Human rights outfits, civil society groups and individuals ideologically against the communal hatred spreading in society in Jharkhand have initiated training sessions for volunteers against hate speeches.

The sessions are being carried out by the Loktantra Bachao (save democracy) campaign organised jointly by Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (a coalition of human rights and tribal rights groups) and Loktantrik Rashtra Nirman Abhiyan (democratic nation-building campaign).

“So far we have organised a training session of volunteers in Sahebganj earlier this month and have plans to conduct it in different districts of Jharkhand in the run-up to the 2024 general elections and Assembly polls. We need trained volunteers who can act against hate speech incidents in the state as there is every possibility of hate speech incidents increasing in the state ahead of the polls,” said Bharat Bhushan Choudhary, a member of the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha.

Significantly, Loktantrik Rashtra Nirman Abhiyan began in October 2022 with a meeting in Delhi comprising individuals and organisations who were ideologically against the BJP’s concept of Hindu rashtra and spreading communal hatred in society.

The members as part of the Loktantra Bachao campaign have already in their meetings given a call to the non-BJP parties to select a consensus candidate for each of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand and avoid a split in anti-BJP votes to ensure defeat of the BJP in the 2024 polls. In 2019, the BJP and its ally AJSU won 12 out of 14 seats while the Congress and the JMM bagged one seat each.

“We have made two-page pamphlets on hate speeches which basically aim at informing the volunteers what they should do if they come across hate speeches either through social media or any form of media,” said Choudhary.

The pamphlets on the first page inform about incidents of hate speeches and their impact in dividing the society for electoral gains. It also mentions the recent Supreme Court ruling (in April 2023) that directs the state to take suo motu actions to register cases against hate speeches even if no complaint is forthcoming and proceed against the offenders in accordance with the law.

It also informs about the relevant sections of IPC (153A, 153B, 295A and 505) under which cases can be lodged against hate speeches.

The second page of the pamphlet informs the volunteers what they should do before registering a complaint like making a video, sharing social media content of the hate speeches to the law enforcement authorities, reporting to social media about hate speeches and informing broadcasting digital standards authority/New Broadcasters Federation or to the editor if the hate speeches are published in newspapers, channel or online portal.

During elections, the volunteers have been asked to inform about hate speech incidents to the district deputy commissioner, returning officer and the poll panel.