‘National Security’: 2 Ex-Service Chiefs, Others Demand Action Against Communal Haridwar Event

Many pointed out the disparity of response to the hate-mongering, with a commentator asking if singer Rihanna ought to tweet about this incident in order for it to make it to mainstream news.

dharam sansad

New Delhi: As news on a Haridwar event attended by Hindutva leaders and which saw open calls for a Muslims genocide spread on social media, several prominent citizens – including two former service staff chiefs – pointed out the lack of action against those who made such calls. Many others pointed to the silence on mainstream media when it came to this incident.

In its report on the conclave called ‘Dharma Sansad’ or ‘Religious Parliament’, The Wire had noted the presence of “a large collection of major religious leaders, right-wing activists, hardline fundamentalist militants and Hindutva organisations” between December 17 and 19.

Retired Admiral Arun Prakash, a former Chief of Naval Staff, is among those who have tweeted on the lack of response to what he has described as a clear threat to India’s national security.

“With our jawans facing enemies on two fronts, do we want a communal blood-bath, domestic turmoil and international disgrace?” he asked on Twitter.

Admiral Prakash’s tweet received several responses, among which was one from retired General Ved Prakash Malik, who was formerly Chief of Army Staff and Army chief during the Kargil war.

General Malik wrote that such speeches harm national security and urged for action as well.


RTI activist and Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale tweeted that he has filed a complaint against the organisers and speakers of the event and that, if an FIR is not registered at Jwalapur police station, he will file a plea with a judicial magistrate.

Many commentators on social media used the hashtag “Haridwar hate assembly”. Economist and Congress party member Salman Soz noted that police, bureaucracy and the judiciary must act.


In a similar call to end violence, actor Swara Bhaskar tagged the Uttarakhand DGP.

Many pointed out the disparity of response to the hate-mongering, with a commentator asking if singer Rihanna ought to tweet about this incident in order for it to make it to mainstream news. During the farmers’ protests earlier this year, a tweet by Rihanna had set a chain of incidents in motion.


News reports and tweets on the Haridwar event – along with a similar event in Delhi where rightwing attendees swore to “fight, die and kill if required,” to make a “Hindu nation” dream come true – were commented upon by international participants as well, including tennis legend Martina Navratilova.