Investigate Viral Video of Flag Removal and Replacement Incident
Communal Tensions Stirred for Election Polarization
Lucknow, October 14, 2024 – Rihai Manch, a human rights organization, has held Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath responsible for the communal tensions in Bahraich’s Maharajganj area, claiming that law and order are slipping out of control under his leadership. The group alleges that communal issues are being incited to distract the public from fundamental issues like inflation and unemployment.
India’s Freedom Struggle: A Legacy of Unity Against Rising Hate and Divisive Politics
According to Rihai Manch’s president, Mohammad Shoaib, the recent communal incidents in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, West Bengal, and Jharkhand point to BJP’s strategy to leverage communal polarization during elections. He said the boldness of communal elements has risen to the extent that they instigate riots and commit arson in the presence of police. Shoaib questioned when the Yogi administration, known for identifying individuals through videos, will start taking action against weapon-wielding communal mobs.
Viral Video Raises Questions About Communal Unrest in Maharajganj
Rihai Manch General Secretary Rajeev Yadav highlighted that communal violence in Maharajganj escalated due to provocative statements and false rumors. A viral video shows an individual climbing onto a house, forcibly removing a green flag, and raising both hands in excitement as the crowd chants slogans. The individual then waves a saffron flag. Yadav questioned how, despite the crowd’s presence, the man was reportedly dragged into the house. He noted that if the house’s occupants were strong enough to pull him inside amidst the crowd, it raises questions about how he managed to climb onto the house in the first place, indicating a need for thorough investigation rather than encouraging baseless conclusions.
Contradictory Statements Surround Flag Incident During Procession
Rihai Manch reports conflicting narratives surrounding the flag incident that took place during a religious procession. Some claim that stone-pelting occurred after the religious procession organizers protested police lathi charges. Others argue that tensions began over a dispute regarding the use of a DJ, which led to a man climbing onto a roof, removing a flag, and hoisting a saffron flag. The subsequent stone-pelting from the same house reportedly led the household members to drag him inside and assault him, ultimately resulting in his death. These inconsistencies have fueled more tension, with attempts to downplay the viral video showing the individual’s flag removal and crowd support for his actions as an isolated incident.
Call for Action Against BJP Legislator
Rihai Manch member Sachendra Pratap Yadav has demanded action against BJP legislator Shalabh Mani Tripathi for allegedly inciting communal tensions. Yadav recalled that Tripathi had previously exacerbated caste tensions in Deoria by making inflammatory statements following the murder of Prem Chand Yadav.