As preparations gathered pace for a protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in Delhi, messages advising Muslims to avoid the demonstration circulated widely across social media platforms and through community networks, according to a Times of India report, by Ismat Ara.
The advisories, shared on WhatsApp, Instagram and X, as well as through announcements at some mosques, urged members of the community — particularly young people — to stay away from the protest venue. Several messages warned that participation in demonstrations could have long-term repercussions if any law-and-order situation were to arise.
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The cautionary campaign emerged ahead of the event announced by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who travelled from the United States for the protest. Community members, religious leaders and social media users were among those who urged Muslims not to attend, reflecting concerns that have become more pronounced in recent years following investigations linked to anti-CAA protests and the 2020 Delhi riots, the report said.
Among those choosing to stay away was Sarita Vihar resident Ashraf Masood, a college student, who said his father advised him against joining the gathering.
According to the report, one widely circulated social media post urged Muslims to avoid not just the protest site but nearby areas as well, claiming that members of the community could face scrutiny, arrests or adverse media attention if disturbances were reported.
The appeals were not restricted to online platforms. During Friday prayers at a mosque in Shaheen Bagh, an imam reportedly encouraged young people to carefully assess the value and consequences of participating in demonstrations, emphasising education and community engagement as other avenues for social change.
Similar views were expressed by Imam Ahmad of Masjid Shahab in Batla House, who said individuals should evaluate the purpose of a protest, the organisers behind it and the likelihood of it remaining peaceful before deciding whether to participate.
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The report added that a section of Muslim leadership has increasingly argued that community resources and efforts should be directed towards education and institution-building.
At the same time, some voices disagreed with the calls for disengagement, maintaining that peaceful protest remains a constitutional and democratic right available to all citizens.
With inputs from TOI
