Tukde Tukde Gang

2021-09-02T13:53:25Z

2405:201:D01B:601F:90EB:B68A:F98:333B: /* External links */

'''Tukde Tukde Gang''' is a [[pejorative]] political [[catchphrase]] used in India by the ruling [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) and its sympathisers accusing their critics for allegedly supporting [[sedition]] and [[secessionism]].<ref>
{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/who-are-members-of-tukde-tukde-gang-rti/articleshow/73263876.cms?from=mdr|title=Who are members of 'Tukde Tukde Gang': RTI|first=Rahul|last=Tripathi|date=January 15, 2020|newspaper=The Economic Times}}
</ref> Whereas the words ''tukde-tukde'' refer to "breaking or cutting something into small fragments",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/tukde-tukde-gang-warned/cid/1730530|title=‘Tukde-tukde’ gang warned|date=27 December 2019|website=Telegraph India|language=en|access-date=2020-01-28}}</ref> the phrase "tukde tukde gang" can be translated as "a gang that wants to divide the country". The phrase is used by BJP leadership, and [[Godi-media|pro-Government media]] to stigmatize political opponents who have different political views.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Quraishi|first=Humra|date=August 27, 2020|title=Godi Media and Govt Should Apologise for Spreading False Ideas about Tablighi Jamaat and COVID-19.|work=National Herald, sec. Opinion.|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/godi-media-and-govt-should-apologise-for-spreading-false-ideas-about-tablighi-jamaat-and-covid-19.}}</ref>

== Background ==
[[Sudhir Chaudhary (journalist)|Sudhir Chaudhary]], the editor-in-chief of ''[[Zee TV]]'', took credit for coining the term. According to him, it was targeted at "designer journalists", and "English-speaking page 3 celebrities" who allegedly "sympathise with terrorists" and "malign the judicial system".<ref>
[https://theprint.in/plugged-in/sudhir-chaudhury-boasts-zee-created-tukde-tukde-gang-nidhi-razdan-grills-pavan-verma/352989/ Sudhir Chaudhury boasts Zee created ‘tukde tukde gang’, Nidhi Razdan grills Pavan Verma], The Print, 22 January 2020.
</ref> [[Shivam Vij]] credited ''[[Republic TV]]'s'' [[Arnab Goswami]] for having popularised the term as a device to club together all the Left-liberal critics of the government and painting them as anti-nationals who allegedly wanted to see India broken to pieces.<ref>
Shivam Vij, [https://theprint.in/opinion/tukde-tukde-gang-is-the-ultimate-fake-news-of-the-north-korean-media/52326/ Tukde Tukde Gang is the ultimate fake news of the North Korean media], The Print, 25 April 2018.
</ref>

The term was popularised during the [[JNU sedition row|2016 JNU sedition row]]. Then it was used to brand the left-leaning students of the [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]] that protested the hanging of [[Afzal Guru]], who was convicted for aiding terrorists. In a cellphone video that emerged after the protests, some protesters were heard shouting anti-national slogans such as "''Bharat Tere Tukde Honge''" (India, you will be divided into pieces).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/3-policemen-were-present-but-kanhaiya-kumar-case-based-on-tv-footage-1278698|title=3 Policemen Were Present, But Kanhaiya Kumar Case Based On TV Footage|publisher=NDTV|access-date=4 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/01/20/there-is-no-tukde-tukde-gang-admits-home-ministry-contradicts-modi-amit-shah.amp.html|title=There is no info on 'tukde tukde gang' admits home ministry, contradicts Modi, Amit Shah|publisher=The Week|access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://scroll.in/article/927972/tukde-tukde-gang-how-the-bjp-has-used-the-jnu-sedition-case-to-stifle-dissent|title=How the BJP has used the JNU sedition case to stifle dissent|publisher=Scroll|access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref> Some students, including [[Kanhaiya Kumar]] and [[Umar Khalid]], were arrested under charges of sedition and later released,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/home-ministry-rti-tukde-tukde-gang-amit-shah-1637091-2020-01-15|title=Home ministry dumbfounded by RTI seeking details of 'Tukde Tukde Gang' members|last=S|first=Kamaljit Kaur|date=15 January 2020|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref> following the Delhi High Court found out the videos were doctored and there is no direct link found between such sloganeering and the students who were arrested.<ref>{{cite news |title=JNU doctored video: Court asks Delhi Police to file report|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/JNU-doctored-video-Court-asks-Delhi-Police-to-file-report/articleshow/52476008.cms |access-date=13 February 2020 |work=The NDTV |date=28 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=JNU doctored videos: Delhi Police files status report in court |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/jnu-doctored-videos-delhi-police-files-status-report-in-court-116071201105_1.html |access-date=13 February 2020 |work=The Business Standard |date=12 July 2016}}</ref>

