The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has initiated a campaign aimed at “protecting the Dalit community from violence by Islamic Jihadi elements,” its national spokesperson Vinod Bansal announced on Wednesday.
Bansal said the VHP had instructed its cadres to maintain vigilance and assist victims in “every possible way,” including providing medical and legal aid. “Our functionaries will respond promptly to incidents, document them, and ensure that victims receive justice,” he stated.
The VHP has also decided to escalate critical cases to the National SC/ST Commission and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Bansal alleged, “The Dalit community has become the most vulnerable group subjected to atrocities by Jihadis in recent times.”
Experts suggest this campaign could be part of a broader ideological and political effort, potentially aimed at strengthening the BJP’s position ahead of upcoming assembly elections in multiple states.
This development follows the VHP’s release of a list of over 300 alleged incidents on Tuesday, claiming members of the Hindu community were attacked by “Islamic Jihadis” between January 2023 and Chhath Puja 2024.
VHP National Joint Secretary Surendra Jain described the documented incidents as “just the tip of the iceberg,” asserting that the true scale of atrocities is much higher. Jain cited terms such as ‘Love Jihad,’ ‘Land Jihad,’ ‘Population Jihad,’ and newly coined terms like ‘Train Jihad’ and ‘Spit Jihad,’ to highlight what he claimed were diverse methods of alleged hostility.
“The barbarity and cruelty of these attacks are inhuman, and their nature is beyond imagination,” Jain said, while adding that the VHP’s campaign seeks to “alert society and ensure justice for victims.”
The campaign has sparked mixed reactions. While some view it as an initiative to address safety concerns, others see it as an attempt to polarize communities and consolidate votes along caste and religious lines.
