The Islamist community in the state of Maharashtra chose to go on a rampage against the Hindu community last week over supposed derogatory remarks made by a Hindu religious leader who explained various significant verses from ancient holy Hindu scriptures and urged his followers to lead a righteous life. Saint Ramgiri Maharaj during a sermon in Panchale village of Nashik’s Sinnar region on Friday, 16th August, allegedly passed derogatory comments on Prophet Mohammed, enraging the entire Muslim community who since then been demanding ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ (death) punishment for Ramgiri Maharaj.
The video of what Ramgiri Maharaj said is making rounds on social media. The Hindu saint during the sermon indicated that several Islamists have disrespected women in the past because of the religious doctrine they follow. The remarks sparked wide outrage in several districts of Maharashtra including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik, Mumbai, and Pune with several Islamist leaders and organizations filing FIRs against Ramgiri Maharaj for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims.
You kept quiet during Nupur Sharma times… don't be silent this time.
— Sameet Thakkar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@thakkar_sameet) August 17, 2024
Speak up !
Ramgiri Maharaj has just stated fact.#IsupportRamgiriMaharaj pic.twitter.com/LrvWDDxXLX
Protests and FIRs filed against Ramgiri Maharaj
Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city saw a spike in tensions on 16th August following a gathering of Muslims outside the City Chowk police station. The assembly, which included many prominent members of the Muslim community, demanded harsh punishment for Ramgiri Maharaj. The Muslim mob also demanded death punishment for the Hindu saint. They raised slogans of ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’, the video of which is making rounds on social media.
In the video one of the Islamists is seen inciting the Muslim community by saying, “Whoever dares to speak against Prophet Mohammed deserves to be cut by his throat.” The incident was reported by Sudarshan News who stated that the Islamists created massive chaos in the city and shut the shops in protest of a Hindu saint who spoke nothing but the truth.
महाराष्ट्र में जिहादियों के हौसले बुलंद
— Sudarshan News (@SudarshanNewsTV) August 17, 2024
महंत परम पूज्य रामगिरी जी महाराज के सर तन से जुदा का दिया नारा…
#RamgiriMaharaj #Maharashtra #Jihad #moulana pic.twitter.com/b7GNZPRj3R
As per the reports, Inspector Nirmala Pardeshi of the City Chowk police station in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar tried to pacify the matter and ensured that strict action would be taken against the Hindu saint. Meanwhile, the Islamists in the Vijapur of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar forced the police to file an FIR against Ramgiri Maharaj, booking the latter under Section 302 (uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings of any person) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The said FIR has been filed based on a complaint filed by a local resident identified as Rafehasan Ali Khan. Khan stated to the media that he came across the video of Ramgri Maharaj through social media and that enraged him. He said that Ramgiri Maharaj said that one crore Muslims have abandoned Islam which has hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim community. Khan also stated that the Hindu saint’s alleged derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammed had the complete potential to create communal chaos in the state.
“These words by Ramgiri Maharaj have hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims and created a rift between the two communities,” the complainant was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, another immediate complaint was filed in the Yeola region of Nashik district in Maharashtra. The following day, ie on 17th August, the Mumbra Police in Thane also filed an FIR against Ramgiri Maharaj for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Islam and Prophet Mohammed. 31-year-old Maulana Sajid-Ul-Rehman from Mumbra complained about the video after which the Mumbra Police in Thane booked the religious leader under sections 353(1)(B)(C), 353(2)(3), 299, 302, 196(1)(9), 356, 352, 351 of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for uttering words with intent to hurt religious feelings and others for outraging religious feelings, promoting enmity between groups over religion, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace and criminal intimidation.
Also, in Pune’ Kondhwa region, several Islamists gathered at the city police station demanding the strictest punishment against the Hindu sage who is being supported by several Hindu community leaders amid the ongoing chaos.
Pune : Ramgiri Maharaj has made an objectionable statement about Prophet Muhammad (SAW). In response, people gathered at the Kondhwa Police Station , Pune to express their anger and demands for his arrest. #Pune pic.twitter.com/HmALLUzA1j
— Rahil Mohammed 🆇 (@iamRahilM) August 16, 2024
The complaint copy filed at Kondhwa Police Station by Adv Tusif Chand Sheikh could be accessed by OpIndia. The complaint that booked Ramgiri Maharaj under sections 192, 196, 197, 299, 302, 353(2), 356(2), and 356(3) of the BNS, 2023 stated that Ramgiri Maharaj had made an alleged deliberate attempt to create communal tensions in the state.
