See What Ramgiri Maharaj said in Nashik and how it was portrayed? Detailed News On Ramgiri Maharaj Statement Against Prophet

The religious leader faces multiple charges, including outraging religious feelings and promoting enmity between groups

The Islamist community in the state of Maharashtra chose to go on a rampage against the Hindu community last week over supposed derogatory remarks made by a Hindu religious leader who explained various significant verses from ancient holy Hindu scriptures and urged his followers to lead a righteous life. Saint Ramgiri Maharaj during a sermon in Panchale village of Nashik’s Sinnar region on Friday, 16th August, allegedly passed derogatory comments on Prophet Mohammed, enraging the entire Muslim community who since then been demanding ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ (death) punishment for Ramgiri Maharaj.

The video of what Ramgiri Maharaj said is making rounds on social media. The Hindu saint during the sermon indicated that several Islamists have disrespected women in the past because of the religious doctrine they follow. The remarks sparked wide outrage in several districts of Maharashtra including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik, Mumbai, and Pune with several Islamist leaders and organizations filing FIRs against Ramgiri Maharaj for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims.

Protests and FIRs filed against Ramgiri Maharaj

Tensions flared in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city in Maharashtra on August 16 when Muslims gathered outside the City Chowk police station. The rally included many prominent members of the Muslim community and demanded severe punishment for Ramgiri Maharaj. The Muslim mob also demanded the death penalty for the Hindu saint. They shouted slogans such as "Sal Tan Se Juda" and a video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

In the video, one of the Islamists is seen instigating the Muslim community by saying "Those who dare to oppose Prophet Muhammad deserve to have their throats cut", reported Sudarshan News, which said the Islamists created chaos in the incident. Shops were closed in the city in protest against the Hindu saint who only spoke the truth.

According to reports, Inspector Nirmala Pardeshi of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Chowk Police Station tried to defuse the issue and ensured strict action was taken against the Hindu saint. Meanwhile, in Vijapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Islamists forced the police to file an FIR against Ramgiri Maharaj and arrested him under Section 302 (uttering words with intent to hurt the religious feelings of any person) of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BNS).

The said FIR was filed based on a complaint filed by a resident named Rafehasan Ali Khan. Khan told the media that he came to know about Ramgiri Maharaj's video through social media and was infuriated. He said that Ramgiri Maharaj had said that 10 million Muslims have abandoned Islam and this is hurting the religious sentiments of the Muslim community. Khan also said that derogatory remarks made by Hindu holy men against Prophet Muhammad could create unrest in the country.

"These words of Ramgiri Maharaj have hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims and created a rift between the two communities," the complainant was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, another instant complaint was also filed in the Yola area of ​​the Nashik district of Maharashtra. The next day, i.e. on August 17, Mumbra police in Thane also lodged an FIR against Ramgiri Maharaj for making derogatory remarks about Islam and Prophet Muhammad. Maulana Sajid-ur-Rehman, 31, a resident of Mumbra, filed a complaint against him over a video in which Mumbra police in Thane arrested the religious leader under Sections 353(1)(B)(C), 353(2)(3) and 299. , making statements with intent to hurt religious feelings, hurting religious feelings and promoting enmity between groups based on religion, intentional breach of peace, and insult with intent to provoke criminal intimidation.

Jaleel Heads To Mumbai To Seek Action Against Ramgiri Maharaj

Imtiaz Jaleel, an AIMIM leader from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, left for Mumbai on Monday to demand action against Hindu seer Ramgiri Maharaj and BJP MLA Nitesh Rane for their alleged anti-Muslim remarks. On September 11, Jaleel announced his plan to visit Mumbai on September 23 to present copies of the Constitution to Maharashtra’s ruling leaders and senior police officials, urging them to take action against Maharaj and Rane.

On September 1, BJP leader Rane held public meetings in Ahmednagar district, supporting Ramgiri Maharaj, who had recently made controversial comments about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. Multiple cases have been filed against Rane in Maharashtra for his speeches targeting Muslims.

Jaleel launched the ‘Tiranga Samvidhan’ rally to Mumbai via the Samruddhi Expressway on Monday. Before departing, he told the media that people who cherish their country and Maharashtra’s culture are supporting his cause. He emphasized that the state has forgotten the values of Phule, Shahu Maharaj, Ambedkar, and Shivaji Maharaj, and this rally aims to remind the government of these principles. Initially, Jaleel had planned to travel to Mumbai via Gangapur and Vaijapur.

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How did Ramgiri Maharaj respond to the video, FIR, Islamist protests?

Located between Ahmednagar and Aurangabad, Sarabet is home to Saint Gangir Maharaj's Gurukul on the banks of the river Godavari. For over 150-200 years, Akhand Week (Harinam Sapta) has been held every year to raise public awareness. After the death of Saint Gangir Maharaj, his disciples continued this tradition. This week, millions participated in the event where saints, including Ramgiri Maharaj, guided Hindus to lead righteous lives. Ramgiri Maharaj has been contributing to this cause for about 15 years.

Ramgiri Maharaj joined the Gurukul as a student in 1992 and studied the sacred traditions of Maharashtra. He was then entrusted with the Gurukul duties by Saint Narayangiri Maharaj and eventually became the abbot of the ashram after Narayangiri Maharaj's death.

Ramgiri Maharaj, addressing the current tensions between the communities, told the media that his hour-and-a-half-long sermon was edited to create rifts. He explained that he spoke about Rajdharma with examples from scriptures and stressed that injustice should not be tolerated. He said Hindus should stand united against oppression and be strong without hating or envying anyone. He made it clear that his aim was to promote peace and truth in society, not to harm anyone.

As per the local reports, Ramgiri Maharaj also stated that he had complete trust in the Constitution written by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and the Indian Judiciary. “Whatever orders the court will pass, will be followed by us,” he affirmed.

It is important to note that the state of Maharashtra has been witnessing massive communal tensions for a few weeks as Hindu organizations have been organizing protests against the atrocities faced by Hindus in Bangladesh at the hands of Islamists. The Sakal Hindu Samaj organized massive rallies in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Mumbai and Nashik, Jalgaon expressing solidarity with Hindus who are facing atrocities in Bangladesh at the hands of Islamists after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.