The key question is whether the administration will act decisively to remove the posters and uphold constitutional equality, or allow religious bodies to draw lines that deepen social divisions.
HARIDWAR — A fresh controversy has erupted at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar after posters put up by an organisation called the Ganga Sabha declared the iconic ghat a “Non-Hindu Entry Prohibited Area.” The posters, written in Hindi as “Ahindu Pravesh Nishidh Kshetra,” went viral on social media, leaving non-Hindus—particularly Muslims—and tourists confused and distressed.
Har Ki Pauri, one of Hinduism’s most sacred sites, is also a public space traditionally visited by people of all faiths from India and abroad. The sudden appearance of the posters has raised serious concerns over discrimination, constitutional rights, and what critics describe as growing attempts to exclude Indian Muslims from public religious spaces.
Local residents and visitors said the move sends a troubling message. “This is not about faith, it is about pushing people out,” said a Muslim visitor from Delhi. “Har Ki Pauri has always been open. Today they stop non-Hindus here, tomorrow it could be somewhere else.”
The Ganga Sabha has defended the posters, claiming they are intended to protect the sanctity of the ghat. The organisation argues that Har Ki Pauri is primarily a religious site rather than a tourist destination and that visitors are expected to follow specific rules.
Ganga Sabha president Nitin Gautam justified the move, saying, “It is the duty of every citizen to know the rules of a religious place. These posters are not meant to confuse anyone but to inform people in advance that this area is linked to faith and has special norms.”
Critics, however, say the explanation fails both legal and moral tests. Legal experts point out that the Constitution guarantees freedom of movement and religion, and that no private religious body has the authority to bar citizens from a public place on the basis of faith.
Civil rights activists have also questioned the administration’s response. “When Muslims are accused over minor issues, bulldozers arrive overnight,” said a local social activist. “But when an organisation openly displays discriminatory posters, the administration suddenly says it needs time.”
The official response has further fuelled anger. Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said he had no formal information about the banners. “We have not received any official report yet,” he told reporters, adding that the rules and provisions governing the Ganga Sabha would be examined.
“The bylaws of the Ganga Sabha will be studied to understand what rights it has,” Pandey said, avoiding a direct response on the legality of the posters. He added that clarity would emerge only after discussions at the government and administrative levels.
Many critics see this cautious approach as reluctance to act against a Hindu organisation, despite the issue involving open exclusion. Tourists from different faiths have also voiced concern. “This is my first visit to Haridwar,” said a Christian tourist from Kerala. “Seeing such boards makes you feel unwelcome and unsafe.”
For many Indian Muslims, the controversy goes beyond a set of posters. They see it as part of a broader pattern in which their presence in public spaces is increasingly questioned. “We are citizens of this country,” said a Muslim shopkeeper near the ghat. “No one can decide where we can or cannot go.”
As the debate intensifies, attention has turned to the Uttarakhand government led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The key question is whether the administration will act decisively to remove the posters and uphold constitutional equality, or allow religious bodies to draw lines that deepen social divisions.
Until then, the posters at Har Ki Pauri remain a stark symbol of how exclusion can be justified in the name of faith, leaving many to question whether the law is being applied equally to all citizens.
