Uttarakhand BJP leader threat: we will gouge out eyes and burn shops over love jihad

BJP leader Lakhpat Singh Bhandari has been charged by the police for allegedly making inflammatory remarks about ‘love jihad’ during an event in Srinagar, Uttarakhand. His comments were deemed objectionable and an attempt to disrupt communal harmony. The incident occurred when Bhandari addressed a rally and warned people of a specific community to stay away from ‘love jihad’ or face violent consequences. The police have registered a case against him for promoting enmity and outraging religious feelings.

Details of the love jihad incident

During the rally, which was described as a “chetna and chetavni” (awareness and warning) event, Bhandari allegedly stated that people from a particular community should be cautious or their “eyes would be gouged out and shops burned down.” This statement was captured in a video that quickly went viral on social media, although it has since been removed. The comments drew significant backlash, prompting police action. Inspector Manibhushan Srivastava of the Srinagar Police Station confirmed that a case has been registered against Bhandari in light of his statements.

BJP’s media in-charge for the state, Manveer Singh Chauhan, publicly distanced the party from Bhandari’s comments. He emphasized that the BJP does not support such statements but also asserted that attempts to disturb peace under the banners of ‘love jihad‘ and ‘land jihad’ would not be tolerated in the state.

Community response and police action

Bhandari, who serves as the vice-president of the BJP’s Pauri Garhwal district unit, made remarks that threatened members of the minority community. He accused them of targeting Hindu girls, which he claimed was part of a broader issue. He stated that his comments were in response to a recent incident where a Muslim man allegedly harassed a class 6 student. According to Bhandari, this was not an isolated case; he claimed to have encountered men from the minority community using Hindu names on social media to befriend Hindu girls.

The police, acting on the Supreme Court’s directives regarding derogatory speeches, have charged Bhandari under sections 196 and 299 of the Indian Penal Code. These sections deal with promoting enmity between communities and acts that intentionally provoke religious sentiments. Lokeshwar Singh, the Senior Superintendent of Police in Pauri Garhwal, stated that legal action would be taken against Bhandari and emphasized that the police are committed to addressing crimes against women, regardless of their faith.

Bhandari also urged women attending the rally to boycott Muslim fruit-sellers, alleging price hikes during the ongoing Navratra festival, and suggested that they buy dry fruits instead. This rally attracted a significant crowd and raised concerns about community relations in the region.

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