Uttarakhand: Trade bodies, Hindutva orgs suspend ‘Mahapanchayat’ at Purola on request of the State.

Security personnel deployed in Purola after the imposition of section 144 of the CrPC by district administration, in Uttarkashi district on Thursday, June 15, 2023. Pic: PTI

Trade bodies, Hindutva outfits call off ‘Mahapanchayat’ in Uttarakhand’s Purola only for now, but….

The call for a “Mahapanchayat” given by local trade bodies and Hindutva outfits in Uttarakhand’s Purola in protest against alleged incidents of “love jihad” and “Islamic aggression” was withdrawn temporarily as of now late on Wednesday night. But, it is told that Hindus will now tolerate the miscreants if they are not restricted. The State authorities requested the organisers to cancel the programme seeing the law and order situation. 

Sumita Srivastava | HENB | Dehradun | June 15, 2023::  The organisers were under pressure from the administration to withdraw the call to maintain peace in the town in Uttarkashi district that has been in the grip of communal tension for more than a fortnight.

The call for a “Mahapanchayat” given by local trade bodies and Hindutva outfits in Uttarakhand’s Purola in protest against alleged incidents of “love jihad” and “Islamic aggression” was withdrawn temporarily as of now late on Wednesday night. But, it is told that Hindus will now tolerate the miscreants if they are not restricted. The State authorities request the organisers to cancel the programme seeing the law and order situation. 

On Thursday, the Uttarakhand high court heard a petition on the communal tension in Purola town and said things will settle with time as it is the best healer.

The court also expressed satisfaction with the steps being taken by the state government to maintain law and order in the hill town.

The petition filed by advocate Shahrukh Alam on behalf of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, seeking prevention of the “mahapanchayat” as it could disturb communal harmony, was heard by a division bench of the court comprising Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal.

While the state is working towards maintaining law and order in the area, things will settle down with time as it is the best healer, the court said.

It further said all the communities have been living in harmony for centuries and will continue to do so. But, it was not clear whether the court of law tried to understand the grievance of the Hindu public of the Himalayan state against the rapid aggression of Muslim people there for destroying the culture and nature of the land by infiltration Jihad, love jihad, land Jihad, mazar Jihad, and byapar (business) Jihad.

“The mahapanchayat has only been put off. The decision was taken after consulting all social, political organisations and people’s representatives of the area,” Vyapar Mandal president Brijmohan Chauhan said.

However, members of various organisations from Barkot and Naugaon were stopped ahead of the Mungra bridge on Thursday while they were marching towards Purola where prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) have been issued.

With no one being allowed to go ahead, people sat on the road and raised the “Jai Shri Ram” slogan, Purola Station House Officer (SHO) Khajan Singh Chauhan said.

Some of them even delivered speeches through loudspeakers on the road itself in the presence of police personnel.

Meanwhile, Bajrang Dal’s state organisational secretary Vikas Verma, who reached the Purola sports ground, said no one will be allowed to indulge in immoral activities in the mountains. Members of VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) and Uttarakhand Hindu Shakti Sena were also present there. 

However, with the police and the administration on the alert, peace prevails in Purola.

Tension has been brewing in Purola in Uttarkashi district for more than a fortnight since a foiled attempt by two men to abduct a girl.

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__Inputs from PTI.