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{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Kamlesh Tiwari
| alt =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1969|01|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = Para Kothba, [[Sitapur]], India
| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|10|18|1968|01|16|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Lucknow]]
| death_cause = Shooting and throat slashing
| party = Hindu Samaj Party
| spouse = Kiran Tiwari<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/article29897331.ece|title = Kamlesh Tiwari's mysterious murder}}</ref>
| children = 3 sons<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/my-father-fought-for-hindus-whole-life-want-nia-to-probe-6081043/|title=Kamlesh Tiwari murder: 'My father fought for Hindus whole life, want NIA to probe'|date=22 October 2019}}</ref>
}}

'''Kamlesh Tiwari''' (murdered 18 October 2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/kamlesh-tiwari-former-hindi-mahasabha-president-shot-dead-in-lucknow-2119008|title=Hindu Mahasabha President & Leader Kamlesh Tiwari Shot Dead In Lucknow|website=NDTV.com|access-date=Oct 20, 2019}}</ref> was an Indian [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]] politician who founded the Hindu Samaj Party in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aajtak.intoday.in/story/lucknow-hindu-samaj-party-leader-kamlesh-tiwari-murder-1-1129880.html|title=लखनऊ में हिंदू समाज पार्टी के नेता कमलेश तिवारी की गला रेतकर हत्या|website=[[Aaj Tak]]|language=hi|access-date=2019-10-18}}</ref> He was shot, stabbed, and had his [[Slashing (crime)|throat slit]] on 18 October 2019 at his house in [[Lucknow]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Chakraborty|first=Pathikrit|date=18 October 2019|title=Kamlesh Tiwari: Hindu Mahasabha leader Kamlesh Tiwari stabbed to death in Lucknow|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/hindu-outfit-leader-stabbed-to-death-in-lucknow/articleshow/71646947.cms|access-date=2019-10-18|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

[[Azam Khan (politician)|Azam Khan]], a politician from the [[Samajwadi Party]], responded to Union [[Ministry of Finance (India)|finance minister]] [[Arun Jaitley]]'s statements in support of [[decriminalization of homosexuality]], with homophobic comments, [[labelling]] members of [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] 'homosexuals.' Tiwari retaliated with comments about Prophet Muhammad,<ref name="toiakkt" /> which were considered derogatory by Indian Muslims<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8-xHDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT143 |title=India's National Security: Annual Review 2016–17|last=Kumar|first=Satish|date=2017-11-22|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-351-24079-6|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/Kamlesh-Tiwari-may-contest-U.P.-bypolls/article14008095.ece|title=Kamlesh Tiwari may contest U.P. bypolls|date=2016-01-20|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-10-18|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> who protested and as per Sharia law threatened death penalty and [[Beheading in Islam|beheading]] for Tiwari.<ref name="zeenews1" /><ref name="it10182019" />

Tiwari was arrested, charged under the [[National Security Act (India)|National Security Act]],<ref name="thehindu9202016" /> and jailed for a few months by the [[Uttar Pradesh Police]],<ref name="toiakkt" /> before his murder. Two Muslim men have confessed to the murder.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite news |first1=Gopi Maniar |last1=Ghanghar |first2=Arvind |last2=Ojha |title=Kamlesh Tiwari murder: 3 men including cleric arrested from Gujarat |date=19 October 2019 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kamlesh-tiwari-murder-3-men-including-cleric-arrested-from-gujarat-1610933-2019-10-19 |access-date=4 August 2020 |work=[[India Today]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kondro|first=Wayne|date=November 1998|title=Canada's doctors post reward for abortionists' killers|journal=The Lancet|volume=352|issue=9139|pages=1532|doi=10.1016/s0140-6736(05)60345-5|s2cid=53268342|issn=0140-6736}}</ref>

== Early life and career ==
Kamlesh was born in Para Kothba village of UP’s [[Sitapur]] district in the early 1970s, His family shifted to the nearby town of [[Mahmoodabad (Assembly constituency)|Mahmoodabad]] in 1980 after his father got a job as a priest at the local [[Rama|Ram]]-Janki [[Hindu temple|temple]]. The family came to stay at the accommodation provided within the shrine. Kamlesh grew up there during the heyday of the [[Ayodhya dispute|ram temple movement]] in [[Ayodhya]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kamlesh Tiwari Had Intolerance for Muslims, But He Wasn't Fond of BJP and RSS Either|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/kamlesh-tiwari-had-Intolerance-for-muslims-but-he-wasnt-fond-of-bjp-and-rss-either-2355487.html|access-date=2020-08-01|website=News18|date=21 October 2019}}</ref>

