New Delhi, April 13, 2023 (PPI-OT): Days after Indian Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman claimed that Muslims were doing well in India, a video of Hindutva organization, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), supporters pledging an economic boycott of Muslims and Christians has gone viral on social media. The oath-taking video from Bastar district, posted by the Chhattisgarh unit of VHP on its Twitter handle, says that the event was part of a statewide shutdown called by the Hindutva group against “anti-Hindu activities”. While posting the video, the VHP Twitter handle tagged the Chhattisgarh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), state president of BJP Arun Sao, VHP spokesperson for India Vinod Bansal and VHP’s Twitter handle.

BJP’s former Member of Parliament Dinesh Kashyap; Kamalchand Bhanjdeo, Prince of Bastar kingdom and former chairman of Chhattisgarh State Youth Commission; BJP spokesperson Sanjay Pandey; and BJP leader Yogendra Pandey participated in the oath-taking event. The oath was administered by a VHP leader of Bastar. “We take a pledge that we will not do any business with non-Hindus whether they are Muslims or Christians. Whatever goods there are, we will not buy from Muslims. We pledge that we will do their complete economic boycott. We pray to ‘lord Shri Ram’ that he gives strength to us to fulfill this pledge,” the oath said.

A large number of people repeated the oath and chanted Hindu religious slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’ after taking it. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from many people including Congress leaders. Senior Congress leader, Shashi Tharoor, took a dig at the BJP saying that this was happening at a time when a BJP leader reached out to the Christian community. He asked: “Will the real BJP please identify itself?” Sharing the video of the oath-taking event on his Facebook page, Congress leader from Chhattisgarh, Dr Chandan Yadav called it “unacceptable” and “anti-constitutional”.

Reacting to it on Facebook, Kunal Shukla, an RTI activist, asked the police to take action against those attending the event and called them “goons”. He termed the oath “anti-constitutional”. Meanwhile, social media activist, Urban Shrink, criticised the finance minister’s remarks on the situation of minorities and drew her attention to the video. “Nirmala Tai was right. People should come to India and see for real about the situation, and not believe the media but the ground report. See for real the boycott of Muslims and Christians. Also then don’t cry foul and say our internal matter!” she tweeted.

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