Since then, numerous senior members of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP)]] have used the phrase multiple times, including the Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/government/home-ministry-tukde-tukde-gang-rti-response|title=In Response to RTI, MHA Says It Has No Information About 'Tukde Tukde Gang'|date=21 January 2020|website=The Wire|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref> Home Minister [[Amit Shah]],<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/delhi-assembly-polls-2020/story/amit-shah-delhi-elections-tukde-tukde-gang-jnu-arvind-kejriwal-1634367-2020-01-06|title=Kejriwal defending tukde tukde gang: Amit Shah ahead of Delhi poll announcement|date=6 January 2020|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2020-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Naz |first1=Nikhil |title=Will The Real 'Tukde-Tukde Gang' Please Stand Up? |url=https://www.ndtv.com/blog/will-the-real-tukde-tukde-gang-please-stand-up-2159983 |access-date=9 February 2020 |work=The NDTV |date=7 January 2020}}</ref> Law and Justice Minister [[Ravi Shankar Prasad]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tukde-tukde-gang-urban-naxals-behind-caa-nrc-protest-said-ravi-shankar-prasad-1630659-2019-12-22|title=Tukde tukde gang, urban Naxals behind CAA, NRC protest: Ravi Shankar Prasad|last=Press Trust of India|date=22 December 2019|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref> and [[Minister of State|MoS]] External Affairs [[Subrahmanyam Jaishankar|S. Jaishankar]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/we-did-not-see-any-tukde-tukde-gang-in-jnu-s-jaishankar-1634505-2020-01-06|title=We did not see any tukde-tukde gang in JNU: S Jaishankar|last=PTI|date=6 January 2020|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2020-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Chaudhury|first=Dipanjan Roy|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/when-i-was-in-jnu-there-was-no-tukde-tukde-gang-there-s-jaishankar/articleshow/73132027.cms|title=When I was in JNU, there was no tukde-tukde gang there: S Jaishankar|date=2020-01-07|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2020-01-28}}</ref>

== Home Ministry's reply ==
On 26 December 2019, Amit Shah, while addressing a crowd in Delhi, called out [[Citizenship Amendment Act protests|CAA-NRC protesters]] as "tukde tukde gang" and said that they needed to be punished.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/time-to-punish-tukde-tukde-gang-for-anti-caa-violence-in-delhi-amit-shah-1631655-2019-12-26|title=Time to punish tukde-tukde gang for anti-CAA violence in Delhi: Amit Shah|date=26 December 2019|work=The India Today|access-date=9 February 2020}}</ref>An [[Right to Information Act, 2005|RTI]] request was filed in the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] headed by Amit Shah, querying the particulars of the "tukde tukde gang" and whether it was banned under the [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act|Unlawful Activities Prevention Act]] (UAPA). In its reply on 20 January 2020, the Ministry said it had "no information concerning tukde-tukde gang."<ref>{{cite news |title=Have no information on Tukde Tukde Gang: Home ministry in RTI reply |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/have-no-information-on-tukde-tukde-gang-home-ministry-in-rti-reply-1638593-2020-01-20 |access-date=9 February 2020 |work=The India Today |date=20 January 2020}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/government/home-ministry-tukde-tukde-gang-rti-response|title=In Response to RTI, MHA Says It Has No Information About 'Tukde Tukde Gang'|date=21 January 2020|website=The Wire|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref>

