Communal clashes broke out in Assam’s Sonitpur district on August 5 after a bike rally involving several Hindus, primarily associated with the Bajrang Dal, came under the attack of Islamists for celebrating the bhoomi poojan of a grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, which effectively marked the culmination of a 500-year long struggle to reclaim the all-important site for Hindus A celebratory fervour gripped the nation and Hindus worldwide. In Assam, however, such Hindus came under attack for chanting Jai Shree Ram and displaying their joy on the occasion.
In the Sonitpur district, the attack on Hindus was initiated when Bajrang Dal activists, who were heading towards a Bhagwan Shiva temple in Bhora Singori in the Thelapara police station area, were harassed by a group of people belonging to the Muslim community. Members of the Muslim community allegedly objected to the Bajrang Dal activists raising Jai Shri Ram slogans and playing related music. This resulted in a heated exchange between the two groups which ultimately resulted in a clash. Several people were injured, and an indefinite curfew was imposed in the area. Several bikes, including a four-wheeler vehicle were torched by a mob of Muslims. Government vehicles, including that of the Sonitpur Deputy Commissioner came under attack. Curfew under Section 144 was imposed in an around this area after the clashes.
The government of Assam, however, has vowed to deal with the perpetrators of such violence with an iron hand. Taking the lead in ensuring justice for the victims of the clashes, Dhekiajuli MLA – Ashok Singhal, belonging to the BJP, is on the ground raising the morale of those worst affected due to the violence which ensued subsequent to the bhoomi poojan in Ayodhya. Comparing the Islamist mob to no less than devotees of Babur, Ashok Singhal is ensuring that the blatant attack on the religious freedoms of Hindus does not go unanswered.
In all his references to the mob which objected to celebrations of Ram Mandir bhoomi poojan in his constituency, Ashok Singhal has called them “devotees of Babur.” Since multiple two-wheelers were also torched by the mob during the violence, the BJP MLA, a Hindutva leader who was himself a Shri Ram Kar Sevak and participated in Ram Janmabhoomi movement in Ayodhya 30 years ago, yesterday distributed new motorbikes to those Hindus whose vehicles were damaged on August 5. On the ground, he is assuring people that he is with them on all counts.
Today I distributed seven new bikes to all those who were brutally attacked & whose bikes were burnt down on 5th of Aug by a gang of Babur Bhakts for celebrating Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan.
I assure again that no one who were involved in attacking the Ram Bhakts will be spared. pic.twitter.com/7c9jp4lxch
— Ashok Singhal, MLA (@TheAshokSinghal) August 8, 2020
Unlike the Congress’ former Tarun Gogoi government in Assam, the BJP has swung into action to nab the accused. Earlier, on August 7, Ashok Singhal called upon the Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal to apprise him of the ground situation, and also for ensuring that the culprits who attacked Ram Bhakts are swiftly brought to book. He further urged the Chief Minister to evict all illegal encroachers from the area, which goes on to show how illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators are interfering with the religious freedoms of Hindus in the area, and all over Assam at large.
The mob of Islamists was allegedly chanting “Pakistan Zindabad” slogans while going on a rampage against Hindus. As such, for the state machinery of Assam to be referring to them as devotees of Mughal invader, Babur, is not an overstatement.
While in Assam, a single violent clash has triggered the government to swing into action to nab those who started the violence, but in Mamata’s West Bengal, Ram Bhakts were attacked by the police at multiple locations for carrying out poojas in line with the bhoomi poojan of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The police first tried to forcefully stop the poojas, failing which it resorted to indiscriminate laathi charge against devotees. In the Jagannath temple and Talbagicha in Khargpur, police resorted to laathi charge, including against women devotees.
While Hindus face blatant attacks by a certain vote bank of Mamata Banerjee in Bengal, the BJP government of Assam is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the religious freedom of Hindus is protected from those who bear allegiances to Pakistan while in India.
