A confrontation inside Naharlagun’s Jama Masjid in Arunachal Pradesh has now gone viral after two leaders of the Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Association (APIYO) challenged the mosque’s cleric for refusing to say “Bharat Mata ki Jai”.
The video of the incident, filmed on November 27, shows tempers rising quickly as more people gather and chants grow louder.
APIYO General Secretary Tapor Meying and President Taro Sonam Liyak are seen in the clip pressing the cleric to repeat the slogan. The cleric replies with “India Zindabad”, but the group insists he must use the exact phrase they demand.
During the argument, Liyak is heard saying, “Not every Muslim is a terrorist but why is every terrorist a Muslim?”, further escalating the situation. The cleric maintains his position, responding, “India Zindabad hi kaafi hai. Bharat Mata ki Jai nahi bolenge hum. (India Zindabad is only enough. Will not say Bharat Mata ki Jai)”
He is also heard explaining that he can say “Hindustan ki Jai” or “India ki Jai” but will not use “Bharat Mata”, saying a person has “only one real mother”.
The stand-off comes at a time when APIYO has been running a month-long campaign over what it describes as rising illegal immigration into Arunachal Pradesh.
The group had announced a bandh on November 25 over the alleged illegal construction of a Jama Masjid near the Naharlagun helipad, but called it off after the Home Department intervened and assured action.
This story was originally published in indiatoday.in. Read the full story here.