== Reverse criticism ==
[[Yashwant Sinha]], former [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Minister of Finance]] and [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|External Affairs]] under PM [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] said, the real tukde-tukde gang are the one who are in the BJP indicating to [[Narendra Modi|Modi]] and [[Amit Shah|Shah]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Tukde-tukde gang has 2 people, Duryodhan and Dusshashan, both are in BJP: Yashwant Sinha |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tukde-tukde-gang-has-2-people-duryodhan-and-dusshashan-both-are-in-bjp-yashwant-sinha-1632000-2019-12-27 |access-date=9 February 2020 |work=The India Today |date=27 December 2019}}</ref> Renowned historian [[Ramachandra Guha]] said the real tukde-tukde gang are those, who are sitting in Delhi who want to divide the country on the basis of religion and languages while he was detained by police during CAA-NRC protest.<ref>{{cite news |title=Real tukde-tukde gang sitting in Delhi: Guha |url=http://news.rediff.com/commentary/2019/dec/19/real-tukdetukde-gang-sitting-in-delhi-guha/f058983c917a53e8869ea26b172c36f7 |access-date=9 February 2020 |work=rediff.com |date=19 December 2019}}</ref> [[P. Chidambaram]], the former Minister of Finance under PM [[Manmohan Singh]], said that the "real tukde tukde gang" is the ruling party which is determined to divide the country on religious lines. He criticised the comment of [[Ravi Shankar Prasad]], the sitting [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Law Minister]] of India, for calling protesters as a part of tukde-tukde gang.<ref>{{cite news |title=When Chidambaram turned BJP’s ‘tukde tukde gang’ barb into ammo to attack govt |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/on-india-s-democracy-index-rank-chidambaram-s-spin-to-tukde-tukde-gang-barb/story-9E2zQWjd1ZBt2wisZpQEhO.html |access-date=9 February 2020 |work=The Hindustan Times |date=23 January 2020}}</ref> Talking to the ''[[National Herald (India)]]'', [[Kanhaiya Kumar]], on whom the BJP Government registered a seditious case, said that the BJP government has been using, the imaginary “tukde-tukde gang” to deflect public attention from the real issues of unemployment, economy and education.<ref>{{cite news |title=Amit Shah’s ‘tukde tukde gang’ barb is a sign of his desperation: Kanhaiya Kumar |url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/amit-shahs-tukde-tukde-gang-barb-is-symbol-of-his-desperation-kanhaiya-kumar |access-date=9 February 2020 |work=The National Herald (India) |date=23 January 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* [https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/elections/watch-pakistan-is-crying-and-these-people-are-helping-them-pm-modi-slams-opposition-says-recognise-this-tukde-tukde-gang.html WATCH: 'Pakistan Is Crying And These People Are Helping Them': PM Modi Slams Opposition, Says Recognise This 'Tukde Tukde Gang'], Republic World, 9 March 2019.
* [https://www.asianage.com/india/politics/261219/time-to-punish-tukde-tukde-gang-for-violence-in-delhi-shah-attacks-cong-aap.html Time to punish 'tukde-tukde' gang for violence in Delhi: Shah attacks Cong, AAP], The Asian Age, 26 December 2019.
* [https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=213148&u=most-dangerous-tukde-tukde-gang-in-india-consists-of-only-two-people-and-they-are-both-in-bjp-yashwant-sinha Most dangerous tukde tukde gang in India consists of only two people, and they are both in BJP: Yashwant Sinha], Kerala Kaumudi, 27 December 2019.
* [https://metrosaga.com/will-punish-the-tukde-tukde-gang-says-indias-union-home-minister-amit-shah/ “Will Punish The Tukde-Tukde Gang”, Says India’s Union Home Minister Amit Shah], metrosaga, 27 December 2019.
* [https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/did-not-encounter-tukde-tukde-gang-jnu-s-jaishankar-violence-576897 Didn’t encounter any tukde-tukde gang at JNU: S Jaishankar recalls student days], India TV, 6 January 2020.
* [https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/tukde-tukde-on-shahs-lips/cid/1733611 Tukde-tukde on Shah’s lips], The Telegraph, 7 January 2020.
* Nikhil Naz, [https://www.ndtv.com/blog/will-the-real-tukde-tukde-gang-please-stand-up-2159983 Will The Real 'Tukde-Tukde Gang' Please Stand Up?], NDTV, 7 January 2020.
* [https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/boycott-deepika-her-movies-over-support-to-tukde-tukde-gang-bjp-mp-6207019/ Boycott Deepika, her movies over support to tukde tukde gang: BJP MP], The Indian Express, 9 January 2020.
