Ghaziabad/New Delhi: In yet another display of blind hate and historical ignorance, members of the right-wing Hindutva outfit, Hindu Raksha Dal, created a ruckus at platform number 4 of Ghaziabad railway station. Mistaking a painting of Bahadur Shah Zafar—the last Mughal emperor and a hero of the 1857 revolt—for Aurangzeb, they defaced it with black ink.
The perpetrators, identifying themselves as Hindu Raksha Dal members, not only blackened the portrait but also scrawled “HRD” (Hindu Raksha Dal) on the wall. This act reportedly stemmed from a misleading social media post that falsely claimed the painting depicted Aurangzeb. Prompted by this, the group vandalized the artwork in what they called a “defense of Hindutva.”
According to reports, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has registered a case against unknown persons under various sections of the Railway Act. The Government Railway Police (GRP) is currently investigating to identify those involved.
The painting was part of an art initiative undertaken years ago to beautify the Ghaziabad station, showcasing freedom fighters including Rani Laxmi Bai, Mangal Pandey, and Bahadur Shah Zafar as a tribute to the 1857 First War of Independence.
RPF Assistant Commissioner S.S. Garibyal confirmed that the incident occurred while he was on an inspection with the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM). He stated that legal proceedings have begun and that efforts are underway to identify the culprits and hold them accountable.
DRM of Delhi Division, Pushpesh Raman Tripathi, clarified that the painting is of Bahadur Shah Zafar, not Aurangzeb, and emphasized that defacing government property is unacceptable and punishable.
Meanwhile, the incident has gone viral on social media, drawing strong reactions. Congress MP and Minority Department head Imran Pratapgarhi condemned the act, sharing a video of the incident on X (formerly Twitter). He reminded people that Bahadur Shah Zafar was captured by the British at Humayun’s Tomb alongside his sons and played a key role in the 1857 rebellion.
Pratapgarhi wrote, “Under Zafar’s leadership, brave souls like Rani Laxmi Bai, Nana Sahib, Tatya Tope, and Kunwar Singh sacrificed their lives for the nation. Today, these fanatics are tarnishing their legacy while the authorities sleep. A strict case should be filed under serious charges against these miscreants.”
