The Hindu Mahasabha sparked outrage this week not just for “celebrating” Mahatma Gandhi’s 71st death anniversary as “Shaurya Divas” (Day of Valour) but for doing it in the crassiest manner possible.
They recreated the Mahatma’s assassination by shooting his effigy and raised slogans praising his killer Nathuram Godse. What’s more, they recorded a video and proudly posted it for the world to see.
A video of Hindu Mahasabha secretary Puja Shakun shooting an effigy of Gandhi that spilled mock blood went viral. While some Twitter users were shocked, others were angry. There were also a few right-wing handles who hailed Godse.
On the other hand, some called Godse a bigger patriot than Gandhi.
But the big question that loomed on Twitter was if this isn’t sedition, what is? The Uttar Pradesh police has filed a case against 13 leaders but so far, one has been booked under charges of sedition or arrested.
Social activists, journalists and many others questioned the government’s double standards on sedition.
Twitter users also commented on government’s bias towards Hindutva terrorist outfits.
However, a few people pointed out that the Hindu Mahasabha had a right to disrespect Gandhi. Their argument was that liberals should expose the Hindu Mahasabha’s politics rather than demand that they be booked under the sedition law.
Twitterati also gave a reality check to those who said BJP had nothing to do with the the function or Hindu Mahasabha.
A few Twitter users put up photos showing former Madhya Pradesh chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Uma Bharti meeting the Hindu Mahasabha functionaries behind the mock Gandhi assassination.
Twitter users also cleared the misconception about Hindu Mahasabha being a fringe group, a term used by BJP supporters to shift blame from the party.
South Indian film star Siddharth also got slammed by the Twitterati when he asked a newspaper not to use the word ‘Hindu’ to describe these people.
The video has created outrage, fuelled debate and called out the hypocrisy of the government. It is yet to be seen whether the BJP government will stay silent and accept the accusations or respond to the “anti-national” act and change the narrative?
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)