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The Wire
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Hindutva Groups' Threats, Boycott Calls Drive Muslim Families Out of Two Pune Villages
Communalism A team of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) members conducted a fact-finding exercise on July 2 in both villages, only to find a palpable climate of fear, shuttered businesses, disrupted lives, and displaced families. Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty. Mumbai: In a disturbing wave of targeted communal intimidation and socio-economic boycotts, several Muslims have been forced to flee the Paud and Pirangut villages in Mulshi taluka, Pune district. Although most of these Muslim individuals and their families have lived in these villages for over two decades, many Hindus from the villages have justified the boycott claiming that they are 'non-native Muslims'. A team of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) members conducted a fact-finding exercise on July 2 in both villages, only to find a palpable climate of fear, shuttered businesses, disrupted lives, and displaced families. The PUCL and APCR investigations followed reports of illegal posters calling for a boycott of non-native Muslims, which surfaced after an alleged desecration of an Annapurna Devi idol on May 2, in Paud, followed by a march by BJP and other right-wing groups on May 5. At these rallies, open threats were given to the Muslims of the village. The posters, along with threats and harassment, created a communal atmosphere, PUCL says, prompting them to submit a memorandum to Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill. The posters eventually were removed. But the damage it caused were much deeper. The Muslim-owned businesses like bakeries, scrap shops, salons, and chicken shops continue to remain closed. 'Despite repeated complaints to the police, we've received no protection to reopen our businesses,' said owner of Roshan Bakery in Paud, during a press conference that the PUCL organised in Pune on July 4. The owner further added, 'Our family has lived here for 40 years, yet we're labelled outsiders because my father's village is in Uttar Pradesh. We were warned not to reopen our bakery or face consequences.' Besides Roshan Bakery, two others – New Sangam and New Bharat – have been padlocked, costing around 400 workers their daily wages. The bakery provided employment to both Muslims and non-Muslims. 'Five Hindu vendors who sold our bread door-to-door are now jobless,' added owner of Bharat Bakery, which was established over 32 years ago. 'This isn't just about religion; it's about destroying our means of survival,' he said. The fact-finding committee met with Paud Police Station Inspector Santosh Girigosavi, who confirmed that controversial posters were removed following the SP's orders. However, the issue does not get resolved just with the removal of the posters. Several Hindutva members have allegedly been openly intimidating Muslim business owners to lease their shops and leave. Hindu Rashtra Sena member Dhananjay Desai, who has earlier faced trial in the killing of a IT professional Mohsin Shaikh in 2014 and was subsequently acquitted for want of evidence, has been once again accused of orchestrating threats from a farmhouse near Vitthalwadi village in Pune. Police confirmed a case against Desai for seizing a farmhouse, declaring that he is absconding. Another scrap shop owner, whose shop was set ablaze in early June, causing a loss of Rs 20 lakh, recounted his ordeal. 'I've lived here for years, married here, but after my shop was burned, I had to move my family to Kamshet. I filed a complaint and requested compensation, but nothing has come of it.' Like many others, he hopes to return once the situation stabilises. The hate campaign has also targeted religious spaces. Posters outside two mosques restricted namaz to local Muslims, deterring worshippers from nearby Kolvan village. Though removed, the fear lingers, with Muslims avoiding the mosques. 'The atmosphere is still tense,' a local Muslim resident, requesting anonymity, has said. The displacement has taken a severe toll. Many have had to flee to their ancestral villages in Uttar Pradesh; several have found refuge in close by Kamshet. In all this, along with livelihood, the children are the worst affected. Many had to abruptly stop their education. One of the villagers also shared instances of heightened surveillance that he and other Muslims from the village have been facing. 'A WhatsApp group of 400 villagers tracks our movements. When I went to a medical store for my son's medicine, my photo was immediately shared in the group,' he said. Ashok Matre, former Congress taluka president in Pirangut, lamenting the erosion of Mulshi's 'historical harmony', said, 'Muslims used to participate in the [Hindu religious festival of] Harinaam Saptah, wearing traditional attire. But groups like RSS, Shiv Pratishthan, and Hindu Rashtra Sena have poisoned minds.' PUCL condemned the economic boycotts as 'unconstitutional'. The Indian constitution, the human rights group emphasises, guarantees that an individual can conduct business anywhere. Civil rights groups are preparing legal action to address the violations. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PUCL sends letter to CS on alleged communal boycott, no official action
Pune: A fact-finding committee of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has written a letter to the chief secretary regarding an alleged disturbing communal tension and illegal prohibition against the minority community in Paud, Pirangut and other villages in Mulshi taluka of Pune district. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The letter talks about the problem of unemployment and migration arising out of these. The committee, comprising G D Parekh, a retired district judge, and the Association for Protection of Civil Liberties (APCR), of which former high court judge Abhay Thipsay is the state president, found that despite the situation prevailing for a long time, no due cognisance was taken by the administration or other authorities concerned. "We sent a letter on June 30 to the chief secretary and all other officials, including the collector, divisional commissioner, MP Supriya Sule and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, but there has been no response yet," said Milind Champanerkar, general secretary, PUCL, Pune. Signboards allegedly prohibiting Muslims from "outside" entering and praying in local mosques had come up in various villages in rural Pune after the Pahalgam attack. The authorities removed these boards in Paud and Pirangut after PUCL and APCR made their case. But many problems remained unaddressed, said Champanerkar. "Fear and ongoing threats with impunity prompt migration of minority communities. People who shifted two months ago are yet to return because of lack of protection. There is no effort from the administration to bring life to normal. Worse, this pattern is replicated in other villages," said Champanerkar. