On August 9, the Indore police arrested a cleric for spreading hate and issuing castiest slurs against sanitation workers. The cleric has been identified as Maulana Shadab Khan. One of his videos where he can be seen abusing sanitation workers went viral on social media, and following the rage, the police registered an FIR (First Information Report) against him.
In the video that went viral on the internet, Maulana could be heard saying, “Now we won’t allow our daughters, sisters, and wives to throw the garbage into the sanitation van. We pay due taxes and also extra garbage tax. We’ll throw more Rs 60 per/month (Rs 2 per day) on the faces of the sanitation workers, but they will only have to pick up the garbage.”
Stating the reason behind this declaration, Maulana said, “I have seen when ladies from our community raise their hands to throw the garbage into the van, their clothes also rise from the waist, and these sanitation workers shamelessly watch the ladies in that condition.”
Indore, MP
Mualana insults Safai Mitrs who collect garbage saying unke muh par 60 rupaye marenge to pick up garbage. Accuses them of looking at women throwing garbaje with bad intentions.
Valmiki Samaj has filed FIR against the Maulana. pic.twitter.com/oekqyrjkIL
— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) August 10, 2023
As per the media reports, after the video of the cleric went viral, the sanitation workers in the Cahndan Nagar area of Indore protested against him and gathered outside police station, demanding arrest. The sanitation workers called for a complete ban and did not worked in any ward on Auagust 10.
After the FIR, the cleric began apologising, he said, “I am a follower of Islam that teaches to control our works. I don’t know, what got into me at that time, I am apologising from my heart from the whole Valmiki community. The sanitation workers have worked tirelessly to make Indore, the cleanest city of India, please forgive this brother,” he added.
After the FIR, the Maulana has offered apology pic.twitter.com/1Bc7TZsQaU
— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) August 10, 2023
However, the latter demanded strict action and said that the house of the Maulana should be demolished. They mentioned their community sentiments had been hurt and that they are not in need of money, but respect. “He is talking about Rs 60, we can individually throw Rs 60,000 on his face. His house should be bulldozed,” the sanitation workers added.
As per the FIR, the cleric has been booked under the Prevention of Atrocities Act, loosely called the SC-ST Act.
Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava has also expressed concern in this regard. Mayor Bhargava had said on August 9 that we have come number one on the strength of such cleaning friends, so we cannot take this matter lightly. This type of behaviour with the sanitation workers will not be tolerated in any circumstances.
The users on social media also lashed out at the cleric. A user wrote, “I am waiting for the BHIM ARMY and their supporters to react to this insult and slurs used against our Dalit brothers. This surely qualifies for a SC/ST case.”
Another user wrote, “Stop collecting garbage from these areas, let this maulana pick up all garbage.”
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