“He has caused insult to the Islam following community and hurt the religious sentiments by commenting against Prophet Mohammed. His comments have complete potential to create communal chaos and disturb peace in the state. Strict action is a must,” Adv Sheikh said.
Notably, the Seerat Community in Pune has also raised objections over alleged derogatory comments made by Ramgiri Maharaj. The Muslim community organization called the Hindu saint an ‘illiterate’ and stated that the state government should take strict action against the ‘accused’. “Illiterate Ramgiri Maharaj has insulted Islam and this is definitely a deliberate attempt to create communal chaos in the state. The state shall immediately look into the matter and take strictest action,” the letter read.
Political leaders demanding action against the Hindu sage
Along with Islamists, several political leaders like NCP’s Jitendra Awhad, AIMIM’s Imtiaz Jaleel, etc claimed that the comments made by Ramgiri Maharaj were part of a political conspiracy. While Jaleel seems to have all the reasons to demand action against the Hindu leader, though wrongly provoked, NCP’s Awhad made surprising remarks against Ramgiri Maharaj, calling it a political conspiracy.
Posting a comment on X, Awhad said, “I am of the opinion that yesterday Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj deliberately made a statement that insulted the Prophet Mohammad and defamed his character. Because it is impossible for any mahant to make such a statement about any prophet. If you open any saintly literature in Maharashtra saint tradition; Open the book of the saints and see; Open the books of Sant Kabir, Sant Ravidas, Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj, you will not see religious hatred anywhere. In fact, all of them taught that all religions should live together.”
He also slammed the state government for attempting to shield the Hindu sage allegedly. “What I’m saying makes sense. Because, if the Chief Minister himself is sharing the stage with him, if this Mahant is showing the courage to speak like this, there must be some reason behind it. Let it go! But, it is no longer hidden that these rulers are trying to spoil the religious and social health of Maharashtra.”
Further attempting to softly incite violence in the state, he added “This game will now burn Maharashtra; It will completely spoil the social health of Maharashtra and Maharashtra cannot afford this game. Power comes and goes. But, once the mind is divided, life disappears as it connects. We all should stay away from this politics of hatred.”
Also, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi led by Prakash Ambedkar condemned the remarks made by the Hindu sage and demanded the introduction of the Mohammed Paigambar Bill, an act to stop the vilification of Prophet Muhammad and religious heads and figures of all religions. “The bill is important and this is again proven by the repetition of the Nupur Sharma-like incident in Maharashtra. No religious leader deserves to be insulted. If VBA was in power this bill would have been passed by now restricting people from making comments against other religions. Unfortunately, the people in power at present do not understand the seriousness of the bill and support the Hindu leaders making such derogatory comments against the Prophet. We will raise this issue in the upcoming Vidhansabha elections,” the representative of VBA stated.
Ramgiri maharaj ko jald se jald Arrest Kiya jaye……
— Gautam Waghmare (@GautamW42104954) August 17, 2024
Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi ne "paghamber Muhammad bill" ishi liye pesh kiya tha ke aise nafrati log kisi ki bhavnao ko aahat na kar sake.
#VBAforIndia pic.twitter.com/yGDlv3an6o
CM Eknath Shinde extends support to Saint
Meanwhile, State CM Eknath Shinde has made it clear that the state has a great tradition of saints and it is operating only due to the good, positive blessings of the Saints. He also stated that no one shall dare to even think of harming the saints in the state. As per the local reports, Shinde was speaking at the Harinam Saptah event organized by Sadguru Gangagiri Maharaj Sansthan at Panchale in Sinnar taluka. The Chief Minister also appreciated the work of Ramgiri Maharaj during the Harinam week.
🗣️ CM #EknathShinde : "Governance of the state began due to blessings of saints. ~ No one should DARE to harm the revered saints of #Maharashtra."📷 #RamgiriMaharaj spoke facts on #Paigambar. Peacefuls did FIR. But, CM shared stage & applauded him. CHAD📷#RamgiriMaharaj pic.twitter.com/eIwLemMIOz
— Yogendra Sharma (@sharmayogendr89) August 17, 2024
How did Ramgiri Maharaj respond to the video, FIR, Islamist protests?
The districts of Ahmednagar and Aurangabad are bordered by Saralabet, which is home to Saint Gangagir Maharaj and his gurukul on the banks of the Godavari River. For over 150–200 years, Akhand Week (Harinam Saptah) has been held annually in various locations to raise public awareness. After Saint Gangagir Maharaj’s death, his disciples continued the tradition of Saptah. This week, millions of people attended the event in which several saintly figures including Ramgiri Maharaj directed the Hindus on how to live a righteous life. As a priest of Saint Gangagiri Maharaj, Ramgiri Maharaj has been serving the cause for more than around fifteen years.
