Prakhar Dobhal, Pune
After being denied permission for Monday’s Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra, leaders of the right-wing Hindu outfit Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have declared that it will take place. The procession comes after a similar one was held on July 31st, resulting in six deaths and communal violence lasting for 3 days.
While addressing a press conference “We don’t need permission for the yatra as it is a religious procession. The Hindus in Mewat and across the country were worried that the yatra on July 31 has remained incomplete and now we have decided to complete it. We appeal to the Muslims to uphold the values of peaceful coexistence as large numbers among them have offered support to the yatra,” said Surendra Kumar Jain, central joint secretary, VHP, adding that the district administration had been “informed”.
According to Jain, only Hindus of Nuh, Gurugram and Palwal will participate “in view of the upcoming G20 Summit”. The yatra will be taken out under the aegis of Sarva Hindu Samaj, and include prominent members of the Hindu community, including Pals (community grouping). Members stated that the Yatra will depart from Nuh’s Nalhar Mahadev Mandir at 11 am, travel to Ferozepur Jhirka’s Jhir mandir, then stop at Punhana’s Singar Mandir before wrapping up at 4 pm. Members of the Bajrang Dal, the VHP’s youth organization that is in charge of organizing the event under the name Sarva Hindu Samaj, claim that they are “taking all precautions.”
“We have made it clear that no one from outside the district will be allowed to take out any procession or participate in it. We have no problems if the local residents of Nuh participate in rituals (but not in groups) and carry out Jalabhishek as they have been carrying out. Strict measures have been put in place to maintain law-and-order,” said Narendra Bijarniya, the superintendent of police (SP), Nuh. Further claiming no one outside the district will be allowed to take part in the procession.