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now TOI's Calls and messages to the chief secretary, Pune district collector, divisional commissioner, Pune Zilla Parishad CEO, Baramati MP Supriya Sule and the Pune rural SP remained unanswered. The PUCL letter stated that there was a call for a complete boycott of the minority community. According to it, residents of the area and outsiders have been threatening people not to allow any Muslims to work, stay as tenants in their houses or do business in places owned by them. Some Hindus have been allegedly threatened with dire consequences if they help the Muslims. The letter stated that four scrap shops and three bakeries of Muslims had been shut down. Muslims running salons and chicken shops were being allegedly asked to shut shops. The letter said Muslims had not been allowed to work for one-and-a-half months, triggering an acute problem of survival. Last month, the Social Democratic Party of India also wrote to the authorities raising similar concerns. Azar Tamboli, state president of the party, in a press conference last month had said some villages went to the extent of forming Muslim Community Control Councils.
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Sambhal mosque violence: Eight months on, fact-finding committee releases report
Eight months after violence rocked Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal over a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, that left at least five people dead, a fact-finding committee has released a report on what led to the incident and its aftermath. The survey of the 16-century mosque was ordered by a local court on November 19, after a petition claimed a temple had been demolished to build the mosque in 1526. The order had been passed by the court of Civil Judge (Senior Division), Chandausi, Aditya Singh. The first survey took place on November 19. It was during the second survey on November 24 that violence broke out. The 114-page report was released on Tuesday by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), in collaboration with Karwan-e-Mohabbat. The report, titled 'Sambhal: Anatomy of an Engineered Crisis – Myth, Violence, and the Weaponisation of Faith in a Muslim-majority city', alleged that on November 24, a slogan-shouting crowd accompanied officials and the mosque's ablution tank was drained — seen by many as a symbolic act of desecration — and this triggered violent clashes. Sambhal District Magistrate, Dr Rajender Pensiya, called the report a farce. Speaking to The Indian Express, Pensiya said a report can say anything. 'People became violent and started pelting stones at the police and the administration. The entire country heard the announcement when we were requesting them to go back,' he said. 'As far as the rumour of digging inside the mosque premises is concerned, if there was any digging, the soil would have been placed outside,' he said. Prepared by researcher Prakriti, Advocate Ahmad Ibrahim and activist Harsh Mandar, the report highlights two major issues — the process of the survey and what happened after it. 'On November 19, (advocate) Hari Shankar Jain and son Vishnu Shankar Jain, alongside Mahant Rishiraj Giri, priest of the Kela Devi Mandir, filed a petition in the district court in the morning requesting an immediate survey of the mosque, claiming it was actually a temple,' said the report. It said the government's advocate in this case did not raise any objections and an 'ex parte judgement' was passed in the afternoon, without hearing the mosque's representatives, allowing the survey to proceed within hours. 'Suspicion and unease spread among Muslim residents, intensified by the lack of standard precautionary protocols, such as notifying the Peace Committee or following basic communication norms,' it claimed. It further said, 'Police responded to the crowd of protesting Muslims with lathi charges, tear gas, and gunfire. Five Muslim men were killed, dozens injured, and over 85 were arrested. Eyewitness testimonies and videos contradict the official narrative that the crowd was violent.' The report further claimed in the weeks following the clash, 'police conducted house-to-house raids in Muslim neighbourhoods, filed dubious FIRs, and targeted political figures and activists'. As per the report, a few weeks after the violence, the Sambhal administration launched an anti-encroachment drive on December 14, specifically targeting areas like Sarai Tarin Main Market, Hindupura Kheda, Deepa Sarai, Khaggu Sarai, including areas near the residences of Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq, MLA Iqbal Mehmood, and SP leaders Aqeelur Rehman Khan and Firoz Khan that were affected by the unrest. The District Magistrate, however, said the actions were taken based on revenue records. 'If it belongs to the government and has been illegally encroached by people, we need to act on it,' he said. DM Pensiya also said that there was no correlation between the violence and the encroachment drive in the district. 'Encroachment drives are a regular process of any administration and it has nothing to do with the violence. The drive against the electricity theft had also begun by September 1,' he said. As for the ablution tank, he said it was emptied to check its depth. So far, 79 people, including three women, have been arrested. Last month, police filed a chargesheet against MP Barq and 22 others in connection with the case, officials had said. The police had also said that the investigation found no involvement of Sohail Iqbal in inciting the violence at the mosque, though he was present at the spot. Iqbal is the son of the local Samajwadi Party MLA, Iqbal Mehmood.