Tiwari got attracted to [[Hindutva]] in the 1990s, in his teens he organized a groups of 'Young Hindutva Warriors' who marched from [[Lucknow]] to Ayodhya and participated in the [[Demolition of the Babri Masjid|demolition of the Mosque]] at the disputed religious site. He later joined the [[Bajrang Dal]], and was said to admire leaders such as [[Ashok Singhal]], [[L. K. Advani|Lal Krishna Advani]], [[Sadhvi Rithambara]] and [[Uma Bharati]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lucknow|first=Venkitesh Ramakrishnan & Recently in|title=Kamlesh Tiwari's mysterious murder|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/article29897331.ece|access-date=2020-08-01|website=Frontline|language=en}}</ref>

He claimed himself to be the working president of [[Hindu Mahasabha]],<ref name="zeenews1" /> and also founded the Hindu Samaj Party in 2017.<ref name=":0" /> Kamlesh had contested the [[2012 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly election]] from [[Lucknow]] in 2012<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/who-was-kamlesh-tiwari-557360|title=Who was Kamlesh Tiwari|last=Taneja|first=Nidhi|date=2019-10-18|website=www.indiatvnews.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kamlesh-tiwari-murder-up-police-al-hind-brigade-6077235/|title=Kamlesh Tiwari murder: UP Police arrest three persons from Surat|date=2019-10-19|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref> and from [[Faizabad (Lok Sabha constituency)|Faizabad]] in [[2019 Indian general election]] but lost.<ref name=":3" />

== Controversy ==
Indian Union [[Ministry of Finance (India)|finance minister]] [[Arun Jaitley]], who belonged to [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) supported [[decriminalization of homosexuality]].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=An|first1=Amit|last2=Nov 29|first2=Choudhary / TNN / Updated|last3=2015|last4=Ist|first4=09:44|title=SC must review Sec 377 ruling, allow gay relationships: Jaitley, Chidambaram {{!}} India News – Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sc-must-review-sec-377-ruling-allow-gay-relationships-jaitley-chidambaram/articleshow/49965445.cms|access-date=2021-04-08|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> In response to that statement, on December 2, 2015, [[Azam Khan (politician)|Azam Khan]], a politician of the [[Samajwadi Party]], reportedly made [[Homophobia|homophobic]] remarks, labelling members of [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]] – the idealogical arm of [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] – as homosexuals because they don't marry.<ref name="zeenews1">{{Cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/news/india/this-is-what-kamlesh-tiwari-said-about-prophet-muhammad-which-infuriated-muslims_1833716.html|title=This is what Kamlesh Tiwari said about Prophet Muhammad which infuriated Muslims|date=2015-12-12|website=Zee News|language=en|access-date=2019-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/azam-khan-no-stranger-to-controversies-has-a-history-of-squabbles/story-TDmExGGu2TxYvFgLu0VoMO.html|title=Azam Khan no stranger to controversies, has a history of squabbles|date=2019-07-27|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/RSS-volunteers-are-homosexuals-says-Azam-Khan/articleshow/50002003.cms|title=RSS volunteers are 'homosexuals', says Azam Khan {{!}} Bareilly News – Times of India|last1=Dec 1|first1=Mrigank Tiwari {{!}} TNN {{!}} Updated|last2=2015|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-10-19|last3=Ist|first3=22:10}}</ref> The next day, Kamlesh Tiwari retaliated to Azam Khan's statement and called Muhammad the first homosexual in the world.<ref name="zeenews1" /><ref name="it10182019" />

