Maharashtra BJP Minority Morcha General Secretary (GS) Rafiq Sheikh is accused of attacking Hindutva activists along with a mob of 30 to 40 Islamists. The incident occurred in Maharashtra’s Pune.
BJP Minority Morcha GS Rafiq Sheikh attacks Hindutva activists
On the night of 1 November, Sameer Chavan, and Sunny Chavan, were attacked with rods, sticks, and stones in Kothrud’s Paud Phata area. The mob was led by pistol-wielding Rafiq Sheikh who wanted the mob to ‘teach a lesson’ to the Hindus. Hearing the commotion, a few women came to help out the boys. However, even they were assaulted by the mob.
Locals alleged that the attack was pre-planned with the aim to create fear among Hindus. Following the incident, locals descended on the road to protest against the attack. They demanded strict action against the Islamists. The police took note of the protests and initiated an investigation after filing an FIR (First Information Report). Although, an FIR has been registered, no arrests have been made so far.
The allegations against Rafiq Sheikh are serious but this in’t the first time BJP Minority Morcha leader has been caught displaying his anti-Hindu side.
Time to dismantle BJP Minority Morcha
We had pointed out earlier how the Minority Morcha had become a liability and embarassment for the party. In August we had reported that a BJP minority morcha leader’s brother and son in Madhya Pradesh (MP) were found to be involved in criminal activities including love jihad.
It is important to note that in India minority automatically translates to Muslims despite the fact that it is the second largest population group in Bharat.
Some other incidents of involvement of BJP minority morcha leaders in criminal activities:
In September 2023, Rahi Masoom Raza, then District President of the BJP’s Minority Morcha in Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, was expelled from the party after allegations emerged linking him to the rape of a Dalit girl and murder of her father. The victim’s family alleged that when the father objected, he was assaulted, later succumbing to injuries. A police constable was also arrested for accepting a ₹9 lakh bribe to shield the leader from prosecution.
In June 2023, Assam BJP Minority Morcha member Ansarul Haque Chowdhury was arrested in Hailakandi district on charges of the fraudulent job scheme. He allegedly extracted around ₹5 lakh from a villager by falsely promising government jobs, claiming influence through pictures with the Chief Minister and other BJP ministers. A case was registered under several sections of the IPC, including cheating and breach of trust. His position in the party committee was under review.
Other BJP units must take inspiration from their Assam unit that dismantled its Minority Morcha in 2021. Admittedly no party can be absolutely clean but for a party that prides itself on being different, BJP needs to get rid of tags that serve no purpose. In fact, many criminal elements take advantage by attaching themselves to the party.
Instead BJP should aim to provide platform to more Dharmic and indigenous groups. The failed ‘Sabka Vishwas’ project shows that appeasement never works. This is not just true for Muslims but even for Chrisitans who believe BJP to be an ‘enemy’ promoting Hindutva. ‘Minority’ (read Muslim) votes cannot be brought by trading the society’s well-being and the country’s security. Hightime for BJP to bite the bullet and disband its minority morcha!
People like Sheikh use BJP to accumulate wealth and power. This is nothing but massive misuse of Hindu votes that brought BJP to power. It is hoped that BJP Maharashtra will expel Sheikh from the party and ensure strict action against him. Also, the sooner the party disbands its Minority Morcha, the better it would be.
The reports are also silent on human empathy and do not at all describe the state and pain of affected victims. The hospital photo of one injured was a saving grace.
But it is even more sad that our reporting too carries this defeatist attitude. They called the victims as Hindutva activist without clarifying what it means. And the failed to report what they were doing to provoke this gang or did nothing. Hindus need to be sensitive and caring about their own victimization in their reporting. Not to say, that they should not use self-humiliating terms coined by Hindu haters.
Namaste Mahoday,
Hindutva is not a defeatist term.
Namaste Maitri and thanks for reflecting on my comments.
Needless, tone-deaf, insensitive placement of phrase ‘Hindutva activists’ in header and description appears to me as crass, confrontational, and implicitly accusative. And it also shows to me the signs of terror addled zombiness – as this phrase in this situation would be preferred by antagonists of Hindus.
The report in Marathi deliberately leaves several questions unanswered.
– What exactly ‘Hindu activists’ were propagating?
– Were they professional Hindu activists doing propaganda to spread ‘hate against Muslims’ in that locality?
– Was a BJP minority leader belonging to ‘beleaguered Muslim minority’ (though as a sincere Muslim was trying hard to spread peace by being friendly and accepting to work within a ‘Hindu Nationalist party) also got so provoked by Hindu activists’ hate? Was he a victim who gave way to his ’emotions’?
Reporters should think ahead and write in a sincere way to not let Islamists and their dhimmi supporters misuse these headings and descriptions ‘innocuously’ to paint Hindus reversely as provocative and violent. This is a serious international issue.
Now please do not degrade this to ‘mere terms used’.
‘BJP Minority Morcha’ General Secretary Rafiq Sheikh armed with a pistol with a mob of around 30-40 Islamists carrying rods, sticks and stones came out on streets to selectively assault HIndus in Hindu majority location in Pune city and badly beats and injures two Hindu youths. And guess what happens? Apparently few women tried to help beaten and injured youths and they
too were assaulted! The police registered a case, but failed to act to apprehend any of the assaulters. Hindus in the locality, and Hindu organizations too were basically inactive, sans some verbal protests?. No wonder, BJP party, BJP government and the police all are inactive too! A day will come when BJP too would start mocking these wretched Hindus with gomutra jibe. Power comes from motivated people. If motivated people are few and masses nonchalant and coward, then a time comes, when these motivated people turn against their masses.
The beaten and hospitalized youths are basically on their own. No mainstream newspaper bothered to report this major religious terror based attacks on Hindus! BJP did not bother to clarify, forget about controlling these Islamic terrorists on their payroll. You cannot even imagine a reverse case. For even much smaller cases, even where Hindus fought back against Mohammadan cattle snatchers, it makes national and international news.
It is true that fearful Hindus try to make themselves invisible in such attacks, almost all of them. Hindu organizations like RSS, VHP etc. are not mentally equipped to lead. But atleast Hindu organization should try to take care of injured, beaten Hindus. Or they are not even capable of that? I have seen reports of Hindus killed by Mohammadan attackers, but not even a single follow-up on the victim families. The Hindu martyrs are lost in darkness forever.
But it is even more sad that our reporting too carries this defeatist