Muslim man assaulted in Gurugram: BJP MP Gautam Gambhir seeks ‘exemplary action’ against attackers

The cricketer-turned-politician and newly elected BJP MP from East Delhi, Gautam Gambhir on Monday sought “exemplary action” against people who attacked a Muslim man in Haryana’s Gurugram for wearing a skull cap. Terming the incident “deplorable”, the BJP leader said that the idea of India is based on tolerance and inclusive growth.

“It is deplorable. Exemplary action needed by Gurugram authorities. We are a secular nation where @Javedakhtarjadu wrote “O Palan Hare, Nirgun aur Nyare” and @RakeshOmMehra gave us the song “Arjiya” in Delhi 6,” the BJP leader tweeted.

In a shocking incident of prevailing intolerance and dissection of society in the country, a Muslim man in BJP-ruled Haryana’s Gurugram was allegedly thrashed by a group of Hindus for wearing a skull cap. The attackers forced him to chant “Jai Shree Ram” but when he refused, they threatened to feed him pork.

“One of the men called me with an offensive word and told me that skullcap was not allowed in this area. When I told him that I was returning from a mosque, he slapped me. He also asked me to chant Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Jai Shri Ram. When I refused, he threatened to feed me pork,” The Hindu quoted the victim as saying.

Gambhir said that his thoughts on secularism emanated from incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas”.

“My thoughts on secularism emanate from honourable PM Mr Modi’s mantra “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” I am not limiting myself to Gurugram incident alone, any oppression based on caste/religion is deplorable. Tolerance & inclusive growth is what idea of India is based on,”

The incident had taken place on May 25, the same day Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi asked National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders, lawmakers and Chief Ministers to seek the trust of minority communities who had been "made to live in fear" for years.