Ahead of Ram Navami, West Bengal CM blames Hindus for triggering riots in the state during Hindu festivals
West Bengal, India 
16 April, 2024
Case Summary
On April 17, 2024, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee extended wishes to the Hindu community on the occasion of Ram Navami, asking the community to maintain peace and avoid violence in the state, thereby holding Hindus responsible for the violence in West Bengal, as the Hindu Jagaran Manch was scheduled to take out 5,000 religious processions. “I want to caution my minority brothers and sisters that if you hear any provocative slogan on April 17, (just remember) it is the day when they try to trigger riots. I want it to be a day of respect for people, a day of unity. Even if they abuse you, stay calm and pray to Allah,” Banerjee was quoted as saying in a rally in Jalpaiguri. While wishing on the occasion of Eid on April 10, on the other hand, Banerjee called it a joyous occasion and displayed her love towards the community. Notably, the permission for Ram Navami procession in the state of West Bengal was almost denied by the state authorities.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the hate tracker as a religiously motivated hate crime under the prime category- Hate speech against Hindus, under which, the sub-category selected is- Denial or mocking of genocide/large-scale persecution- Denial or mocking of genocide/large-scale persecution/ethnic cleansing refers to the act of denying or minimizing the fact of the ethnic cleansing and/or genocide and/or religious persecution of Hindus. This often involves denying the scale, mechanisms, religious intent, or even the occurrence of the ethnic cleansing and/or genocide and/or religious persecution of Hindus. Hate speech of this kind involves the dissemination of falsehoods that deny or distort established historical facts or mock the suffering of Hindus by saying that they deserved the persecution, motivated by Hinduphobia. Denying such atrocities is not only about the denial of facts or rewriting/revising history, but it also delegitimises the religiously motivated persecution of Hindus, the religious hate/motivation/animosity that led to the persecution, and dehumanises Hindus as a religious group. Such denial of ethnic cleansing and/or genocide and/or religious persecution of Hindus not only denies the suffering but also paves the way for future/present atrocities and hate speech, inciting prejudice and violence against Hindus. It also provides a justification for violence by delinking religious animosity from religiously motivated crimes committed against Hindus. Since such denial and/or mocking of genocide/ethnic cleansing/atrocities motivated by religious animosity leads to present and future ramifications of creating more hate speech, violence, dehumanisation and delegitimisation, it would be considered hate speech under this category. Ahead of the 2024 Ram Navami celebrations, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused Hindus of inciting riots during religious festivals. This was not an isolated incident in the state though. Be it Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti, Ganesh Puja, or Saraswati Puja, Hindu religious processions across the country, including in West Bengal, have often come under attack by Muslim groups. These festivals, which hold deep spiritual and cultural significance for Hindus, have been repeatedly targeted during the processions taken out to celebrate them. Such incidents are not isolated but part of a recurring pattern, where tensions escalate, and Hindu devotees are subjected to violence. This trend of attacking Hindu religious observances reflects an ongoing struggle for religious expression and safety. Despite such religiously motivated violence, leaders like Mamata Banerjee continue to deflect blame onto the Hindu community, overlooking the widespread hostility these processions face from Muslim groups. Despite these recurring incidents, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has often blamed Hindus for triggering riots during such occasions. By consistently attributing violence to Hindu groups and downplaying the role of Muslim aggressors, her stance can be seen as a denial of the large-scale persecution Hindus face during these events. Instead of acknowledging the targeted attacks on Hindu religious processions, Banerjee's rhetoric places the blame solely on the Hindu community, thereby marginalising the real victims and failing to address the persecution Hindus endure in the state. Her favouritism towards the Muslim community, along with these measures, suggests that her administration harbours hostility toward Hindus, curtailing their religious rights and marginalising their faith.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
State and Establishment
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
female
Sources 
