Thread by @Pooja_Chaudhuri

The past few days of tasteless communal reporting by mainstream media on violence against Muslims brings us to a story not being talked about enough - 10 people arrested in Ujjain for allegedly chanting 'Pakistan Zindabad'. NSA invoked against four.

THREAD

Videos of a Taziya function held a day before Muharram were reported by the media as 'proof' of the slogans being raised. The videos were picked up from social media and reported at face value. No verification.

The issue blew up after BJP MP leaders led by city chief Vivek Joshi met Ujjain SP and demanded that strict action should be taken against those who raised slogans of “Pakistan". He also lightly threw in "Taliban slogans" because why not?

BJP leaders accused Muslims of raising pro-Pakistan slogans at a function where BJP leader Shabnam Ali was present and told Alt News she heard 'Qazi Saab Zindabad' when she was there. Below are images of Ali at the function and a banner carrying her photo placed at the venue.

Ali also sent us a picture of herself at the function with Congress leader Maya Rajesh Trivedi.

Alt News spoke with Trivedi's husband Pandit Rajesh Trivedi who also said that he heard 'Qazi Saab Zindabad' when he was there.

Below is a video of Shabnam Ali, Maya Rajesh Trivedi, her husband Pandit Rajesh Trivedi and Qazi Khaleeq ur Rehman, in whose name the slogans were raised, at the function.

Qazi Khaleeq ur Rehman told Alt News that slogans were raised in his welcome. He also added that a proper investigation should be carried out.

altnews.in/hindi/ujjain-v…

Ten youths were arrested based on 'videos' that Ujjain SP is yet to share with Alt News. Four of them were slapped with NSA. While Dabang Hindu Sena chief Awadhesh Puri, protesting against the 'chants', said in the presence of police that Muslim houses should be demolished.

Below is a video of his outfit raising chants of 'Desh Ke Gaddaro Ko...'

This is a video of ABVP taking out a bike procession where similar slogans were raised. Unlikely they had permission for the rally.

OpIndia, as usual, has no problem with Hindu outfits holding massive protests, but points out COVID norms were violated during the Taziya function.

Ujjain police said they have a 10-min video where 'Pakistan Zindabad' can be heard. The video wasn't shared with Alt News despite requests. But note that media reports claiming the chant was raised were based on videos viral on social media where 'Qazi Saab Zindabad' is heard.

The organisers of the event have maintained the slogans were not heard. Congress leader Maya Trivedi told the same to HT.
hindustantimes.com/cities/bhopal-…