'Goli Maaro' slogans echo in Hindu Sanghatan’s march at Hyderabad

Hyderabad: While six people have been detained in Delhi’s metro station for raising ‘Goli Maaro’ slogans, the very same slogans have reverberated here in Hyderabad as well, on the same day. On February 29, the Hindu Sanghatan in Hyderabad had organised a march to commemorate the two officers who have been killed in the Delhi violence. After the event, several people affiliated to the organisation began raising slogans that said, “Desh ke gaddaron o, goli maaro saalon ko,” (shoot down the traitors who betray the country) at Champapet X Roads, Hyderabad.

These slogans were given amidst chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ by the right-wing organisation.

According to the organisers, the silent march and tribute was conducted by the Hindu Sanghatan to commemorate Ankit Sharma and Rattan Lal, the two officers who were killed in the Delhi violence. While Ankit Sharma, an Intelligence officer, was stabbed to death in the Delhi clashes on February 26, Rattan Lal, a Delhi police head constable was killed amidst stone-pelting in CAA protests in northeast Delhi on February 25. Both of the officers are called ‘martyrs’ by the Hindu Sanghatan.

Speaking to NewsMeter, Anjani Kumar, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad said that no complaint has been filed till now. "In order to take action, we need to seek legal opinion first and then decide on what needs to be done," he said.

Earlier at around 12.30 in the afternoon, on the same day, six persons were detained at one of New Delhi’s busiest metro stations, Rajiv Chowk Metro station, for raising the same ‘Goli Maaro’ slogans. The Metro DCP in Delhi had said that “Today around 1230 pm, six boys were found shouting slogans "Desh ke ghaddaron ko goli maaro saalon ko"at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station. We have detained them at Rajiv Chowk Metro Police Station and interrogation is being carried out.”

“Under Delhi Metro O&M Act 2002, any kind of demonstration or nuisance is prohibited in Delhi metro premises. Any passenger indulging in such act is liable to be removed from the Metro premises,” said the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in a statement on February 29.

The slogan ‘Desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko’ has been gaining currency after Delhi BJP leader Kapil Mishra used it during a pro-CAA rally in December. Following this, Union minister and BJP MP Anurag Thakur had used it at a Delhi election rally in January this year, which incited protests among the Opposition parties.