21 Jul. 24: A Hindutva leader in Madhya Pradesh has sparked controversy by describing those who support Palestine as “anti-nationals” and inciting violence against them. Ashok Paliwal, a prominent figure in the right-wing group, urged a Hindu mob in Khandwa to attack and kill individuals expressing solidarity with Palestine, labeling their support as “anti-national” and linked to Hamas, reported the Maktoob Media.
On Thursday, members of various Hindu right-wing groups marched through Khandwa, carrying Israeli flags and issuing threats. This aggressive response followed incidents during Muharram processions where members of the Shia community were seen waving Palestinian flags, triggering strong reactions from groups like Bajrang Dal.
Paliwal, addressing a gathering, claimed that the Palestinian flag represented support for Hamas, a Palestinian resistance group at odds with Israel. He called on the crowd to target and eliminate those backing Palestine. Initially, local police refused to file a First Information Report (FIR), stating that supporting Palestine, considered a friendly state, was not a crime. However, under pressure from the right-wing protests, police eventually arrested several Muslim youths under Section 197 of the Indian Penal Code (previously IPC 153).
Similar incidents have been reported across India. On July 10, a man was arrested for waving a Palestinian flag in Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh. In Nawada, Bihar, three individuals were detained on July 15 for similar actions. In Kashmir, Palestinian flags were raised, and anti-US and Israel slogans were chanted during a Muharram procession, leading to several arrests by Jammu and Kashmir police.
The series of arrests and the intense rhetoric from right-wing groups highlight the heightened communal tensions in India, especially concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
