More than 10 days after the three-day-long hate speech conclave ended in Uttarakhand's Haridwar, state Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami feigned ignorance about the genocidal calls made against Muslims in his state.
When Dhami was asked in an India Today interview about the 'dharam sansad' held in Haridwar from 17-19 December, he said that the news "had not reached" him.
He added, "If it looks like someone is breaking the law somewhere, then we will investigate. So far, nothing of that sort has come to us. If it’s something serious, then we will definitely look into it."
However, as far as the 'dharam sansad' is concerned, Dhami said that "the government did not organise it, the people did."
‘Surprising When the Home Department Is With Him’: Rajasthan CM
Calling out Dhami for his ignorance, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot questioned why there was no action was taken against the hatemongers, who gave genocidal calls against India's minorities.
Gehlot said in a tweet in Hindi that it was "shameful that even after more than a week of the controversial Dharam Sansad held in Uttarakhand, no arrests have been made." He added that it was "surprising that the Home Department is with him."
The Rajasthan CM further targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said:
"In BJP-ruled states, artists, journalists, and even comedians have cases registered against them under NSA and UAPA, with no regard to the Constitution, but in Uttarakhand, there have been no arrests despite hate speeches calling for genocide. This is similar to mocking the Constitution and law and order."Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on Twitter
Meanwhile, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) president Jayant Singh pointed out the police inaction over hatemonger Yati Narsinghanand, who had organised the 'dharam sansad'.
Singh said in a tweet, "After inaction of police we can safely assume that in #NewIndia, Yati Narsinghanand > Yogi > Modi (sic)".
Notably, Dhami's ignorance becomes less surprising if one is to take into account the controversy he had landed in right before he took oath as the CM of Uttarakhand.
Dhami had tweeted a so-called map of 'Akhand Bharat' (undivided India), leaving out parts of Ladakh and areas currently occupied by Pakistan.
In the three-day religious conclave, many religious leaders made multiple calls to attack religious spaces meant for minorities, and even called for their killings in a drive to establish a Hindu rashtra (nation).
As of Thursday, 30 December, a total of four people have been booked under various charges in an FIR at the Haridwar police station.
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