Rajasthan youth detained over social media post on RSS

Jaipur: A 25-year-old social media content creator from Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district who runs a local issues-focused social media page called "Jhunjhunu Express, was taken into preventive custody by police after posting a video critical of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

According to a report published by The Wire, Navin Choudhary had uploaded a video on June 20 showing two groups of children at a playground. In the video, he contrasted children engaged in sports activities with another group participating in an RSS exercise, alleging that the latter were being exposed to divisive ideas.

He said in the video, “See. What I’m going to show you today…You can see these two groups of children. The future of both is like an empty page. But do you know what the difference is? One group, out of these two, is being taught to sweat on the ground, to bring medals for the country and to make the tricolour proud.”

He further said in the video, “On the other side, at the same time the seed of religion and hate is being sowed in innocents. They are being taught to fight among themselves. Now you yourself think, the kid who is sweating on the ground will take the country forward. But the one in whom the seed of hate is being sown, what will he do for the country in the future?”

After reaching Choudhary's residence the following morning, the police brought him to the Kotwali police station in Jhunjhunu.

Choudhary alleged that he was subjected to intimidation and physical assault by police personnel. He claimed his mobile phone was seized and was not allowed to contact anyone for several hours.

Choudhary told The Wire on June 22, “On Sunday (June 21) morning, I started getting threat calls from people associated with the RSS and the police to delete the video. Later, the police reached my home with four to five cars. They dragged me into the car like some terrorist and rained blows on me while we were on the way to the Kotwali police station. I was actually abducted by the police."

Jhunjhunu Kotwali Station House Officer Shrawan Kumar Meel rejected the allegations of assault and said the action was taken solely to prevent a possible disturbance of public order, as reported by The Wire.

According to the officer, the police had received multiple complaints regarding the social media post and as they feared the post could lead to tensions, Choudhary was taken into preventive custody under provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita relating to the prevention of cognisable offences.

Meel said after a medical examination, Choudhary was produced before a Sub-Divisional Magistrate, who granted him bail.

Sharing the video on social media and defending Choudhary's right to express his views, State Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra met him following his release. Dotasra said the incident was an attempt to silence voices critical of the RSS.