Muslim man thrashed, abused for wearing skull cap; forced to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' in Gurugram
New Delhi: In another shocking incident reported from Gurugram, a 25-year old man was manhandled and tortured by a group of right-wing activists when he was reportedly returning from mosque. The 25-year old man from Bihar was told to remove his skull cap and was forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’.
According to a report published in The Hindu, the victim has been identified as Mohammad Barkat from Bihar. The mob allegedly stopped him on his way back from mosque and asked him to remove his skull cap adding that it was not allowed in the area.
He was further asked to chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Jai Shri Ram’ when Barkat refused to chant the slogans, he was beaten and tortured by the mob.
“One of the men called me with an offensive word and told me that skullcap was not allowed in this area. When I told him that I was returning from a mosque, he slapped me. He also asked me to chant Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Jai Shri Ram. When I refused, he threatened to feed me pork,” The Hindu quoted Barkat as saying.
Barkat also said that his shirt was torn apart when he tried to run away.
An FIR was lodged in this regard but the police were yet to identify and arrest the accused.
This incident came to light a day after similar incident was reported from Madhya Pradesh when three people including a woman were thrashed after being tied to a tree by cow vigilantes group over rumors of carrying beef. Ram’. After the video did rounds of the social media, police arrested the five accused. A case was also registered against them The five accused Shubham Baghel, Deepesh Namdev, Rohit Yadav, Sandip Uike and Shyam Deharia were also booked under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Surjewala slams Pratap Simha’s ‘vile’ remarks on CM Siddaramaiah, demands apology from BJP
Bengaluru (PTI): Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over alleged disparaging remarks made by former Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during an assembly bypoll campaign in Bagalkote.
Simha made the remarks while campaigning for BJP candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath, triggering a political row ahead of the by-elections scheduled for April 9.
Congress has fielded Umesh Meti, son of former MLA late M Y Meti, whose death necessitated the bye-election.
"Pratap Simha's vile remarks about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot have exposed the BJP's despicable politics once again," Surjewala said in a social media post.
Alleging a larger political design, he added, "It is increasingly evident that Pratap Simha’s outburst is driven by desperation," and accused the BJP of using such remarks to target backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and minorities.
The Rajya Sabha member further claimed that the incident reflects a pattern within the party. "This is not one man's madness—it is the BJP’s political culture," he said, adding that the remarks were aimed at "denigrating leaders from marginalised communities".
Referring to past incidents, Surjewala said, "CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar have received death threats in the past, including one from BJP leaders who warned that their bodies would be stuffed into a refrigerator."
The Congress leader also criticised the BJP’s bypoll campaign strategy, alleging "internal contradictions".
He pointed to the party’s use of expelled MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in campaigning despite earlier disciplinary action against him, accusing the BJP of resorting to "abuses and indignities" against opposition leaders.
Surjewala demanded immediate action from the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, state president B Y Vijayendra, and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.
He said they must tender a public apology to Kannadigas, particularly to OBCs, SCs, and minorities, over the remarks, and urged the party to expel Simha if it does not repudiate his statements.
Surjewala also called for legal action, demanding that an FIR be registered against Simha and that strict measures be taken.
Warning of "political consequences", he said the electorate in the bypoll-bound constituencies would respond decisively if the BJP failed to apologise, asserting that voters would "teach the BJP a befitting lesson" in the elections.
There has been no immediate reaction from the saffron party yet.
