The Rise of Sakal Hindu Samaj and Its Impact

The Sakal Hindu Samaj emerged as a coalition of various right-wing Hindu organizations in Maharashtra, mobilizing around perceived threats such as love jihad and religious conversions. Initiated in late 2022, the group organized numerous rallies across the state, making use of high-profile incidents like the murder of Shraddha Walkar to galvanize support. Though claiming to protect community interests, these rallies increasingly devolved into platforms for hate speech, calling for economic boycotts against Muslims. The Supreme Court's intervention highlighted the need for police action, but despite registered FIRs, many cases remain stagnant, with little actual legal progress made against hate speech perpetrators.