By Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi, July 12: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) Delhi organized a significant protest at Jantar Mantar here Thursday, condemning the escalating incidents of mob lynching and unlawful demolition of places of worship and residences belonging to the Muslim community.
Since the announcement of general election results on June 4, there has been a disturbing rise in cases of mob lynching across the country, particularly in states governed by the BJP. SDPI activists at the protest wielded placards and banners demanding accountability for those responsible for these atrocities, criticizing both Union and state governments along with hard-line Hindutva groups.
Dr. IA Khan, president of SDPI Delhi, addressed the gathering, lamenting the dire state of affairs where individuals are targeted and killed under false pretences. He cited examples where victims’ families faced legal charges instead of justice being served against the perpetrators. Khan highlighted cases from Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, where journalists covering mob violence were unfairly implicated.
Delhi State Secretary M. Hashim Malik expressed concern over the targeted threats against Muslims and the unchecked demolition of places of worship, criticizing authorities for their inaction against what he termed as anti-national activities.
Mohammad Irfan Ansari detailed instances of illegal demolitions in Madhya Pradesh, pointing out the tragic case of Farid (Aurangzeb) from Aligarh who was killed by a Hindutva mob, yet police actions were directed against him posthumously.
Master Mehboob, a party worker, accused the government and police of disregarding court orders by demolishing mosques, madrasahs, cemeteries, and dargahs across Delhi and other parts of the country.
Shaheen Kausar highlighted incidents in Delhi where individuals openly threatened Muslims in the presence of police, yet no action was taken against them, illustrating a pattern of impunity in dealing with hate crimes.
SDPI activists demanded fair compensation for victims of mob violence and stringent legal actions against those spreading hatred and illegally seizing Muslim-owned properties.
