Book Panchjanya for inciting violence
The article
- Panchjanya published a cover story justifying Akhlaq's murder in Dadri
- It stated that the Vedas ordain the killing of those who slaughter cows
The reaction
- The article exhorts Hindutva lunatics to carry out more attacks like the Dadri lynching
- This is incitement to violence and an FIR needs to be filed against Panchjanya
More in the story
- Has Panchjanya broken the law?
- Does it reflect the RSS viewpoint?
In Hindu mythology, Panchjanya is believed to be the name the
conch shell Lord Vishnu blows to indicate the imminent death of his next
adversary.
The analogy neatly fits in with the hate the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh propagates through its mouthpiece of the same name. In its latest cover story, the Panchjanya has justified the lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri and stated that the "Vedas mandate the killing of those who slaughter cows".
This sinister article removes the Panchjanya's pretence of being a current affairs magazine.
Of course, the RSS publicity in-charge Manmohan Vaidya has denied that the fortnightly publication is the Sangh's mouthpiece. But his argument is about as convincing as the Sangh's specious claims of being a "socio-cultural" organisation.
The journal is published by Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Pvt Ltd that also brings out other RSS publications - Organiser in English and Sadhana in Gujarati. In fact, Vaidya himself is believed to be the in-charge of all three publications!
However, this is not the main issue here. What the Panchjanya has done through its latest cover story is much more sinister than its association with the RSS. It is an open incitement to violence, something that it needs to be immediately brought to account for.
Not much is known about the credentials of Vinay Krishna Chaturvedi, the author of the article titled "Is Utpat ke Us Paar" (On the other side of this disturbance). Chaturvedi, using a nom-de-plume of Tufail, comments on the barbaric lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri on the suspicion that he had eaten and stored cow-meat in his house.
Justifying Akhlaq's murder, Chaturvedi's piece argues that the Vedas ordain that those who kill cows are "sinners" and they must be killed.
Quoting Isaac Newton's theory of natural reaction to any action, the article claims that the lynching was a "natural reaction" to Akhlaq's 'sin' of slaughtering a cow.
It goes on to praise Akhlaq's killers and all those like them as "brave men who punished cow-killers".
Isn't Chaturvedi's article declaring this police action wrong? Consequently, isn't it interfering in a police action backed by law? Isn't it also inciting violence by encouraging lunatic elements across the country who are the foot soldiers of this sinister campaign? Most importantly, isn't it challenging the Indian Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code and indeed the supreme law of the land, the Constitution of India itself?
By
giving this piece and its writer a platform, Panchjanya too is guilty
of the same charges, by association. The publication cannot escape its
culpability by merely stating that these are the writer's personal
views. These so-called personal views are not just justifying murder but
also calling for more such murders to be committed.
An FIR under relevant laws must be filed against Panchjanya, its editor and the author of this piece for indulging in a blatantly criminal act.
The analogy neatly fits in with the hate the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh propagates through its mouthpiece of the same name. In its latest cover story, the Panchjanya has justified the lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri and stated that the "Vedas mandate the killing of those who slaughter cows".
This sinister article removes the Panchjanya's pretence of being a current affairs magazine.
Of course, the RSS publicity in-charge Manmohan Vaidya has denied that the fortnightly publication is the Sangh's mouthpiece. But his argument is about as convincing as the Sangh's specious claims of being a "socio-cultural" organisation.
The journal is published by Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Pvt Ltd that also brings out other RSS publications - Organiser in English and Sadhana in Gujarati. In fact, Vaidya himself is believed to be the in-charge of all three publications!
However, this is not the main issue here. What the Panchjanya has done through its latest cover story is much more sinister than its association with the RSS. It is an open incitement to violence, something that it needs to be immediately brought to account for.
Not much is known about the credentials of Vinay Krishna Chaturvedi, the author of the article titled "Is Utpat ke Us Paar" (On the other side of this disturbance). Chaturvedi, using a nom-de-plume of Tufail, comments on the barbaric lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri on the suspicion that he had eaten and stored cow-meat in his house.
Justifying Akhlaq's murder, Chaturvedi's piece argues that the Vedas ordain that those who kill cows are "sinners" and they must be killed.
Quoting Isaac Newton's theory of natural reaction to any action, the article claims that the lynching was a "natural reaction" to Akhlaq's 'sin' of slaughtering a cow.
It goes on to praise Akhlaq's killers and all those like them as "brave men who punished cow-killers".
A criminal act
Fortunately, the Uttar Pradesh police is supposed to follow the Indian Penal Code and not the Vedas. It has registered Akhlaq's death as murder, not a punishment for sin. It is considering the 10 people arrested as murder suspects and not brave defenders of supposedly Vedic orders.Isn't Chaturvedi's article declaring this police action wrong? Consequently, isn't it interfering in a police action backed by law? Isn't it also inciting violence by encouraging lunatic elements across the country who are the foot soldiers of this sinister campaign? Most importantly, isn't it challenging the Indian Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code and indeed the supreme law of the land, the Constitution of India itself?
An FIR under relevant laws must be filed against Panchjanya, its editor and the author of this piece for indulging in a blatantly criminal act.
