Where Will This Hate Spreading End?

Recently Nashik was in the news twice. First Ashok Kharat, a fraud posing as a Baba (spiritual godman) was sexually exploiting the women, particularly from the privileged section of society. He had developed a unique technique in babadom, impressing the people with telling them their past, present, future, and brainwashing women to be his followers and demanding their submission for his physical lust.

If this was not effective, there was a snake and other wild animals to frighten the women into submission. In the same series of blind faith comes the visit of retired Chief Justice, B.R. Gavai to Dhirendra Shastri, known as Bageshwar Dham Baba. Ironically, Gavai claims to be a follower of B.R. Ambedkar, a rationalist to the core!

This was picked up by the media at a limited level and the vigilantes of Bajrang Dal and company kept quiet, despite the physical exploitation of Hindu women by a baba, as there was no Muslim angle involved.

Right in Nashik, the fodder to the hate mongering vigilantes came from a police report where a Hindu girl claimed that she was being sexually harassed by a Muslim employee. The Muslim employee who was in relationship with her, as per the girl, had promised to marry her but then backed out. This police complaint led to the police and vigilante machinery getting activated and an undercover police investigation was initiated.

As per police investigation, appreciated by no less than Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, there was a well-planned racket in Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for conversion. It was alleged that some Muslim employees (seven in number) were tempting and forcing Hindu employees to read namaz and eat beef. All this was floating in the media like a strong wind and the term ‘corporate jihad’ was coined. As per this allegation, the Muslim employees were indulging in “love jihad” and then conversion. TCS suspended all accused employees, stating a zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct. Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran termed the allegations "gravely concerning".

The matter was investigated by ‘Citizens Committee Mumbai’ (by Association for Protection of Civil Rights and PUCL) with senior journalist Niranjan Takle and others. While addressing a press conference after investigating the matter, Takle pointed out that the investigation done by the police had several holes. First, the police report says that Nida Khan, who was the “chief of HR department” was forcing girl employees into the “racket”. The argument that the “racket” was going on for the past four years holds no water, as there is no case of conversion to Islam. Meanwhile, one case of conversion was found, that of a Christian girl, Johana, to Hinduism.

The committee dismisses the charge that the accused who were arrested were “forcing beef” on others. Is it possible that few of them force it on other employees?

Also, the main accused, Danish Shiekh, who has been charged of rape and not revealing his marital identity to the girl seems unlikely, as Danish’s wife and the alleged victim were in communication on WhatsApp. Also, the girl had gone with Danish on a bike to a resort 27 km away from Nashik, Trimbakeshwar.

Read Also: Faith, Godmen and Undermining Rationalism

When asked what the motive of such a plan to tarnish Muslim employees was, Takle stated that one, it seems to intensify hate against Muslims in general. Teesta Setalvad, a human rights activist, who also attended the press conference, said it seems that the plan was to ensure that companies do not employ Muslim educated youth. It seems to be an attack on the educated Muslim youth to defame them. The communal forces seem to have twin goals in this whole episode.

The committee members also pointed out the laxity of media in cross-checking the facts before creating this scare as “very disturbing”. Nida Khan, who is supposed to be a “kingpin” was transferred to the Mumbai office months ago and is staying with her family. She is not HR manager but a tele caller.

The whole theory of ‘Hindus in danger’ is being reinforced again. The propaganda about conversion and “love jihad” seems to be the main themes, on the top of this it aims to cut their employment of Muslim youth from companies like TCS. The media’s attitude to sexual harassment, as seen in the contrast in covering the case of Ashok Kharat and Danish is totally condemnable.

Where do we go from here? The narrative created by communal forces grips the society in few hours or days while it takes days or weeks before the whole truth comes out. The machinery set up by communal forces, aided by media and the biased attitude of the investigating authorities, is a dangerous combination intensifying hate and marginalisation of the minority community.

As far as “love jihad” is concerned, it has given huge ammunition to divisive forces to control the Hindu girl’s freedom on this pretext. The serious investigations into this “love jihad” have shown that it is a make-believe propaganda. Most cases that go to court, like the one of Hadiya (Akhila before conversion), show that girls make free choice to make their decisions. The film, The Kerala Story, was a big propaganda in this direction.

The propaganda that Muslims are trying to raise their population through “love jihad” and conversions has been countered ad nauseum. It seems the well-oiled mechanisms cultivated by Hindu nationalists’ forces are working like a well-oiled machinery aimed at targeting the Muslim community. Now they are bringing the employment of Muslim youth into jeopardy.

We recall that in the times of Covid 19, the phrase ‘Corona Jihad’ was coined. That time the propaganda was that Muslims are spreading corona, so Muslim hawkers should not be permitted to enter the localities. Open calls are now being made to boycott Muslim shopkeepers.

As many claim that the incidence of communal violence is coming down and that no big episode of violence has taken place, the sub radar scattered violence is gripping Indian society badly, it is an extension of violence any way. This is going on in various ways and erecting walls of hatred against the minority community.

The authorities must come out with an honest report of the incident, and companies like TCS should highlight the falsity of the propaganda and take back the innocent employees who have been incriminated, while guilty ones must be punished.    

The writer is a human rights activist, who taught at IIT Bombay. The views are personal.