Maharashtra Masjid Attack: Media Silence, Political Parties' Apathy Raises Questions (screengrab @zoo_bear)
Questioning the apparent silence from the political and media discourses on the mob vandalising of a Masjid in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur region, several people have flagged the concern of the minorities in India.
While All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi slammed the silence of political parties and leaders who claimed they won with the support of Muslims, ALT News co-founder and fact-checker Muhammed Zubair wondered, “Why are most news channels not reporting on the violence.”
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A video widely shared on social media platforms showed a mob vandalising the Masjid, while shouting Jai Shree Ram. The alleged anti-encroachment march of the right-wing outfits then turned violent as the mob began vandalising a mosque, houses, and shops belonging to Muslims.
Sharing the video on his X handle, Zubair expressed his shock over most news channels not reporting on the violence in Maharashtra targeting the Masjid and several Muslim houses. “In Gajapur village, 5 KMs from the base of the Vishalgad Fort In Kolhapur, Maharashtra, The Right wing mob while shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans can be seen entering and Climbing on the mosque and vandalising everything inside the mosque,” he wrote in a post on X.
Why are Most News Channels NOT reporting on the violence in Maharashtra targeting Mosque and several Muslim Houses.
In Gajapur village, 5 KMs from the base of the Vishalgad Fort In Kolhapur, Maharashtra, The Right wing mob while shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans can be seen… pic.twitter.com/5Ks0yFCt40— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) July 16, 2024
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Tagging the chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Dev Fadnavis, the AIMIM chief, Owaisi, wrote that December 6 continues “under your government.”
“This is an attack on Rule of Law but your government is not concerned. Muslims of Maharashtra must reply through Ballot by ensuring your party MIM candidates win the forthcoming elections to stop the Mobs and the political leaders & parties who give them patronage and support and remember the Silence of parties who are claiming they won a moral victory,” Owaisi wrote in a post on X.
“6 December continues “@mieknathshinde @Dev_Fadnavis under your government a Masjid is attacked by a Mob,this is an attack on Rule of Law but your government is not concerned.
Muslims of Maharashtra must reply through Ballot by ensuring your party MIM candidates win the… https://t.co/085RnK2y7u— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) July 15, 2024
Notably, in 2023, the district administration carried out a survey of the fort and claimed around 160 buildings, including a mosque, houses, and shops, constructed illegally. After the Hindutva mob attack, the chief minister Shinde reportedly assured the protesters that the government would demolish the alleged illegal structure soon. There are no cases registered against miscreates who entered the Masjid and vandalised it.
With vandalising places of worships becoming a new normal in the name of illegal structures, many suspects the motive of targeting minorities, especially Muslims in India.
