Video of Qaumi Ekta Week shared with a communal spin after Maha polls

A video of policemen distributing tasbih, prayer beads used by Muslims, and wishing Jummah Mubarak is viral on social media. It is being claimed that the video was shot after Uddhav Thackeray was sworn in as the chief minister of Maharashtra. Prashant Patel Umrao was among those who tweeted the clip and warned, “Get ready Hindus, you very well know what’s coming our way!”

New govt of Afzal Sena. New definition of Secularism.
This is in Mumbai. Police wishing “Jumma Mubarak”.

Get ready Hindus, you very well know what’s coming our way!#समान_नागरिक_संहिता pic.twitter.com/dbR5pG4DFE

— प्रशान्त पटेल उमराव (@ippatel) December 2, 2019

[Also read: Lawyer Prashant Patel falsely claims his tweet calling for genocide as morphed]

Madhu Kishwar too shared the video and wrote, “सेक्युलरिज्म शुरू। शपथ लेते ही महाराष्ट्र में सेक्युलरिज्म की बहार आ गई। मुम्बरा में जुम्मे की नमाज़ के बाद कौसा मस्जिद के बाहर बुला बुला कर तस्बीह बाँटते हुए पुलिस वाले ।जय महाराष्ट्र । Secularism begins. It’s raining secularism in Maharashtra as soon as oath was taken. Policemen calling people and distributing tasbih after Jummah in Mumbra’s Kausa Masjid. Jai Maharashtra.”

सेक्युलरिज्म शुरू। शपथ लेते ही महाराष्ट्र में सेक्युलरिज्म की बहार आ गई। मुम्बरा में जुम्मे की नमाज़ के बाद कौसा मस्जिद के बाहर बुला बुला कर तस्बीह बाँटते हुए पुलिस वाले ।जय महाराष्ट्र । pic.twitter.com/ME0TlUSJjc

— MadhuPurnima Kishwar (@madhukishwar) December 1, 2019

IT cell head of Pradhan Mantri Jankalyankari Yojana (PMJKY) Maharashtra Ruchika Gupta made the same claim, “Mumbai police distribute Tazbee at Kausa Masjid on the First Jummah after #UddhavThackeray Oath.“

The claim has also been widely circulated on Facebook.

FALSE CLAIM

Alt News contacted Mumbra police and was informed by inspector G. M. Mujawar that the claim propagated with the video is not true. “This was part of a community program and is unrelated to any new government,” he said. The police distributed the tasbih during the National Integration Week (Qaumi Ekta Week) held after the Friday prayers on November 29.

This is an initiative of the ministry of home affairs and is celebrated across the country every year. The tweet below talks about Qaumi Ekta Week held in 2018.

With a view to foster and reinforce the spirit of communal harmony, national integration and pride in vibrant, composite culture and nationhood, the “Qaumi Ekta Week” will be observed all over the country, from tomorrow to 25th November 2018: Ministry of Home Affairs

— ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018

Images of the event held in past years have also been shared by the MHA.

#QaumiEktaWeek https://t.co/8lqFWudJJf

— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) November 24, 2017

A press release on the event published last year by the MHA states, “With a view to foster and reinforce the spirit of Communal Harmony, National Integration and pride in vibrant, composite culture and nationhood, the “Qaumi Ekta Week” (National Integration Week) will be observed all over the country, from tomorrow to 25th November, 2018.”

Qaumi Ekta Week begins tomorrow.

Quami Ekta Week’ will help to highlight the inherent strength and resilience of our nation to withstand actual and potential threats to the eclectic and secular fabric of our country.

➡️https://t.co/bXrbuqUZ15 pic.twitter.com/XPOfRfUvlB

— PIB India (@PIB_India) November 18, 2018

Therefore, a video of Mumbai police distributing tasbih (prayer beads used by Muslims) during National Integration Week held in the last week of November this year was shared on social media with a false narrative. This was not as a result of Uddhav Thackeray swearing-in as the CM of Maharashtra.