Muslim journalist was forced to chant "Jai Sri Ram"
The incident took place on June 28. The journalist claimed that the miscreants belonged to the Bajrang Dal who threatened to set the victim's car on fire.
2 July 2017 6:04 PM GMT
A journalist from a prominent TV channel along with his family was forced to chant "Jai Shri Ram" by a group of members they believe belonged to the Bajrang Dal in Bihar.
They threatened to set the family's car on fire if they did not oblige.
The incident took place on June 28. The journalist, a Muslim by religion resides in Delhi's Jamia Nagar.
At home to celebrate Eid, Munne Bharti was traveling with his parents, wife and two children from Karneji village in Vaishali district of Bihar to Raheemabad village in Samastipur.
On reaching the Muzaffarpur National Highway 28, the man noticed a major jam near the toll booth.
He saw a truck parked in the middle of the highway, blocking the path of the commuters.
When he asked a passerby the reason behind the traffic, the youth warned him to go back, saying their car would be set on fire by members of the Bajrang Dal.
They were sporting saffron scarves around their necks and were chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans, Bharti recounts.
"As they came near my car, I asked them what the commotion was about," said Bharti.
A few of the alleged Bajrang Dal men looked inside his car and noticed his father, who had a beard, and his wife, who was wearing a hijab.
"On seeing my family, their sloganeering intensified and before I could understand what was going on, the two people shoved their heads into the car through
the windows and said, 'Chant Jai Shri Ram or we will set your car on fire', sending me in shock," recounts Bharti.
Fearing for his family's safety, Bharti immediately did what he was asked to.
Following this, Bharti drove for some time before stopping to tweet to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar recounting his ordeal in a short sentence.
He also called up Janata Dal (United)'s Neeraj Kumar and Samastipur MLA Akhtarul Islam Sahin, informing them about the episode and requesting that
police be sent to the location to prevent any untoward incidents.
"Though I respect Ram but I did not like the way I was forced to say" Jai Sri Ram'. Even after my experience, my faith in God Ram hasn't decreased one bit," said Bharti in his Facebook post.
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