In the ongoing case involving Ramgiri Maharaj, who is accused of making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad in Maharashtra’s Nashik district, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has contacted Thane IPS Ashutosh Dumbare. This development follows the circulation of several viral videos from the Mumbra region, where minors were seen chanting ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ slogans against Ramgiri Maharaj.
“The Commission reviewed a video on platform X showing minors participating in protests against Ramgiri Maharaj. In the video, the children are seen chanting slogans calling for Ramgiri Maharaj’s beheading,” stated the NCPCR in an official statement.
The NCPCR also directed the administration to identify these children and present them before the Child Welfare Committee. Additionally, it recommended that counselling be provided to the children to ensure their psychological well-being and proper behaviour. The commission further advised that FIRs be filed against all individuals involved in the incident.
It’s important to note that Ramgiri Maharaj’s alleged derogatory remarks sparked widespread outrage within the Islamist community, leading to large-scale protests across Maharashtra and other regions. Protesters demanded severe punishment for the Hindu sant, and numerous videos of these intense demonstrations, featuring slogans like ‘Sar Tan Se Juda,’ went viral on social media.
Protests occurred in various locations, including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik, Pune, Thane, Mumbai, and Chhatarpur. However, the demonstration in the Mumbra region of Thane drew particular attention from the NCPCR, as it featured minor children chanting beheading slogans against the Hindu sant.
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Outside the collector’s office in the Pune district, violent slogans were chanted, with alleged minors heard shouting ‘Allah Hu Akbar’ and ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’.
"Peaceful" Mob outside Pune Collector's office demanding Bеh€ading of Hindu saint Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj chanting "Allah Hu Akbar" "S@r Tan se Juda"#MahantRamgiriMaharaj pic.twitter.com/dS1sh2Xt34
— Rosy (@rose_k01) August 24, 2024
As previously reported, Sant Ramgiri Maharaj, during a sermon in Panchale village of Nashik’s Sinnar region on August 16, allegedly made derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohammed, which provoked widespread outrage within the Muslim community. During the sermon, the Hindu sant suggested that some Islamists had shown disrespect towards women due to their religious beliefs.
However, State Chief Minister Eknath Shinde emphasised that Maharashtra has a rich tradition of sants whose positive influence has been a cornerstone of the state’s progress. He asserted that no one would be allowed to even consider harming the saints in the state.
Commenting on the current communal chaos, Ramgiri Maharaj stated to the media that he did not say anything to create a rift. “It was an hour-and-a-half sermon. A few parts of it were edited. I was talking about Bhishmacharya and Dharmaraj during the sermon. I was explaining what is Rajdharma and how should a king follow Rajdharma. I spoke giving an instance that injustice should not be tolerated. While raising this issue, the topic of Bangladesh came up,” he said.
Later, during the sermon, Ramgiri Maharaj urged Hindus to unite against the oppression and atrocities they often face from Islamists. “I said that we should be organised against this, we should remain strong. No one should hate or envy. Don’t bother anyone. But if someone is harassing you, don’t bear it. What we said is written in the scriptures,” he said adding that nothing else could be said on this issue. “We are peace-loving people and our intentions are never to hurt anyone but to show society the truth,” he added.
Ramgiri Maharaj explained the context in which he said whatever he said. He confirmed that he made the statement in the wake of ongoing atrocities faced by Hindus in Bangladesh at the hands of Islamists. However, the Islamist community in India happened to ignore the context completely and is now deliberately targeting the Hindu sa nt by spreading his edited video from the one-and-a-half-hour-long sermon.
Amid this, several Hindu organisations have extended support to Ramgiri Maharaj. The NCPCR has also taken cognisance of the event that involved minors. Further investigations into the case are underway.
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