A Statement

04 December 2024

On 24 November 2024, Uttar Pradesh Police unleashed violence on protestors leading to the killing of Muslim youths. The toll has now reached to five dead, with dozens more suffering serious injuries. Video footage from Sambhal, the city where the violence occurred, clearly show police shooting at civilians from the local Muslim community. The protest erupted when the local court ordered the survey of an ancient mosque known as the Shahi Jama Masjid. The court-appointed survey team arrived with armed police escort and a crowd of Hindutva goons chanting “Jai Shree Ram”, who clearly intended to stir communal hatred by intimidating and humiliating the aggrieved Muslim community.

The survey was initiated by the District Court following claims that Shahi Jama Masjid is built over a Hindu temple named Hari Hari. Such claims by the Hindutva forces are becoming a common feature in India, wherever there is a mosque of some significance. It is very concerning that a law court is openly acting as an instrument of Brahmanical Hindutva Fascist forces, entertaining such absurd petitions and ordering surveys without hearing the argument of the other party, that is, the caretakers of the mosques or the local Muslim population. It is particularly worrying because such court orders are given in violation of the Places of Worship Act 1991, the Indian law prohibiting conversion of places of worship. This law was introduced to ensure that religious character of places of all worship is maintained, as was the case in the earlier version of the Act enacted on 15 August 1947.

Such survey moves by Indian courts have been increasing ever since Justice DY Chandrachud (recently retired as the Chief Justice of India), during the hearing of the Gyanvapi mosque case in May 2022, said that Place of Worship Act does not bar the ascertainment of the religious character of a structure. This seemingly[Author1]  “innocent” remark has opened the floodgates for demands for survey on all mosques by the Hindutva forces, with the sole purpose to demolish all such structures. This “get out remark” by DY Chandrachud has not only put Muslim places of worship in danger but also puts in danger all structures belonging to other faiths.

The Sambhal incident projects a disconcerting pattern of growing Saffronisation of the judiciary, the executive and the police machinery in India. It is also increasingly leaving aggrieved minority communities with no recourse but to protest in order to protect their dignity. There is clear evidence that the protesters resorted to stone pelting only after police started to use gunfire. The district administration, instead of holding Hindutva forces accountable for escalation, are trying to cover up the issue by issuing an order restraining all social and democratic organisations and individuals from entering the city of Sambhal. the police has made dozens of arrests, shut down the internet, closed schools and more than 2,000 cases have been filed against protesting people. This is a clear attack on the right to practise and propagate one’s religion. It is also an attack on the fundamental right to assembly and freedom of expression. We believe such attacks on the exploited minorities in India is part of the state’s agenda to establish an unconstitutional and discriminatory Hindutva regime.

We give notice to the Indian State authorities that the world is watching in horror the gross violation of rights of India’s religious minorities and the dangerous trend towards Brahminical Saffronisation of country.

We strongly condemns the barbaric murder of the five Muslim youth and demands:  

1. The police personnel/officers responsible for the extrajudicial killing of the five youths must be held accountable.

2. The unlawful and communally motivated survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid must be stopped.

3. The Places of Worship Act 1991 must be enforced.

4.  A First Information Report must be registered against Hindutva vigilante groups for communally polarising the local atmosphere and breaching peace.

5.  Social and democratic organisations must be permitted to visit Sambhal.

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India Labour Solidarity (UK)  

Prof GN Saibaba Study Circle

Indian Workers Association

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