About one [[lakh]] (hundred thousand) Muslims protested in [[Muzaffarnagar]] and demanded [[Capital punishment|death penalty]] for Tiwari,<ref name="zeenews1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/1-lakh-Muslims-gather-in-Muzaffarnagar-demand-death-for-Kamlesh-Tiwari/articleshow/50139316.cms|title=1 lakh Muslims gather in Muzaffarnagar, demand death for Kamlesh Tiwari {{!}} Meerut News – Times of India|last1=Dec 11|first1=Uday Rana {{!}} TNN {{!}} Updated|last2=2015|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-10-20|last3=Ist|first3=17:43}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-here-s-why-1-lakh-muslims-are-demanding-death-penalty-for-kamlesh-tiwari-2154898|title=Here's why 1 lakh Muslims are demanding death penalty for Kamlesh Tiwari|last=Team|first=DNA Web|date=2015-12-12|website=DNA India|language=en|access-date=2019-10-20}}</ref> (Death Penalty is only reserved in India for the 'rarest of rare' crimes,)<ref>{{Cite news|date=2005-08-04|title=India and the death penalty|language=en-GB|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2586611.stm|access-date=2020-08-01}}</ref> with some demanding that he be 'beheaded' for 'insulting' Muhammad.<ref name="it10182019" /> Tiwari was arrested in Lucknow on 3 December 2015 by Uttar Pradesh Police.<ref name="toiakkt">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/Kamlesh-Tiwari-not-a-member-says-Hindu-Mahasabha/articleshow/50048536.cms|title=Kamlesh Tiwari not a member, says Hindu Mahasabha|last=Bhatia|first=Ishita|date=4 December 2015|website=The Times of India|access-date=2019-10-18}}</ref><ref name="it10182019">[https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kamlesh-tiwari-hindu-samaj-party-leader-death-lucknow-1610775-2019-10-18 Who was Kamlesh Tiwari, the Hindu Samaj Party leader killed in broad daylight in Lucknow?], India Today (October 18, 2019)</ref> Protest rallies against his statement were held by several Islamic groups in other parts of India, most of them demanding a death penalty.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-here-s-why-1-lakh-muslims-are-demanding-death-penalty-for-kamlesh-tiwari-2154898|title=Here's why 1 lakh Muslims are demanding death penalty for Kamlesh Tiwari|last=Team|first=DNA Web|date=2015-12-12|website=DNA India|language=en|access-date=2019-10-18}}</ref> He spent one year in Jail.

Tiwari was promptly arrested for his remarks in early December 2015, and charged under the [[National Security Act (India)|National Security Act]] by the [[Samajwadi Party]]-led state government in [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref name="thehindu9202016">[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/Kamlesh-Tiwari-may-contest-U.P.-bypolls/article14008095.ece Kamlesh Tiwari may contest U.P. bypolls], Mohammad Ali, The Hindu (September 20, 2016), Quote: "Mr. Tiwari, who was granted bail last week by a Lucknow court, will remain in jail until the Allahabad High Court decides on his plea against the slapping of the National Security Act (NSA) on him by the State government."</ref> He spent several months in jail for his comment, and was charged under [[Indian Penal Code]] sections 153-A (promoting enmity between groups on the grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oneindia.com/feature/all-you-need-to-know-about-malda-violence-west-bengal-trinamool-congress-muslims-1974289.html|title=All You Need To Know About Malda Violence: Explained|last=Preeti|date=2016-01-05|website=OneIndia.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/hindu-mahasabha-leader-kamlesh-tiwari-shot-at-in-lucknow-critical-6075961/|title=Hindu Mahasabha leader Kamlesh Tiwari found murdered inside house in Lucknow|date=2019-10-18|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref>

The protests demanding capital punishment for Tiwari triggered counter-protests by Hindu groups who accused Muslim groups of demanding enforcement of [[Shariat|Islamic law]] of [[Blasphemy in Islam|blasphemy]] in India.<ref name=it10182019 /> His detention under [[National Security Act (India)|National Security Act]] was revoked by [[Allahabad High Court]] on September 30, 2016.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/kamlesh-tiwari-murder-wife-blames-maulanas-for-hindu-leaders-death-cops-call-it-purely-criminal-2351373.html|title=Kamlesh Tiwari Murder: Wife Blames 'Maulanas' for Hindu Leader's Death, Cops Call It 'Purely Criminal'|website=News18|date=18 October 2019|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref>

== Murder ==
On 18 October 2019, Tiwari was murdered by Farid-ud-din Shaikh and Ashfak Shaikh, in his office-cum-residence at Lucknow. The assailants came dressed in saffron [[kurta]]s to give him a sweets box with an address of a sweet shop in [[Surat]] city in [[Gujarat]].<ref name=":5" /><ref>[https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kamlesh-tiwari-murder-lucknow-police-yogi-adityanath-nia-1611125-2019-10-19 Plan to kill Kamlesh Tiwari hatched 2 months ago: Police], India Today (October 19, 2019)</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/kamlesh-tiwari-murder-case-six-detained-in-surat/articleshow/71659132.cms|title=Kamlesh Tiwari murder case: Six detained in Surat|last=Shaikh|first=Sarfaraz|date=19 October 2019|website=The Times of India|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref> Tiwari's aide Saurashtrajeet Singh was sent to bring cigarettes for them and when he returned he found Tiwari lying with his throat slit. According to police officials, the assailants kept a revolver and knife inside the sweets box. During the attack, one assailant slit his throat while another fired at him.<ref name=":2" /> He was declared dead during treatment at a hospital's trauma centre.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/kamlesh-tiwari-leader-of-saffron-fringe-group-hindu-samaj-party-killed-in-lucknow/article29737067.ece|title=Saffron fringe group leader Kamlesh Tiwari killed in Lucknow|last=Rashid|first=Omar|date=2019-10-18|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-10-18|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

