'Is chanting Hindustan Zindabad a crime?': Kasganj victim's family wonders
The 22-year-old man killed in UP's Kasganj on Republic Day, Chandan Gupta, was shot dead for refusing to say 'Pakistan Zindabad,' his family has claimed. Violence broke out on January 26 when people in a bike rally organized by the ABVP and VHP allegedly raised objectionable slogans, media reports had claimed. But according to Gupta's parents, he was chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai.'
How did the violence break out?
On R-Day, a 'Tiranga Yatra' was taken out in Kasganj, but it didn't have necessary permission, authorities said. Locals reportedly objected to some slogans raised. Clashes broke out and shots were fired. Gupta died in the firing. A bullet hit the leg of another youth, Naushad. A day later, violence broke out again when people returning from Gupta's cremation went on a rampage.
BJP distances itself from the incident
The BJP has denied association to Gupta. "He didn't belong to BJP or any affiliated organizations. The Yatra was taken out by local residents," claimed the district party chief. His father made similar statements, saying his son wasn't associated with any religious or political organization.
Victim's family insists he was chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'
"My son was stopped and asked to say 'Pakistan Zindabad, Hindustan Murdabad'. When Chandan refused, he was shot dead," Chandan's father Sushil Gupta said. "If saying 'Hindustan Zindabad' even after staying in the country is a crime, then shoot us too," said his mother Sangeeta Gupta. The B.Com student was running a social organization called 'Sankalp,' his family said.
Security teams deployed, restrictions in place
At least 53 people have been arrested for the violence till now. Prohibitory orders were clamped in some parts and security personnel deployed. Mobile internet services were temporarily shut down to prevent the spread of rumors. Meanwhile, Minority Affairs Ministry Mohsin Raza asserted, "None would be allowed to kill people merely because they uttered Vande Mataram or Jai Hind."