He joined the Gurukul in the year 1992 as a student and learned about the Saintly tradition of Maharashtra. Later he was given responsibility to look after the gurukul by Saint Narayangiri Maharaj until his death, following which Ramgiri Maharaj was appointed as the chief of the Ashram.
Commenting on the current communal chaos, Ramgiri Maharaj stated to the media “I did not say anything to create a rift. It was an hour-and-a-half sermon. A few parts of it were edited. I was talking about Bhishmacharya and Dharmaraj during the sermon. I was explaining what is Rajdharma and how should a king follow Rajdharma. I spoke giving an instance that injustice should not be tolerated. While raising this issue, the topic of Bangladesh came up.”
Later Ramgiri Maharaj in the sermon stated that Hindus should stand together against the oppression of Hindus, atrocities that they usually face at the hands of Islamists. “I said that we should be organized against this, we should remain strong. No one should hate or envy. Don’t bother anyone. But if someone is harassing you, don’t bear it. What we said is written in the scriptures,” he said adding that nothing else can be said on this issue. “We are peace-loving people and our intentions are never to hurt anyone but to show society the truth,” he added.
As per the local reports, Ramgiri Maharaj also stated that he had complete trust in the Constitution written by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and the Indian Judiciary. “Whatever orders the court will pass, will be followed by us,” he affirmed.
It is important to note that the state of Maharashtra has been witnessing massive communal tensions for a few weeks as Hindu organizations have been organizing protests against the atrocities faced by Hindus in Bangladesh at the hands of Islamists. The Sakal Hindu Samaj organized massive rallies in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Mumbai and Nashik, Jalgaon expressing solidarity with Hindus who are facing atrocities in Bangladesh at the hands of Islamists after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.
However, several Islamists attacked these rallies and pelted stones at the participants who demanded the Centre ensure the safety of Hindu temples and people in Bangladesh. A mob of around 300-400 Muslims attacked Hindus in Nashik and Jalgaon who participated in the rallies and stones were also pelted at the Hindu shops. Several roads were shut in the region tightening communal tensions. A detailed report on this case can be read here.
A mob of 300-400 IsIamists tried to attack Hindu families in Nashik, Maharashtra this afternoon.
— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) August 16, 2024
Luckily MH Police had Intel about it, they reached there on time, saved the Hindu families and treated the IsIamists well…
They're trying this even when they're just 20-25%,… pic.twitter.com/8bCO9pY2Gc
It is believed that to counter the same and to distract the authorities, and communities from these attacks, the Islamists have made the video of Ramgiri Maharaj a weapon to lead counter-protests alleging that deliberate derogatory comments had been passed by Ramgiri Maharaj against the Muslim community.
Conclusion: Changed context of the comment
The Islamist protests against Ramgiri Maharaj ongoing at present remind us of the wild worldwide protests that were organized to target former BJP leader Nupur Sharma. Several Islamist communities across the world demanded ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ punishment for the woman who happened to make similar alleged remarks which offended the Islamists. Several Hindus who extended support to her were cut into two, sent to jails, and harassed, sending fear and shock waves across the Hindu community, at the same time.
The Islamist response to Nupur Sharma’s alleged comments seemed to be a deliberate attempt to target a political leader, a woman, moreover a Hindu, so much so that the worldwide Islamists demanded ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ punishment for her based on the video that was selectively put on social media by Alt News’ Mohammed Zubair, without mentioning how her alleged remarks were in response to Tasleem Rehmani insulting Lord Shiva on live television. The act incited Islamists to create chaos across the nation. The same seems to be happening at present in the case of Ramgri Maharaj.
Ramgiri Maharaj explained the context in which he said whatever he said. He confirmed that he made the statement in the wake of ongoing atrocities faced by Hindus in Bangladesh at the hands of Islamists. However, the Islamist community in India happened to ignore the context completely and is now deliberately targeting the Hindu saint by spreading his edited video from the one-and-a-half-hour-long sermon. The Islamist community in the state is also believed to have been seeing this as an opportunity to lead counter-protests against the Sakal Hindu Samaj who is protesting to seek the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh.
The citizens of Maharashtra and that of India must look into these sensitive cases in the manner that they deserve to be looked upon. Changing or missing contexts of certain statements, spreading wild communal messages through social media, deliberately targeting any individual, and then politicians playing politics on such issues is anything but an indication of failed individual conscience. It’s high time that targeting Hindus over such issues based on one community’s individual law stops. We all live in India which is governed by the Constitution which further guards ‘freedom of speech’, and ‘freedom of religion’ and ‘expression’, and the same should be respected by every community staying within. Period.