According to the [[post-mortem]] report, he was stabbed 15 times.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=LucknowOctober 23|first1=Kumar Abhishek|last2=October 23|first2=2019UPDATED|last3=Ist|first3=2019 14:37|title=Kamlesh Tiwari was stabbed 15 times, shot once {{!}} Post-mortem report|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kamlesh-tiwari-was-stabbed-15-times-shot-one-bullet-post-mortem-report-1612067-2019-10-23|access-date=2020-08-01|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>

=== Investigation ===
Two [[ISIS]] suspects previously detained by Gujarat [[Anti-Terrorism Squad]], had accepted that they wanted to kill Kamlesh Tiwari in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/surat-link-in-up-hindu-samaj-leader-murder/articleshow/71657700.cms|title=Surat link in UP Hindu Samaj leader murder?|last=Shaikh|first=Sarfaraz|date=19 October 2019|website=The Times of India|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aajtak.intoday.in/video/hindu-samaj-party-leader-kamlesh-tiwari-was-on-isis-hit-list-kamlesh-murder-case-1-1130003.html|title=ISIS के निशान पर थे कमलेश तिवारी, गुजरात ATS के पास सबूत|website=[[Aaj Tak]]|language=hi|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref> Al-Hind Brigade, a lesser known group, claimed the responsibility of death of Tiwari.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/lesser-known-al-hind-brigade-circulates-whatsapp-message-claiming-responsibility-for-hindu-leaders-killing-2351471.html|title=On WhatsApp, Al-Hind Brigade Claims Responsibility for Killing Hindu Leader Kamlesh Tiwari|website=News18|date=19 October 2019|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2019/10/19/del94-up-ldall%20murder.html|title=President of UP political outfit murdered at home 3 booked|website=The Week|language=en|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref> By 19 October 2019, six accused involved in the murder of Tiwari, including Khurshid Ahmed Pathan, Faizan Pathan and Maulana Mohsin Sheikh were detained by the Surat Police, Gujarat ATS and Uttar Pradesh Police.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/crime/lucknow-kamlesh-tiwari-murder-case-solved-gujarat-ats-arrest-3-557451|title=Gujarat ATS cracks Kamlesh Tiwari murder case, key conspirators held in Surat|last=Mamtany|first=Sidhant|date=2019-10-19|website=www.indiatvnews.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref> The police used CCTV footage of a sweet mart in Surat whose address was found on the sweets box.<ref name=":2" />

According to the police, the pistol used in the murder was bought in Surat and the murder was planned in [[Dubai]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/kamlesh-tiwari-murder-fir-against-three-after-wife-of-of-ex-hindu-mahasabha-leader-blames-maulanas-police-call-it-personal-enmity-7521831.html|title=Kamlesh Tiwari murder: FIR against three after wife of of[sic] ex-Hindu Mahasabha leader blames Maulanas; police call it 'personal enmity'|website=Firstpost|date=19 October 2019|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref> They also confirmed that Tiwari’s comment on Muhammad was the motive for his murder.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kamlesh-tiwari-murder-up-police-says-case-solved-remarks-on-prophet-muhammad-behind-killing-1610970-2019-10-19|title=Kamlesh Tiwari murder: UP Police says case solved, remarks on Prophet Muhammad behind killing|newspaper=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-10-20|agency=Ist}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/hindu-leader-kamlesh-tiwari-killed-for-2015-comments-against-prophet-3-arrested-from-gujarat-says-up-police-2351681.html|title=Hindu Leader Kamlesh Tiwari Killed Over Objectionable Comments in 2015, 3 Held from Gujarat: UP Police|website=News18|date=19 October 2019|access-date=2019-10-20}}</ref>{{Reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tiwari, Kamlesh}}
[[Category:2019 murders in India]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Indian murder victims]]
[[Category:People murdered in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Political activists]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing]]
[[Category:Critics of Islam]]
[[Category:Victims of Islamic terrorism]]
[[Category:Hindu nationalism]]
[[Category:People from Uttar Pradesh]]

Kamlesh Tiwari - Revision history

CleanupBot at 04:32, 2 January 2022