After Pune, Hindus came out in large numbers in Mumbai demanding laws to curb the menace of land jihad, love jihad, and religious conversions. The rally, organized by the Sakal Hindu Samaj, started from Shivaji Park Maidain and saw the participation of several Hindu organizations. Hindu women took the lead in the morcha that proceeded towards Prabhadevi where the leaders gave speeches.
BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leaders including Kirit Somaiya, Ashish Shelar, and Bhagyanagar MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) T Raja Singh among others attended the rally. Leaders from Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde faction were also present at the rally.
Hindus voiced their anger against rising cases of love jihad across the state in addition to increasing instances of land jihad and loudspeakers continuing to be used in mosques across the financial capital, in particular, despite court orders against their use. The rally assumes importance as Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections are due in the city.
Participants raised slogans such as “Jo Hindu Hit mein kaam karega, wahi Desh pe raj karega, Garv se kaho hum Hindu hai” (One who works for Hindus will rule the country, Be a proud Hindu!). The rally went off peacefully and attendees followed all the regulations laid down by the authorities for the event even as a large police force was present to ensure no untoward incident took place.
“We have come here to protest against love jihad and land jihad. People belonging to one religious community are cornering land and business but the BMC isn’t taking any action against them. Hindu street vendors are removed and vendors of their community are brought in their place. We are raising our voices against this injustice. Seculars and vidharmis who believe that Hindus can never unite as they are divided by ‘castes’, regions, and political parties should come here. We want to send them a message”, one of the attendees remarked.
“Lakhs of Hindus have come together today to protest against love jihad and land jihad. Muslim men, in particular, are trapping Hindu girls. They marry our girls and either force the girls to convert or murder them. Also, they have encroached on BMC property by erecting mosques & other religious structures on land grabbed by them. The younger generation of Hindus are also not understanding the gravity of the issue as they are blinded by secularism”, another person said.
A woman who participated in the rally opined that Hindus residing in a Muslim-majority area are harassed by Islamists to the point that they are forced to sell their homes and move elsewhere. They also force us to sell our homes only to Muslims. We have come here to lodge our protest against this. Other attendees voiced similar opinions while adding that we need to walk on the path of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
“Today, I’m delighted to note that Hindus have gathered here in large numbers and particularly women attending this Hindu Jan Aaakrosh Morcha in huge numbers. For Dharma to be safe it is important that women are involved. It is essential for Hindu women to become Jijamata today. Jijamata trained Shivray in Dharma to fight the Mughals who were inflicting atrocities on Hindus. However, today women want their children to pursue various professions such as engineering or medicine but they don’t wish their children to become like Shivray”, said T Raja Singh.
Raja Singh further highlighted that the need of the hour is for every Hindu household to produce a Chhatrapati Shivaji. While Shivray had to deal with one Afzal Khan, today’s Hindus are faced with numerous Afzals indulging in love jihad.
Despite the presence of leaders from political parties, it must be highlighted that it was a rally of common Hindus who have faced apathy from the anti-Hindu secular state as evident from the opinions expressed by attendees.
