• SKM Will Not Tolerate Communal Division of Farmers and Masses by RSS/BJP and Calls Upon Common People to Reject and Stand-up Against the Poisoning of Society by Anti-National Forces Spreading Hatred Among Indians

• SKM Urges Judiciary to Suo-moto Intervene and Take Stringent Action Against all Culprits Violating Constitutional Spirit of Secularism, Irrespective of Their Position in Administration

• SKM Calls for Communal Amity and Protecting the Rights and Dignity of Life of all Citizens, Irrespective of Their Religious Beliefs

Groundxero | 15th March 2025

Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the joint platform of farmer unions, has strongly condemned the dastardly act of UP police in covering 189 mosques with tarpaulin ahead of Holi celebrations. SKM said the utterances of Anuj Kumar Chaudhary, a senior police officer of Sambal, UP, that “we have given a direct message that when people play Holi and if they (Muslims) don’t want colours to fall on them, then they should stay at home” are shocking and rabidly communal. BJP leader Raghuraj Singh went a step further and said “Muslim men wear hijabs made of tarpaulin to avoid inconvenience during Holi celebration”. SKM said that it is even more shocking that these utterances were backed and reiterated by the Chief Minister of UP, and accused the police of working in nexus with the Hindu extremist organizations to play the communal card of hatred against Muslims.

It further accused the UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of violating his constitutional pledge to rule the state by ensuring justice without any discrimination based on religion, caste and gender. SKM has demanded immediate suspension and appropriate punishment of Anuj Kumar Chaudhary, and an unconditional apology from the UP CM and BJP leaders like Raghuraj Singh who have tarnished the spirit of unity that exists between all religions in India.

SKM urged the judiciary to take suo-moto cognisance and take stringent action against the acts of the UP police, the Chief Minister of UP and leaders of RSS/BJP, who have been stoking the fire of hatred towards the minority community. It said that it is the duty of the judiciary to prevent illegal and anti-constitutional acts that are being committed by RSS/BJP.

The press release by SKM said that the farmer unions has consistently thwarted attempts of RSS/BJP to divide society and one of the greatest secular gatherings in recent times was during the historic farmers’ protest at the borders of Delhi, when farmers of all religions, castes and regions came together to protest against the anti-farmer and pro-corporate policies of the Modi government. It added that SKM will not tolerate the division of society for dominance and electoral gain, and called upon the people of India to stand unitedly to defeat hate mongering and protect the rights and dignity of life of all citizens, irrespective of their religious beliefs.

SKM reminded political parties and independent media about their failure to rally people to protect the secular democratic principles which has encouraged and emboldened religious fanatics and extremists to run riot and terrorize the minority communities. It appealed to them to immediately rise to the occasion and protect the nation through all powers at their command.