Haridwar ‘Dharam Sansad’ triggers row, TMC leader files complaint over hate speeches

The three-day ‘Dharma Sansad’ or religious assembly in Haridwar sparked row after videos of Hindu leaders making provocative speeches and inciting violence surfaced on social media.

Trinamool Congress spokesperson Saket Gokhale has filed a complaint against provocative and communal speeches made against minority communities during a three-day "Dharma Sansad" or religious assembly held in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar from December 17 to December 19. Several Hindu religious leaders, who addressed the gathering, called upon the community to take up arms against Muslims as they gave a clarion call for a ‘Hindu nation’. Munawar Faruqui has been relentlessly punished for alleged jokes which he didn't even crack, but there is no action against the 'Dharm Sansad' members who openly called for genocide against Muslims in Haridwar! Is India still a democracy!#HaridwarHateAssembly I've filed a complaint with SHO, Jwalapur PS in Haridwar against the #HaridwarHateAssembly conducted from 17th-20th December at Ved Niketan Dham.Failing the registration of an FIR against the organizers & speakers in 24 hrs, a plaint shall be made to the Judicial Magistrate. https://t.co/hnUdNiurve pic.twitter.com/Xgv6FCu3ZM

The three-day religious assembly was organised by Yati Singhanand, a controversial Hindutva figure known to make communal statements. Yati Singhanand reportedly said that “arming the Hindu brigade with bigger and better weapons” would be the “solution” against the “threat of Muslims.”