Shimla, Jan 28,
Former Deputy Mayor of Shimla, Tikender Singh Panwar, has written to the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, seeking urgent legal and administrative action over what he termed a “communally divisive and constitutionally dangerous” portrayal during the Republic Day function at the Ridge Ground.
In a strongly worded representation, Panwar expressed deep anguish over a skit staged during the official Republic Day celebrations that allegedly linked the menace of chitta (synthetic drugs) to the Kashmiri Muslim community. He stated that the play was factually baseless, communally inflammatory and anti-secular, and warned that such portrayals could incite hatred and disturb public harmony.
Panwar pointed out that the programme was telecast live on several television channels, magnifying its impact and potential harm. He alleged that the skit deliberately targeted a particular community through dialogues, costumes and narrative, despite there being no official data or government position linking drug trafficking to any specific religion or region.
“The drug menace is religion-neutral. Criminal networks operate across communities, and all sections of society are both affected by and involved in the fight against drugs,” Panwar stated, adding that there have been instances where even government officials, including police personnel, have been arrested in drug-related cases.
Referring to crime records and major narcotics cases across northern India, Panwar noted that high-profile arrests have involved interstate and international networks, including links to Gujarat and foreign nationals, but no official investigation has ever identified Kashmiri Muslims as the source of chitta trafficking. He termed the portrayal a fabrication that misrepresents facts and stigmatizes an entire community.
Calling the incident a serious violation of the spirit of Republic Day, Panwar said the event desecrated the constitutional values embodied in the phrase “We, the People of India”. He warned that communalising drug trafficking under the guise of public awareness is “othering” and not education, especially when done on a state-sponsored national platform.
The former Deputy Mayor further argued that the scripting, approval and public staging of the skit prima facie attract penal provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections dealing with promotion of enmity between communities, deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings, and public mischief through false and inflammatory narratives.
In his appeal to the Governor, Panwar demanded an immediate inquiry into how such content was written, vetted and allowed during an official function. He also sought identification of all officials and individuals involved, initiation of appropriate legal action, and issuance of strict guidelines to ensure future state-sponsored cultural programmes remain secular, factual and constitutionally compliant.
Warning that such acts could potentially lead to violence or breach of peace, Panwar urged the Raj Bhavan to examine the intent and motive behind the portrayal. He concluded by asserting that Himachal Pradesh’s legacy of peace and harmony must not be compromised by divisive narratives introduced through public institutions.
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