Haryana: Gurgaon MP and GoI Minister of State (Independent charge), Rao Inderjit Singh, remarked that while there were provocations from both sides leading to the violence in Nuh, Haryana on Monday, he expressed disapproval of participants in a religious yatra carrying swords and sticks.
Singh emphasized the need for restraint and peaceful conduct during such events to prevent further escalation of tensions and violence.
Singh, speaking to The Indian Express, mentioned: “Who gave weapons to them for the procession? Who goes to a procession carrying swords, or sticks? This is wrong. A provocation took place from this side too. I am not saying there was no provocation from the other side”.
Singh, the Union minister, deeply regretted killings in the past in the area, such as of Nasir and Junaid in 2022, leaving “a persecution complex” in the minds of the minority community. (Note: Nasir and Junaid were killed by alleged cow vigilantes and their bodies dumped in Bhiwani.)
According to Singh, the area, which is Muslim-dominated, had not seen such an incident in “the past 75 years after Partition.” He believes social media is responsible for the recent incident.
Condemning hate on social media, the Union minister added that social media posts are leading to “negative thinking” among people. He has asked the police to probe videos uploaded with irresponsible content.
Singh said he approached Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and the Union Home Ministry to send Central forces to Nuh after realizing that the police force was “insufficient.”
Formerly with the Congress leader, Singh has been a minister of state in the Modi government for the past nine years. His supporters are demanding that he be anointed BJP’s chief ministerial candidate for 2024, arguing that the party never gave him his due despite his contributions to its success. In October 2021, Singh was also dropped from the BJP’s National Executive.