The Print
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Revoke Gaddar award for Razakar movie produced by BJP leader—civil rights body to Telangana govt
In a press conference Wednesday, the APCR sought the reassessment of the award selection process to ensure 'alignment with principles of historical accuracy and social unity'. It also sought a public statement from Revanth clarifying his government's position on endorsing a film, which 'distorts history and promotes communal disharmony through a state-backed award named after Gaddar'. The movie, 'Razakar: Silent Genocide of Hyderabad', is on the paramilitary wing Razakar which was active during the Nizam's rule in the erstwhile Hyderabad state. Hyderabad: The Telangana chapter of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has urged Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to revoke the Gaddar award conferred on a movie produced by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gudur Narayan Reddy. Born as Gummadi Vithal Rao in 1949, Gaddar was a former Naxalite-turned-social activist who became associated with the Telangana statehood movement. The balladeer passed away in 2023. APCR members took exception to his name being associated with a movie produced by a BJP leader, and one which purportedly paints the Muslims in a negative light. 'This action is critical to restore the integrity of the Gaddar Awards, honour the secular and revolutionary legacy of Gaddar, and address the hurt caused to Telangana's secular communities which want to protect its Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb (read, syncretic ethos),' the APCR said, seeking revocation of the award, Last week, the Congress government-instituted Telangana Gaddar Film Awards gave the movie an award under the 'Environment/Heritage/History' category. It was given three awards—feature film on environment/heritage/ history; best makeup artist, and best music director. This, the APCR members said, is a 'profound insult to the legacy of legendary communist leader and balladeer Gaddar who dedicated his life to secular values and the upliftment of marginalised communities.' They said that the movie blatantly contradicts the Gaddar Awards, which was instituted to celebrate cinematic excellence and cultural integrity. 'The film presents a selective and distorted portrayal of history, reducing the complex Telangana Armed Struggle (1946-51) to a communal Hindu-Muslim narrative,' the APCR stated. Originally slated ahead of the 2023 Telangana polls, the movie was released before the 2024 general elections. BJP's Narayan Reddy was accused of creating communal disharmony by portraying the entire Muslim community as anti-Hindu. The Congress party, the association said, opposed the movie before its release due to the divisive content and now endorsed it through the state-backed award. 'This contradictory stance has deeply hurt the sentiments of Muslims and secular-minded people across Telangana, who view the awards as an endorsement of communal propaganda.' Meanwhile, a senior functionary of the Telangana Congress Pradesh Committee (TPCC) said that such episode would only distance the minorities from the party. 'Many already take swipe at CM Revanth Reddy by calling him an RSS agent due to his ABVP days. This will only add to it,' he told ThePrint. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: Congress in Telangana gave award to Razakar—a propaganda film that demonises Muslims
Hans India
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Civil rights body urges CM to clarify on giving award to ‘Razakar'
Hyderabad: The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), Telangana Chapter, along with activists, historians, and members of the Telugu film industry, demanded that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy issue an immediate public statement clarifying the Telangana government's stance on conferring the Gaddar Telangana Film Award to the film 'Razakar: The Silent Genocide of Hyderabad'. During a press conference held at Basheerbagh Press Club, the activists found that the decision to honor this film with three awards—Feature Film on Environment, Heritage, History; Best Makeup Artist, and Best Music Director—is a profound insult to the legacy of legendary communist leader and balladeer Gaddar, who dedicated his life to secular values and the upliftment of marginalised communities. They demanded that the award be revoked, and to reassess the award selection process to ensure alignment with principles of historical accuracy and social unity. They held that the film presents a selective and distorted portrayal of history, reducing the complex Telangana Armed Struggle (1946-51) to a communal Hindu-Muslim narrative. Rather than addressing the feudal, caste, and social power issues central to the struggle, it falsely depicts Razakars as exclusively Muslim, ignoring their diverse composition and the broader context of the Communist-led peasant rebellion against feudal oppression. This communal agenda, evident throughout the film, vilifies the Muslim community and distorts the legacy of the Nizam's rule, undermining the principles of communal harmony and historical integrity that Gaddar championed. Awarding such a film in his name is a betrayal of his lifelong fight for justice and equality, they claimed.