* [https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-stood-with-people-who-say-bharat-tere-tukde-honge-smriti-irani-slams-deepika-padukone-for-jnu-visit/345477 'Stood With People Who Say Bharat Tere Tukde Honge': Smriti Irani Slams Deepika Padukone], Outlook, 10 January 2020.
* [https://www.siasat.com/wont-stand-behind-tukde-tukde-gang-kangana-deepika-1795427/ ‘Won’t stand behind Tukde Tukde gang’: Kangana to Deepika], The Siasat Daily, 17 January 2020.
* [https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/tukde-tukde-gang-does-exist-they-are-running-govt-shashi-tharoor-796920.html Tukde-tukde gang does exist, they are running govt: Shashi Tharoor], Deccan Herald, 21 January 2020.
* [https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/amit-shahs-tukde-tukde-gang-barb-is-symbol-of-his-desperation-kanhaiya-kumar Amit Shah’s ‘tukde tukde gang’ barb is a sign of his desperation: Kanhaiya Kumar], National Herald, 23 January 2020.
* [https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/tricolour-is-a-cover-for-tukde-tukde-gang-prasad/article30667455.ece Tricolour is a cover for tukde-tukde gang: Prasad], BusinessLine, 27 January 2020.
* [https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/01/20/there-is-no-tukde-tukde-gang-admits-home-ministry-contradicts-modi-amit-shah.html There is no info on 'tukde tukde gang' admits home ministry, contradicts Modi, Amit Shah], The Week, 20 January 2020.
* [https://scroll.in/latest/950531/we-dont-have-information-about-tukde-tukde-gang-home-ministry-says-in-reply-to-rti-query We don’t have information about ‘tukde-tukde gang’, home ministry says in reply to RTI query], Scroll.in, 20 January 2020.
* [https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-home-ministry-confirms-it-has-no-information-on-tukde-tukde-gang-activist-to-explore-legal-options/345967 Home Ministry Confirms It Has No Information On ‘Tukde Tukde’ Gang, Activist To Explore Legal Options], Outlook, 21 January 2020.
* [https://thewire.in/government/home-ministry-tukde-tukde-gang-rti-response In Response to RTI, MHA Says It Has No Information About 'Tukde Tukde Gang'], The Wire, 21 January 2020.
* Nivedita Menon, [https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/india-news-opinion-from-tukde-tukde-gang-to-saffronisation-of-faculty-attacks-on-jnu-target-youth-resisting-hindu-rashtra/302608 From 'Tukde Tukde Gang' To Saffronisation Of Faculty, Attacks On JNU Part Of 'Hindu Rashtra' Agenda], Outlook, 20 January 2020.
* [https://telanganatoday.com/tukde-tukde-gang-in-bollywood-too-up-minister Tukde Tukde gang in Bollywood too: UP Minister], Telangana Today, 24 January 2020.
* [https://www.firstpost.com/india/shaheen-bagh-offering-platform-to-tuke-tukde-gang-under-garb-of-opposing-citizenship-act-alleges-ravi-shankar-prasad-7963131.html Shaheen Bagh offering platform to 'tukde tukde' gang under garb of opposing citizenship Act, alleges Ravi Shankar Prasad], FirstPost, 27 January 2020.
* [https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/shaheen-bagh-protest-is-a-platform-for-tukde-tukde-gang/article30669878.ece ‘Shaheen Bagh protest is a platform for tukde-tukde gang’], The Hindu, 28 January 2020.
* Ronojoy Sen, [https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/01/28/indian-government-protesters-elections-citizenship-act/ The Standoff Between India’s Government and Its Protesters Can Only Be Broken by Elections], Foreign Policy, 28 January 2020.
* [https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/bjp-government-has-become-tukde-tukde-gang-is-partitioning-indian-soul-shashi-tharoor-120020401841_1.html BJP govt has become tukde-tukde gang, is partitioning Indian soul: Tharoor], Business Standard, 4 February 2020.
* [https://zeenews.india.com/video/india/india-ka-dna-conclave-2020-kejriwals-patriotism-lies-with-tukde-tukde-gang-says-manoj-tiwari-2261629.html India Ka DNA Conclave 2020: 'Kejriwal's patriotism lies with Tukde-Tukde gang' says Manoj Tiwari], Zee News,
* [http://www.millenniumpost.in/delhi/bjp-ends-campaign-with-shaheen-bagh-rhetoric-399323 BJP ends campaign with Shaheen Bagh rhetoric], Millennium Post, 6 February 2020.
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/01/09/yes-i-am-from-the-tukde-tukde-gang-says-kanhaiya-kumar.html Yes, I am from the 'tukde tukde gang', says Kanhaiya Kumar], The Week, 9 January 2020.
* Satish Padmanabhan, [https://www.outlookindia.com/blog/story/are-you-from-the-tukde-tukde-gang-or-the-khan-market-gang/4151 Satire | ‘Are You From The Tukde Tukde Gang Or The Khan Market Gang?’], Outlook, 10 January 2020.
[[Category:Political neologisms]]
[[Category:Propaganda in India]]
[[Category:Right-wing politics in India]]
[[Category:Godi media]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Tukde Tukde Gang