Team Clarion
DEHRADUN – Hindutva outfit, Hindu Raksha Dal took a rally and shouted provocative rally against the Azan (call to prayer) given from the local Jama Masjid in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun city.
On Tuesday, Members of the Hindu Raksha Dal shouted provocative and controversial slogans like “Ayodhya was just a glimpse, Kashi and Mathura are next” and “one must chant “Jai Shri Ram” to live in India”. They were demanding to recite “Hanuman Chalisa” in the mosque. However, they were allowed to go near the Mosque.
“In not just Uttarakhand but the whole country, Hindu Raksha Dal will recite ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ infront of all those mosques from where voice of Azan in high decibel comes out. Now, we have submitted a memorandum. If the loudspeakers would not be shut down, we will resort to other actions against them,” said Hindutva leader while talking to a local reporter.
He said that they were stopped by the police from reciting ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ inside the mosque. Next time, they will not be stopped and will do it at any cost.
A leader of the mosque lauded the police for not allowing the Hindtuva rally near the mosque saying it could incite riots in the area.
“It’s duty of the police to stop the crowd. They should not allow them to turn this issue into communal riots. We were busy in our prayers and were unaware if the fact,” he said.
The Muslim leader said that they are the peaceful and can lower the voice of Azan as much as it would be needed.
“If they have any problem with the voice of Azan, we can lower the loudspeakers. These problems are being created as the holy month of Ramazan is near. We want to live peacefully. Therefore, must not be created that peace is disturbed across the country,” he said.
He thanked the police for controlling the Hindutva rally and not allowing to go near the mosque.
In Uttarakhand, mosques were often targeted by the Hindutva outfit on the different pretexts.
In October last year, four police officers were injured, and several shops owned by Muslims were ransacked during violence that broke out when police attempted to stop members of Hindutva groups and locals from reaching a 55-year-old mosque they had earlier threatened to raze. Protesters claimed the mosque was “illegally built” despite the district administration’s declaration that the mosque was legally registered in 1969.
Police had to resort to lathicharge – and a flag march later – as protesters, unable to reach the mosque, hurled stones at cops.
