‘Jai Hindu Rashtra’ banners come up in Khargone ahead of Ram Navami

A year after riots broke out in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone city during a Ram Navami procession, several saffron-coloured banners, with ‘Jai Hindu Rashtra’ written on them, have been put up across the city, including in sensitive areas where communal tensions ensued last year.

The banners, made of cloth, have been put up in Talab Chowk and Sarafa Bazar, locals said. Talab Chowk, one of the city’s major intersections, is also where Muslims gather to pray at the nearby Jama mosque. This was one of the worst affected areas during the 2022 riot. Several shops owned by minority community members were demolished in this area.

“The banners seem to mock us. They have been put up exactly where riots broke out. But none of the community members can be vocal about it,” a Muslim businessman said, requesting anonymity. The businessman said they fear backlash from the administration in the form of arrests or demolition of their houses and shops if they become vocal or protest against the banners.

When contacted, Khargone MLA Ravi Joshi, said he will ask the police to remove the banners. “I will direct police to look into this and they will take appropriate action,” Joshi told Scroll.

He added that the police has already...

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