On February 21, hashtag #JusticeForHarsha trended on social media platforms as support for the murdered Bajrang Dal activist poured in. From actress Kangana Ranaut and Raveena Tondon to BJP leaders and prominent members of the society expressed their anger over the cold-blooded murder of Harsha in Karnataka over a Facebook post in connection to hijab controversy.
In a story, Actress Kangana Ranaut said, “This is wrong, for social media posts to simply voice their opinions people are being killed on the streets.” She was quoting a post by Instagram handle total.woke where the handle posted how ground reality was different from what is presented in the mainstream media.
The handle has posted a screenshot of a Twitter post by TMC leader Mahua Moitra in which she had posted an image of Swastika stabbed with a knife with the caption “Liberals creates intellectual cover”. TMC leader’s post read, “The only good fascist is a dead one.” Alongside, the image of the dead body of Harsha was posted with the caption “Street action team executes.”
Actress Raveena Tondon posted the hashtag #JusticeForHarsha with Praying Hands and Om emojis.
#JusticeForHarsha ?????
— Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) February 21, 2022
Dr Pradip Verma, State General Secretary BJP Jharkhand, said, “The brutal murder of Bajrang Dal activist Harsha in Karnataka is a part of the well-thought-out chain under which Hindus are being murdered, such crimes are instigated by the jihadi mindset.” He further asserted Rupesh Kumar was also killed by people of the same mentality in Jharkhand and demanded strict action against the culprits.
आवश्यकता ऐसी विचारधाराओं पर लगाम लगाने की भी है, जिससे जेहादी मानसिकता को प्रश्रय और बढ़ावा मिलता है। 2(2)#JusticeForHarsha@blsanthosh @BJP4India@BJP4Jharkhand pic.twitter.com/iym7czuiRB
— Dr Pradip Varma डॉ प्रदीप वर्मा (@PKVarmaRanchi) February 21, 2022
Quoting a post on the matter by Scientist Anand Ranganathan, writer and director Jyoti Kapur Das said, “The fatwa against him was over six years old, and they finally got him yesterday. His ‘sin’- posting about the hijab row in Karnataka.”
??Om Shanti?? The fatwa against him was over 6 years old and they finally got him yesterday. His ‘sin’- posting about the #HijabRowInKarnataka #SlowClapsForConstitution #JusticeForHarsha https://t.co/rcQ362qKYs
— Jyoti Kapur Das ?? (@jkd18) February 21, 2022
Author Shefali Vaidya said, “So has Rajdeep Sardesai justified the brutal killing of Bajrang Dal activist Harsha in Karnataka yet like he justified the brutal murder of Prashanth Poojary of Moodbidri a few years ago?”
So has @sardesairajdeep justified the brutal kiIIing of Bajrang Dal activist Harsha in Karnataka yet, like he justified the brutal murder of Prashanth Poojary of Moodbidri a few years ago? #JusticeForHarsha
— Shefali Vaidya. ?? (@ShefVaidya) February 21, 2022
Hindu activist Ramesh Solanki said, “We will just play trend-trend on social media. Shame on us.”
Hum bas trend trend khelte rahege, laanat hai hum par ? #JusticeForHarsha
— Ramesh Solanki?? (@Rajput_Ramesh) February 21, 2022
VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said, “The Bajrang Dal youth Harsha (26) killed yesternight in #Shivamogga of Karnataka was attacked by Jihadists earlier too. The culprits must be hanged soon. Bajrang Dal to have statewide protest this Wednesday.”
The #BajrangDal youth Harsha (26) killed yesternight in #Shivamogga of Karnataka was attacked by Jihadists earlier too. The culprits must be hanged soon. Bajrangdal to have statewide protest this Wednesday.#justiceforharsha pic.twitter.com/c6hAKYafpo
— विनोद बंसल Vinod Bansal (@vinod_bansal) February 21, 2022
Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, BJP State General Secretary, Andhra Pradesh, said, “Rana Ayyub to BBC – Students protesting in saffron scarves are ‘Hindu terrorists. Quint’s Sadhika Tiwari compared girls protesting in saffron scarves to Nazis. And who paid the price – An innocent student Harsha who was brutally murdered for wearing uniform.”
Rana Ayyub to BBC – Students protesting in saffron scarves are ‘Hindu terrorists’.
— Vishnu Vardhan Reddy (@SVishnuReddy) February 21, 2022
Quint’s Sadhika Tiwari compared girls protesting in saffron scarves to Nazis.
And who paid the price – An innocent student Harsha who was brutally murdered for wearing uniform.#justiceforharsha
BJP leader Kapil Mishra said, “Every day they are killing Kishan, Rupesh, Hira Gujrati, Harsha somewhere. On the other hand, they are spreading rumours of Muslims being attacked in India. This is the new form of Jihad, media and political leaders are involved in it.”
Every day they are killing Kishan, Rupesh, Hira Gujrati, Harsha somewhere
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) February 21, 2022
On other hand they are spreading rumours of muslims being attacked in India
This is the new form of Jihad, media and political leaders are involved in it.#justiceforharsha
On the night of February 20, Harsha, a Bajrang Dal activist was stabbed to death near Kamat petrol bunk in the Shivamogaa district of Karnataka. He was a tailor by occupation and hailed from Seegehatti. Harsha was a member of the Hindu organisation, Bajrang Dal, and was seen sporting saffron shawls to demand uniformity in the dress code of schools and colleges.
