‘Operation Rent-a-Riot’ by India Today.
By Sreekanth A. Nair
The state of Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a series of communal riots and clashes in recent years. Big or small, the tension arising out of the religious conflicts have always made headlines. As the state is gearing up for assembly elections in 2017, some vested interest groups are eagerly waiting for a chance to spark a controversy which may lead to a communal riot.
A sting video investigation carried out by India Today exposes that it is easy to create a conflict in the name of belief within the state, for money. The mission named ‘Operation Rent-a-Riot’ exposes the ugly face of three leaders from three organizations who were willing to orchestrate a riot for money.
An India Today reporter posed as a filmmaker and approached Parminder Arya of the Hindu Swabhiman Sangathan seeking help for disrupting the screening of a fictitious film that questions the myth that Lord Ram was born in India to gain popularity for it. The leader agreed to take part in the plan to disrupt the screening of the movie in the state which will also help him gain some popularity.
“Let us know whose clothes are to be torn. We’ll do that. Sometimes, boys go berserk. There are chances of people getting seriously injured in such situations,” Arya said.
“What’s on offer?” that was the question of Kapil Dev Agarwal, the BJP MLA from Muzaffarnagar, who also agreed to extend help. “But the price has to be right,” he added.
Next on the list is Hafiz Mohammed Irfan, the Haridwar unit president of the ruling Samajwadi Party. The investigation team asked him to help them promote a fictitious controversial film and declare the film “anti-Muslim” by a planned violence.
“Five lakh rupees” is what he demanded for doing as he was asked to do so.
Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India. With 80 seats, UP contributes the highest number of MPs to the Lok Sabha. Reports say 62 people died in clashes between the Hindus and Muslims of Muzaffarnagar, in UP, in 2013.