In Yogi’s Gorakhpur, Ghosts of ‘Hindu Vahini’ Past Haunt the UP CM
Saurabh
Vishwakarma, 34, is a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator from ward
number 63 in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur. His ward, with nearly three
thousand voters, abuts the Gorakhnath Math headed by Chief Minister Yogi
Adityanath.
Vishwakarma
was 15 when he joined the Hindu Yuva Vahini, Adityanath’s vigilante
group or private army. He is a three-time BJP corporator and was
re-elected in 2017, on a BJP ticket, even after he had a bitter falling
out with Adityanath, who had declared a bounty of Rs 25,000 on his head.
Still
a member of the BJP, Vishwakarma, says, “the government, and the man
(Adityanath), who slapped the stringent Gangster Act on me and declared a
reward on my head... how can I stand with them knowing they want to
kill me in an encounter?”
Saurabh’s
younger brother Chandan, who is also with the Hindu Yuva Vahini, points
at a bullet wound on his lower left leg. He then uncovers his arm, that
was ripped open by a sword when he was part of a Hindu Yuva Vahini mob
that went on a rampage during the Gorakhpur riots of 2007 – when
Adityanath was arrested for 14 days for violating prohibitory orders.
“I have taken bullets for him and he booked me for murder, attempt to murder in 54 cases. Last year, I was jailed for nine months after being arrested under the stringent National Security Act (NSA),” Chandan said.
“I have taken bullets for him and he booked me for murder, attempt to murder in 54 cases. Last year, I was jailed for nine months after being arrested under the stringent National Security Act (NSA),” Chandan said.
Both
Saurabh and Chandan were recruited by Sunil Singh, who established the
radical right wing outfit, as Adityanath’s private army. As
foot-soldiers of Adityanath’s army, their job was to politically deify
the god man and project him as a force in Purvanchal, independent of the
BJP, by branding him as the legitimate custodian of Hindutva.
Debt of Loyalty, Cost of Revolt
They
also unleashed a terrorising campaign of cow vigilantism, whipping up
anti-Muslim sentiment and protecting Hindus from any persecution.
Singh, who spent 18 years of his life shadowing Adityanath, was his head henchman. He shows pictures to prove how he was once devoted to Adityanath, and was always seen by his side.
[ . . . ]
Singh, who spent 18 years of his life shadowing Adityanath, was his head henchman. He shows pictures to prove how he was once devoted to Adityanath, and was always seen by his side.
But in 2017, the ‘guru-chela’ had
a bitter falling out, over denial of tickets to Hindu Yuva Vahini
leaders – who were mentored by Singh – for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly
elections.
Singh revolted and paid the price. He was eventually discarded from the Vahini and had to start from scratch, at the behest of Adityanath.
Sliced
off from the Mahant’s innermost circle, he swore revenge. After a
massive show of strength near Adityanath’s official residence in
Lucknow, in May 2018, he formed a parallel outfit called the Hindu Yuva
Vahini (Bharat).
Three months later, in August, Singh and 12 workers from his new-formed faction were booked for threatening Adityanath’s supporters on social media. They were arrested and sent to jail for nine months, under the National Security Act.
Three months later, in August, Singh and 12 workers from his new-formed faction were booked for threatening Adityanath’s supporters on social media. They were arrested and sent to jail for nine months, under the National Security Act.
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/yogi-adityanath-gorakhpur-uttar-pradesh-hindu-vahini-rebellion-elections-2019https://www.thequint.com/news/india/yogi-adityanath-gorakhpur-uttar-pradesh-hindu-vahini-rebellion-elections-2019
