, Najre Aalam, national president of the AIMBK asserted that putting this kind of banners not only hurts the sentiments of the other community but it should also be categorised as a crime in a secular country like India.
On the other hand, interacting with the media Milind Parande, Mahamantri VHP, quoted “that it is quite unfortunate that the Darbhanga police has lodged an FIR against members of Bajrang dal for just putting a banner of Hindu Rashtra, this action against the Hindu community is solely motivated by the Muslim appeasement policy.
Following the posters row the Bihar police issued additional measures notice on March 24, citing the Chaitra Navratri and Chhat Pooja. These regulations include things like a 75 DB sound limit for DJs, a ban on new processions, identification requirements for procession leaders, and flag marches by police officials.
दिनांक 24.03.23 को दरभंगा जिला अंतर्गत रामनवमी पूजा एवं चैती छठ पूजा के सुभ अबसर पर अंबेडकर सभागार में जिला पदाधिकारी महोदय एवं वरीय पुलिस अधीक्षक महोदय के द्वारा बैठक किया गया जिसमें निम्नांकित निर्देश दिया गया ।#Biharpolice pic.twitter.com/srP1u4o4j2
— Darbhanga Police (@DarbhangaPolice) March 24, 2023
VHP national spokesperson, Vinod Bansal told media that, “He claimed that rather than eliminating the Popular Front of India (PFI) network that had roots in the state, the Bihar police and government were arresting nationalists.”
We all know that the Concept of Hindu Rashtra is not political but geo-cultural. Therefore, Hindu Rashtra is not against any religion; VHP demands immediate withdrawal of the complaints against Hindu workers, said Parande.
We would also like to ask the state government that hundreds of Gau vansh are being slaughtered daily. Will the Government act against those who kill Gau vansh with the same alacrity? added Parande.
