Vishva Hindu Parishad’s racist campaign against Muslims during Delhi elections

Political parties have started preparations for the Delhi Assembly elections. Meanwhile, the saffron racist campaign is intensifying and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is distributing Trishuls on a large scale in Delhi. Seven to eight thousand Trishuls have been distributed. The target is to distribute more than 50 thousand Trishuls before the elections. However, the VHP says that this has nothing to do with the elections.

The term of the Delhi Assembly is ending on 23 February 2025. The official announcement of the dates may be made in the first week of January and voting may take place in mid-February.

Teenage boys are also participating in the Trishul initiation ceremony.

This campaign was started on 15 December with a function in Paharganj. The next big event is to be held on 19 January 2025. Any Hindu can come to these programs and receive the Trishul. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad is inviting the Hindu community through WhatsApp – ‘You all register your names and get weapons.’

This trident was specially designed so that it does not come under the ambit of the Arms Act. According to a report published in Ahmedabad Mirror in June 2017, the then general secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Mahadev Desai, himself had said that ‘the trident has been kept one centimeter shorter than the banned weapons.’

In a way, it is a recruitment program for the youth wing of the VHP, Bajrang Dal. Gupta says, ‘Those who are already in the organization, they have to wear it (the trident). Those who are not in the organization and express their desire to join, are included in the organization. The work of distributing tridents is happening in Delhi after a long time. According to the state minister, ‘The last time Trishul was distributed in Delhi before 2024 was in 2012 (or 2015).’

Are Trishuls being distributed after so many years in view of the elections? Surinder Gupta denies this, ‘Since the inception of Bajrang Dal, the program of launching Trishul has been happening. This has been happening in Delhi from time to time. This program happens once in five-ten years. Because the generation to whom we gave it (Trishul) earlier, it remains with them.

Gupta further said, ‘If they were doing this keeping in mind the elections, then why was it not done during the Lok Sabha elections? Why was it not done before the Municipal Corporation elections? The resolution taken by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal workers to protect the Hindu society is not taken on the basis of elections.

However, the Paharganj event was a discussion on the Bangladeshi infiltrators issue, which the BJP is making an election issue.

VHP Central Joint General Secretary Surendra Jain, who attended the event as the main speaker, thanked the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and said, ‘With the initiative of Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena ji, Delhi has become the first state to identify Bangladeshi infiltrators. And efforts have been started to expel them from India. But we doubt whether this commendable initiative of the Lieutenant Governor and his administrative officers will follow this commendable initiative and instructions seriously.?.. Hundreds of Bajrang Dal workers are ready to cooperate with the Delhi Lieutenant Governor and the administration to identify illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators and expel them. .’

As far as the political aspect of the event is concerned, Surinder Gupta himself had shared a poster of the ‘Trishul Diksha Samaroh’, which had the same slogan that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had used during the Maharashtra elections – Only when we are united will we be safe.

Why does the VHP run this weapons distribution program? In response, Surinder Gupta says, ‘All our gods and goddesses have weapons in their hands. We also worship weapons on the day of Vijayadashami. We want every Hindu to wear a Trishul as a symbol of the blessings of Lord Mahakal.

While waving the Trishul from the stage, Jathedar Harjit Singh Nihang, who considers Sikhism to be a part of Hinduism, had said in Paharganj, ‘This Trishul, which is the Prasad of Shivji Maharaj, has been given to you, there should be a five-foot Trishul in your house. …You eat less food, buy cheap mobile phones, do anything, but take this oath that you will have five tridents at home.

Speaking to Hindutva TV channel Sudarshan News at the December 15 event, VHP Delhi Pradesh President Kapil Khanna had said, ‘We have resolved to end the vicious cycle of anti-religious people in Delhi. We have resolved to end all the evils like love jihad, land jihad which are being spread by secularists in Delhi. We have also taken a pledge to protect cows.

The task of administering the oath during the weapons distribution ceremony at Paharganj was done by Buddhist saint Rahul Bhante, whose main teachings are non-violence and compassion.

Jain had said that day that the violence in Sambhal was ‘part of a well-planned conspiracy’. ‘Jihadist elements attack religious places of Hindus and if the established temples are surveyed legally, then an attempt is made to spread communal fervor. Now Bajrang Dal workers are ready to respond to such attacks.’