Ex Jharkhand Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Raghubar Das today took to social media to inform that he met the fruit-seller who was booked by Jharkhand Police for having “Hindu” written on his banner.
आज पीड़ित फल विक्रेताओं से #Social_Distancing का पालन करते हुए मिला। उन्हें हरसंभव मदद के लिए आश्वस्त किया। साथ ही प्रशासनिक अधिकारियों से बात हुई। फल विक्रेताओं पर कोई केस दर्ज नहीं होगा।@BJP4India @BJP4Jharkhand @BJPLive#JharkhandDiscriminates#Hinduphobia_in_Jharkhand pic.twitter.com/sbdUaMPgT6
— Raghubar Das (@dasraghubar) April 26, 2020
Das said that he met the fruitseller while maintaining the social distancing guidelines issued amidst coronavirus outbreak and also had a word with the authorities. “We have assured them of all possible help. Also talked to the police officers and there will not be any case on the fruit vendors,” he tweeted.
Jharkhand Hindu fruit sellers
On Saturday, a group of fruit sellers in Jamshedpur were booked by the city police for writing Vishwa Hindu Parishad ki anumodit Hindu fal Dukan” which translates to “Hindu fruit shop approved by Vishwa Hindu Parishad”. In addition, the banners of the shop also carried the photos of Hindus deities- Lord Shiva and Lord Rama along with the phone numbers of the shop owners.
However, wearing one’s identity on their sleeves did not sit well with the Jamshedpur police which acted on a complaint raised by one Twitter user, Ahsan Razi, about the overt manifestation of religion by the shop owners. The police reached the spot and got the banners removed.
@JharkhandCMO @JmmJharkhand @HemantSorenJMM @Jsr_police @JharkhandPolice
— احسن (@AhsanRazi1) April 24, 2020
It's a matter of great shame to our state that we are going up in such Hindu Muslim hatred.
Now instead of Jharkhand Govt. or state authorities these people will give permission to businesses. pic.twitter.com/0QMlOWbnUj
The Jamshedpur Police took to Twitter to inform about the developments made in the case. Taking cognisance of objection raised by a Twitter user, Jamshedpur police removed the banners put up by the fruit-sellers and has initiated punitive action against them. The concerned fruit-sellers have been charged under Section 107D of the Indian Penal Code. This section deals with action against persons who are “likely to commit a breach of the peace or disturb the public tranquillity or to do any wrongful act that may probably occasion a breach of the peace or disturb the public tranquillity”.
मामले का तत्काल संज्ञान लेते हुए संबंधित फल दुकानों से पोस्टर हटवा दिया गया है तथा संबंधित दुकानदारों के विरुद्ध कदमा थाना द्वारा धारा – 107 द0प्र0स0 के तहत निरोधात्मक कार्रवाई की जा रही है। pic.twitter.com/AXGXNmaPWW
— Jamshedpur Police (@Jsr_police) April 25, 2020
Jamshedpur Police faces social media backlash
Following Jamshedpur Police’s action, netizens took to social media to show their disproval.
Many pointed out how many hotels also have ‘Muslim’ in their hoarding and no one seems to have taken legal action against them.Hey Jharkhand Police, have you ever been ashamed by these pictures? Have ever thought of looking into it & doing the needful? or is there something wrong with Hindu Symbols or writings etc.?
— Jugunu (@jugunusingh) April 25, 2020
Please explain what's wrong in that picture? pic.twitter.com/rAlU3LUe2e
What about this?? pic.twitter.com/ZjgTRmyzlq
— औघड़ ⚜️ (@vk_bharatiya) April 25, 2020
As many Twitter users have pointed out, there are many shops, mainly eateries, which mention names of religions. In every city and town in the country such shops can be seen. There are many eateries saying they are Muslim Hotel, Jain Hotel etc, and nobody objects to such nomenclature.
